How the church body and saints get true blessings

To conclude 2 Corinthians, Paul spoke a special blessing over that church. His blessing them was a final instruction on how they could not only receive the Lord's blessings, but more importantly revealed how they could be a blessing to God, to fellow saints, and to the world. He stated the following: Finally, brethren, farewell.…

Advertisements

When we prosper, it’s good to know our limitations

Success in life is an excellent goal to have. Nothing can be better in the midst of prospering than having the assurance that God is the one partnering with us to bring about success. It helps remind us we are still human with human limitations that can trip us up at any moment and also…

Remaining obedient to the heavenly vision

All of us saints have a story to tell that is tied to a vision the Lord gives us. For some of us that vision may have come about by the Lord working through normal, natural channels or circumstances, such as when someone hits rock bottom based on bad choices in life and cries out…

Holy Spirit-centered

Toward the end of 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul unleashes what seems to be a string of last minute random statements. Although his statements can be quoted (and often are) as stand-alone phrases, they are all linked together. I'm speaking especially of verses 16-23, which read as follows: 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing…

Declaring the whole counsel of God

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20 Paul's farewell address to the leaders of the Ephesian church is an excellent example of what we as Christians individually and…

Four all-encompassing perks of the believer

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1 I. Established in Christ. In our relationship with Christ, we are like the wise man who built his house on…

Good soldiers of Jesus Christ endure hardships

When we confess Jesus as Lord, it's good to understand from jump street that certain challenges automatically come with becoming a Christian. The ability and expectation to endure hardships is one of those challenges. Paul pointed this out to us when he said the following to Timothy: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier…

Even the city of wicked, mighty men can fall by God’s wisdom

Humans who are adamant and unrelenting in their wickedness are often prone to build cities to shore up and expand their evil concepts. Those cities are not only manifested physically in stone, brick and mortar, or steel. They can be cities of deceptions and error, oppression and suppression of what's right and just, and cities…

Faithful ambassadors

When our Heavenly Father draws us to himself to be saved, among the many things that come with that relationship is the fact he employs us as his ambassadors, authorized representatives and/or messengers for his kingdom. It is truly an honor to hold that distinction for the King above all kings. As his representatives, we…

As ministers of Christ, we must be a pattern of good works

I have said this several times over the years in my posts, but it bears repeating. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a minister to some degree even if we have no degree from a university. Peter taught this in 1 Peter 4:10 which says, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same…