Lean into Learning from God

Proverbs 2:2,3,6  
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,  6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Pay close attention to what God says in the Bible, seeking to understand and put it into practice - this is wisdom.  Ask for seeing what is right and wrong, what is best and eternal. God will answer with real wisdom, understanding that applies to life.  Only He can give true knowledge and understanding; our own is limited and misleading. 

Dwell Safely in Listening to God

Proverbs 1:29-33 
Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,   30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.   31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.   32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Those who mock God and despise what Jesus told us by hating His word and not willing to obey Him will simply reap what they sow.  The wages of sin is death as they fill themselves with their desires instead of God's.  But those who choose to listen to God, living by the words in the Bible, will be safe and secure from evil, able to rest at night and during waking moments, because they trust Christ Jesus. 

Turn and Learn When Rebuked

Proverbs 1:22-23 
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.   23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Many sneer at Jesus Christ, choosing ignorance over seeking knowledge of Him.  But those who see value in knowledge seek, find, and then turn from their ways that offend God.  These are the ones who are reborn, find God's very presence in them, His Spirit, and find understanding in the Bible's words that seemed out of reach before.  They find life so full and leave foolishness behind. 

Learn More and Be Wise in the Lord

Proverbs 1:5-7 
A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,   6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.   7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

To be wise, I must seek to learn by listening - both to God's word and to those who teach it. Then He can sharpen me to do deeper into things not so clear.  But all learning must be founded on the fear of The Lord - knowing that living what I learn must be to please Him, not for my own "bettering."  Only fools hate to learn and to grow wiser. 

God’s Word Living Through Us

Colossians 3:16-17 
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.    17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Does God's word live inside you, taking residence and filling your house with wisdom that enables you to teach and correct each other in love?  If so, then this leads to being able to live in ways that honor God the Father through the Son - in all we both say and do.  Thank Him in living for Him this way. 

Express Praise for God’s Work

Psalms 150:1-2   
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!   2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Where do we tell God how great He is and thank Him for all He has done, does, and will do?  Here are some places - in church gatherings (sanctuary), for where He is in heaven, in all He does in power and wisdom, and in His greatness for who He is!     In other words, wherever we go we need to praise Him - He deserves it in all that He has made, which is everywhere and in everything. 

Beautified in Salvation

Psalms 149:4-9 
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.   6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two- edged sword in their hand,  9 To execute on them the written judgment — This honor have all His saints.   Praise the Lord!

All who are drawn by God, who humble themselves under His mighty hand of certain judgment on their sin and find mercy in the cross of Jesus Christ - these He delights in and saves from their fallen state.  We then who are His see the need in this Psalm to praise God and wield the sword - in David's time to kill, now as the sword of His Word that shows the judgment to come; we only execute the serving of the death warrant, those who hear need to be reconciled to God in Christ. 

Glorify God!

Psalms 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

For His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above the earth and heaven.

Everything, living and created by God, should praise Him - showing and telling His greatness and worthiness.  Everything in nature does this, so why do we who are made in His image not do likewise at every opportunity and in all situation? 

Healing of Sovereign Grace

Psalms 147:3-5, 11   
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.   4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.   5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.   11  The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

What a God! He heals our broken souls, He knows more than all our glimpses into the universe could even begin to reveal.  He understands everything perfectly because He made it all by speaking it into existence.  And He wants us to bow down to Him, submitting in fear while trusting completely in His mercy to forgive and love us! 

Eyes Opened to Hope in Freedom

Psalms 146:5-8 
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,  6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,  7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry.   The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.   8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.

True joy is in knowing the God who calls us out, knowing the awe of all He made around us - giving credit to the Creator.  He is always true because He is truth.  He is just and merciful, yet hates continued disobedience and must deal with it.  He sets us free from the bondage of our rebellion of sin against all He wants for us - and opens our eyes to see it as He does.  He lifts up those seeking Him and trusting Him. 

Live in Shadow of Salvation’s Wings

Psalms 91:1, 14-16  
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.   15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.   16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

God delivers those who love Him in Spirit and in truth.  We can then stay close to Him, living in His protection.  We can cry out to Him as a very present help in trouble, knowing He honors those who honor Him.  This is what brings us to salvation from sin and its due wages, and leads us on with Him towards eternity with Him. 

Bless His Holy Name!

Psalms 145:21   
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.

Do we show God in Christ to be the best there is to the world?  Everyone will eventually speak highly of Him - either in this life or the next.  Every knee will bow in submission and worship to admit He is Lord over all.  So we must do this now. 

Call on Him Who Delivers and Preserves

Psalms 145:18-20  
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.   19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.   20 The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.

God is up close and personal with those who cry out to Him for rescue (salvation) from all things we face.  Yet He goes further to remind us to fear Him and not demand what we want.  If we truly so love Him, we will be guarded as with a hedge of thorns to keep the evil one at bay.  And though He is not willing that any die without Him, He still hates evil and will punish them by giving due wages of their actions they refuse to turn from... So turn from the evil we all are born with, and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ - only He is the way, truth, and life! 

Gracious and Righteous

Psalms 145:16-17   
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.   17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.

How our Father loves us, to give so freely to us - such grace!  Yet He does all things good and right, unlike us, and this guides how and what He does for us.  It is always what is right by His standards, not what we desire wrongly. 

Praise and Glory to the Sovereign Lord

Psalms 145:10-13

All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You.  11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power,  12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.   13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Because eternity with God is now possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the one with absolute power and authority over life and death, we must let others know about all the great things He has done, from Eden to the cross, and to a new creation that begins in each of us! 

Greatness of the Lord and His Works

Psalms 145:2-5

2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.   3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.   4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.   5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,And on Your wondrous works.

Do we tell God each day how great beyond measure and how perfectly good He is?  Do we praise Him with lips and feet and hands?  We should be also telling our children and theirs of all He has done and will do, and think long, hard, and deeply about His character of majesty and all He has done as told to us in His word. 

God Chooses to Love His People

Psalms 144:3, 15

3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?  Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?  15 Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

God chooses to care for us, to even love us - when we deserve nothing of ourselves.  Yet we are made in His image and He shows mercy and undeserved love (grace)!  This is what makes us happy, knowing He cares for us and watches over us.  He is our God who is Lord of all. 

Trust and Following His Will

Psalms 143:8-10

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.  9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.  10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Each day we can turn to God in prayer, trusting Him as we look for direction, strength in opposition, and shelter from enemies.  We can ask for wisdom to be holy and righteous as He in all we do, becoming more as Jesus Christ, our example of God-among-us.  He is good, and lives now in His people as Spirit.  We can do all things through Him who lives in us! 

“I AM With You” to Hear and Fear

Haggai 1:12-14  
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord 's messenger, spoke the Lord' s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.” 14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and  they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

These obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, feared the presence of the Lord, received assurance from His word that, “I am with you, says the Lord."   Then they came and worked on the house of the Lord.   The pattern - hear and fear God, find encouragement and strength of assurance from the Bible, then do all God has called you to do for Him.  So must we make disciples and grow them in The Lord as our labor of love for Him and them. 

Cry Out When Overwhelmed

Psalms 142:1-5   
1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.   2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.   3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.    5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

God is always listening to His people, even those who once were not His.  So I can pour out my troubles and weakness when I am overwhelmed before the throne in time of need.  He knows me and each step I take before I do, so I have hope of answers and a safe place to rest both now and forever in Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God! 

Difficult and Revealed Things of God

2 Peter 3:16-18

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.   17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Some change God's word to fit what they want to believe instead of trying to understand what God said, while others look to twist it on purpose to justify their evil.  We who know the truth need to remain aware, stay the course of truth, avoiding false teachers such as Joel Osteen, and grow instead - in His grace and knowledge.   Study to show yourself approved to God, not men.  Fight the good fight and run the race to His goal, knowing some things are difficult (Deu.29:29) and we are to follow what is revealed. 

Diligent Perseverance toward Holiness

2 Peter 3:14-15   
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

Do we look forward to the world as we know it coming to and end before a new beginning? If so, we need to live right, at peace with God.  It is because He patiently waits to allow others to be made right with God in Christ that this goes on longer than we might think or like, but it is His love driving the wait to give as many as possible the unearned chance. 

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:10-13   
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

All we see will be burned up and melted away.  All our legacies will be gone - except those which honor God, pleasing Him and loving others.  This certain end should remind us then to look forward to the end of corrupt things and the start right now of good and holy ones.  The future holds good and right things, so we need to run to that goal and not fleeting ones which are burned up in the end when seen for what they are, wood and hay and stubble. 

Scoffers Have No Eternal Perspective

2 Peter 3:3-4,9  
knowing this first:that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “ Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”   9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Our timing is not God's, and ignoring what He will do in the end will not change it - only allowing scoffers to taunt God's promises and our witness to them.  What these do not see is that God still loves them enough to keep calling till the end of this world so they should also turn from the disobedience of their sin and towards Christ in faith who died in their place to reconcile them to Himself. 

God’s Guidance in Speech and Vision

Psalms 141:3-4, 8, 10 
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.   4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.   8 But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.   10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.

Praying, I seek to have God guide my words; in my heart, leaning away from sin and indulgence.  Eyes I put on my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, trusting in all He has done in my place to put me under the shadow of the Almighty.  So I know those opposed to Him will reap what they sow, while I gain unearned mercy and grace to help in times of need! 

He Hears His People’s Prayers

Psalms 140:6  
I said to the Lord:“You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.      

Psalms 140:12-13   I know that the Lord will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.  13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

God hears my prayer; He protects those who are attacked and seeks justice.  So I thank Him in all things, knowing He will do all this now and forever.  So I will live near Him also now and into eternity in Christ. 

Love your Enemies, Hate God’s Enemies

Psalms 139:21-22
Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?  And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?   22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.

Whose enemies, ours or God's, and why?  Love your enemies, not God's.

Matthew 5:44-45   But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

God’s Predestined Personal Knowing

Psalms 139:16  
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

How amazing is God's absolute knowledge beyond time!  He knew me and all I will do my entire life because He made me.   In the end all I do will be seen in the book of all my actions and thoughts...yet God gave me a will to choose also, not a schedule to follow as an actor of a play as Shakespeare would say.  The truths of foreknowledge and free will demonstrate God's sovereign rule and control. 

Be Witnesses of God’s Work in Christ

Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We are to show the world Jesus Christ and all He did for us, rescuing from our sin, reconciling us to Himself.  Then baptizing to help realize the cleansing and new life given.  And so we do not abandon them, but teach them all things that the Bible spells out in commands, principles, and examples of how to live, hope, and love.  He is with us and in us to give us the authority and power, the ability, to do all this. 

Unending Mercy Will Not Let Us Go

Psalms 138:8

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.

God promises to finish the work He began in us, and by His mercy He forgives us when we do not do as He says.

    Philippians 1:6. -  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

    Hebrews 13:20-21

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

His Word Brings Praise and Worship

Psalms 138:1-4

1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.   2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.   3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.   4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth.

God deserves my praise for His love, mercy, and His Word, who is Jesus Christ - God come as a man, the living Word (John 1:1, 14).  His word is above all, and the world hears and will praise Him also.  So I call to Him for strength to let them know clearly. 

Singing Praises in a Fallen World

Psalms 137:4 
How shall we sing the Lord's song In a foreign land?

Knowing we are not in the kingdom of God in Christ yet, this question sometimes comes up - if things are so violent, painful, and immoral with life so cheap and love so scarce, how do we sing praises to our Lord?   By remembering that He will keep His promises to judge rightly and swiftly in His time, and completely.  This is the God who is true and the life He gives us.

1 John 5:20  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

His Mercy is Unending!

Psalms 136:1 
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!   For His mercy endures forever.   2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!   For His mercy endures forever.   3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!   For His mercy endures forever:

Why should we thank God for everything?  Because He made all, is in control of all, and rules over all.   He delivers those who are His, and protects us because He is faithful and able.  So we who are in Christ should thank Him always, remembering all He has done as well as who He is!  Give thanks to The Lord! 

Pleasant Praising of the Everlasting One

Psalms 135:3, 6; 13-14

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.   6 Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.  13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.  14 For the Lord will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants.

Continuing from Psalm 133 & 134, unity is speaking truth (not compromise) in love.  So we worship together, knowing The Lord does as He pleases - so must we do as He says and demonstrates to us, especially in Christ's example.  He is our judge with compassion.  We must discern without passing judgement; humility before God and love for our brothers and enemies alike is necessary. 

Worship Him at All Hours

Psalms 134:1

1 Behold, bless the Lord,  all you servants of the Lord,  who by night stand in the house of the Lord!  2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord.  3 The Lord who made heaven and earth.  Bless you from Zion!

God deserves our acknowledgement that He is Lord, deserving our honor, praise, and obedience.  This is one reason to worship together - blessing Him by name, the one God revealed in Jesus Christ and no other way, truth, or life.   All was made by God's Word who became man, and all is held together by and in Him.

Colossians 1:16-18  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 

Unity’s Eternal Blessing

Psalms 133:1  
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ... For there the Lord commanded the blessing — life forevermore.

Getting along in spiritual and other matters is the sum of the second greatest commandment, to love others as ourselves.  Of course, His blessing of eternal life only comes through the Truth and Way of Jesus.  Speaking the truth with each other in love is how true unity happens, not compromising the essential for comfort. 

Clothed With Righteousness in Joy

Psalms 132:9, 16 
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy.    I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

We who are Christ's are both priests and saints to God (1 Cor.1:2, Rev.1:6, 5:10), called out and set aside to live for Him - holy.  We serve as priests and become as Jesus as we walk with Him.   This is why we should shout loudly with joy for all He has done in grace and mercy to reconcile us to Himself! 

Humbly Satisfied as a Child

Psalms 131:1
Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.  2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.  3 O Israel, hope in the Lord. From this time forth and forever.

Hope and trust in Jesus Christ.  As a baby is fed until he can eat food, so must we depend on God for sustenance and comfort.  Instead of thinking we know everything or wanting to be important (pride in both), we must trust God's Spirit and Word to teach us (Heb.5:14, Gen.3). 

Forgiveness for Fear of the Lord

Psalms 130:3-4, 7  
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.   O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.

God forgives, forgetting the wrongs of our sin.  So we should fear Him who has the power to take vengeance on our sin, but chooses not to, and do so ourselves.  This is our hope - mercy and redemption from our sin in place of what we deserve. 

Mockers of Sin’s Judgement

Jude 1:14-19

Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.  16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

As we see here in Jude, God will judge the world, and those opposed to Him, who live for pleasure and mock Christ and all the good of God, will all face the consequences forever.  So beware those who flatter, claim Christianity, yet live as if sin is normal and run after all God says He hates.  When these go to church, they cause disruption and try to deny the truth in the Bible.  Hold fast and fight the good fight for the absolutes of the truth in love! 

Contend for the Faith!

Jude 1:3-4

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude warned Christians that those who do not know Him work their way into church assemblies to live in and promote sin (disobedience to God) and deny Jesus Christ is the only way to God and the only truth.  We do not always see them immediately, and they blend in if we do not pay attention.  This is why the truth matters; false believers will tell another gospel or change the truth to excuse immorality or our accountability, often substituting entertaining stories or psychology for truth.  Acts 17:11 reminds us to go to the source for what is true and right. 

God’s Preservation in Affliction

Psalms 129:2

Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.

When the Enemy attacks, when he pulls you away from Christ, remember what this Psalm tells you - God protects and keeps you as He keeps them from overcoming you.  If God is for you, who can be against you? 

Fear and Follow in Grace

If you want to be happy and at peace with God and others, start by fearing The Lord who bought you at a price out of the death and Hell you rightly earned by sin.  Live as He told us in His word - and find the peace as you trust (Isaiah 26:3).  His grace preserves us. 

Psalms 128:1

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. 

God’s Work in the Church

God must setup the house - both my life and the church.  If we attempt this in our own effort or wisdom, it will be a wasted effort, and will not succeed.  He alone can protect and watch over me; my strength and that of the greatest military comes to fail if God is not watching the watchmen...

Psalms 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

Sow Seeds for the Harvest

Just as captive Israel had faith and hope in fruitfulness returning, so we as His people must continue to look for a harvest to rejoice over, even when all seems futile and fruitless.  Joy in planting seeds will lead to joy in bringing it in as well.  Patience and long suffering!

Psalms 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.  He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. 

Joyfully Receive Each Other in Christ!

Do we joyfully receive each other in Christ as Paul in Christ commanded here?  This is how we experience the grace of God.  Next time you speak with other believers, really greet them!

Philippians 4:21-23

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 

Acceptable Sacrifices

We find many things, glorious rewards, when serving others and meeting their needs.  Yet if we do not live for God's glory, to serve and please Him, we can become selfish in desiring the reward for its own sake.  Rather, we must do His good will out of love for the one who first loved us, knowing the lack of reward is disobedience.  The Bible shows us reward to show the better He has for us, not to drive all we do for selfish gain.  Godliness with contentment is the great gain.

Philippians 4:18-20

Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet- smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Share in the Labor

Do we give to help those bringing the Gospel and serving us?  This rewards us by fruit that lasts, as long as we do all to serve the server and not to get a reward...

Philippians 4:14-17

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 

Sufficiency to Do All God’s Will

Are we of a happy state of mind - content, satisfied?  No matter how little or how much we have?  All our sufficiency is found in Christ, the one who owns everything and gives so liberally to us who do not deserve anything.  It is the Father's GOOD PLEASURE to give us the Kingdom...

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Care in Action

Do we look to meet others' needs, especially those ministering God's word and shepherding care to us?  Let us look for the opportunities!

Philippians 4:10

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 

Meditate on Things of God

Things that are true and real, honest or honorable, righteous and virtuous, pure and clean, acceptable and pleasing, well spoken of, good and morally excellent, commendable to God and others - these we must spend put time thinking on and about.  These should fill our thoughts and conversations.  These will then be the right examples for others as well.

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 

Worry or Prayer?

Do we choose to worry, or to pray?  Know He will hear and give peace as the overriding answer, no matter if His answer is 'yes' or 'no' or 'wait'.  This quiets the heart and mind in Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Rejoice, He is Near!

Joy in Jesus.  Not a feel good fad or religious positive thinking phrase, but a reality to live in.  We must find the only real gladness and well-being in our Lord and God.  And so then should we be patient, gentle, and forbearing.  This is not automatic nor easy, but is the goal we are called to in Christ...

Philippians 4:4-5

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Stand Fast, Work Together

From Philippians 4, we see the Body of Christ, the unseen church, should stand firm together in the truth - but also in love and single mindedness as well, working together to know the truth and put it into action.  So we need to help each other as we work out our salvation.  This means harmony, love, and sound teaching worked out with and among each other...

Philippians 4:1-3

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed- for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.   2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 

Here "eagerly wait" means to expect fully; assiduously and patiently wait for.  We look forward to being before Jesus Christ - changed to be like Him, apart finally from sin!  He has the power to do this, just as to put all under His control as God and man.  I am a citizen of that heavenly country, born from above into it forever...

Philippians 3:20-21

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 

God Gives Examples to Follow

Where is our mind set?  If on earthly things, then we have taken our eyes off of God and what He has for us and His glory.  We then become His enemies when we live to satisfy our desires instead of Christ's...  So let us find godly men as examples and learn to follow the Christlike things they do, leaving shameful and unrighteous acts behind.

Philippians 3:17-19

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things. 

Mature Mindset

If we are grown up in Christ, our outlook from this passage must be "We know we are not yet as we should be, and we also do not excuse away sin because we are not there yet."  As far as we are toward that goal, so must we live together in agreement of these things.  Maturity is not anything goes, neither is it condemning others not grown to the same point as we have - it is concern and acceptance as we challenge, encourage, and correct in love.

Philippians 3:15-16

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 

Shaken but Not Stirred from Trust

God shakes us up to leave Christ alone as the answer... We must not refuse Him, nor neglect what He offers when we do come to the Desire of All Nations.  By grace we must serve Him with reverence and godly fear.  Do we do this?

Haggai 2:6-7

“For thus says the Lord of hosts:‘ Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, ’ says the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews 12:25-28

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “ Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “ Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 

Determination to Run the Race

This must be the direction of our lives if we truly know Jesus Christ - faces set like flint to run after the goal He sets before us.  We know we are not yet as we should be, and we also do not excuse away sin because we are not there yet.  We have to run life's race by God's rules, not our own.  So, we ask forgiveness in sincerity, get up, and go on, knowing we are not there but not giving up to get closer every day.  We do not dwell on the past (good or bad), but learn from and build on it.  Press on!

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Found in Christ’s Righteousness and Resurrection

Am I seen as in Christ, by His righteousness - by faith alone and not by trying to earn that standing?  This is the only way to know what Jesus did when He rose up from death after 3 days, after first suffering for my reconciliation to God.  So I must remember that I too die daily to self and take up that cross as He did - for as I deny myself, He can live in me.

Philippians 3:9-11

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Gain and Loss

Do I see all that could be advantageous to me as more than just an acceptable loss in comparison to Christ?  Yes!  Knowing Him is far better than anything I could accumulate or try to hold on to.  So all riches, notoriety, and anything else I could have run after are as Paul said here, worthless and what is thrown to the dogs, garbage.  It has no eternal use.  Instead, I have gained Christ Himself, God in me!

Philippians 3:7-8

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. 

No Escape from Judgment Except in Christ

From Hebrews we see that God will shake off all that is displeasing.  This means things in heaven and earth; both angelic and mortal that refuse Him and His Son will be shaken from the new heaven and earth, leaving the holy and pleasing - the things good and unshakeable.  So we must both revere and fear the consuming fire of God who offers love and goodness (grace).  Then let us serve Him as we stand on the solid rock in the approaching storm...

Hebrews 12:25-29

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “ Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “ Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Spiritual Worship of His People

What do we need to do to serve God?  It is not physical action, but transformational obedience - worship in His in dwelling Spirit, joy in Christ alone, and trust in God instead of our own wisdom and strength.  It is not where we grew up (in or out of church), what race or country we hail from, or how religious we act.  It is what God has done for us which we could never do, then our trust and obedience as we point to Him in all things.

Philippians 3:3-6

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Trust and Obey

Trust and obey; there truly is no other way to be pleasing to God, and so be happy and at peace with Him.  Proverbs and Psalms below show that God ultimately guides our every move, but we must trust and act on what He tells us in order for our hearts and minds to be changed.

Proverbs 16:3, 9

3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

9 A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Psalms 119:32

I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Suffering to Glory

This is hope - not a wish or desire, but a certainty of what is to come.  What we suffer now pales in comparison to what God will work in us when we are bought back in our bodies as we are now in our souls.  So we can persevere in patient steadfastness through difficult and troubling times with something far better to look forward to!

Romans 8:18, 8:23-25

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. … 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 

What Do We Live For?

Do we please God?  That is, do we live His way, or for our own unholy self-seeking?  Seeking the things of God as found in the Bible brings inner peace and real life.  This is only possible for those who have His Spirit living in them - for those born a second time from above.  Only they are Christians who have Him in them, and so are able to choose to live rightly each day.  We who are so led by His Spirit are His children!

Romans 8:5-14

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

God’s Revelation in Christ

The Bible says things that you cannot understand without God showing you - this is why He lives inside regenerated believers (reborn) as Spirit, to open our minds to His.  Only He knows what He is thinking, just as each of us cannot understand each other's thoughts.  Verse 14 below even tells us that those outside of Christ are unable to know what God says.  It is all foolishness to those who are blind.  We have to have God living in us to know.  There are people in church who do not understand anything in the Bible, and they need to know and admit their sin, turn from it, and come to faith in Christ to be born anew to understand all God has for them...

1 Corinthians 2:9-14

But as it is written:  “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

Rejoice and Beware

Do we find real cause to rejoice in our Lord?  This is why believers must encourage and challenge each other to walk with Him, keeping our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith as we both trust and obey.  We need to beware of those opposed to Christ, and so to us, or religion and hate will overtake us.

Philippians 3:1-2

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.   2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 

For the Work of Christ

The examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus below show a true servant heart in different ways. Timothy was as a faithful and loyal son to Paul in for the Lord's work, and Epaphroditus gave so much of himself in serving that he almost died, not regarding health or wellbeing in his service. Both are examples for us in God's work - selfless and limitless...

Philippians 2:22, 29-30

But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ... Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Like-Minded Care

Like mindedness. How essential to work together for the gospel. So why do many leaders and workers in churches not get along, or even go against each other? Here we see sincere care and service to others are key. When we look only for our own interests, needs, and wants, we stop helping others. This goes against our fallen nature of selfish pride. But we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ!

Philippians 2:19-21

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like- minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.