28 December 2014

Lesson for the week: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7

Galatians 3:23-25N (NKJV)

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

21 December 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 16:25-27

Romans 16:25-27  (NKJV)

Benediction

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

14 December 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (NKJV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

12 December 2014

Another writing by Bill Dennington

This was written by a friend of mine, Bill Dennigton from Georgia. this is Excellent!

I taught a series not that long ago on the Love of God. The focus of the study was not on how we are to love God, or how we are to love one another; but, how immeasurable God’s love actually is for us. In meditating on the verses that speak of God’s love for us I came to a deeper understanding of just how futile it is to attempt to love God when you have no real revelation of how much God loves you.
One example I saw from the book of Exodus was how Israel responded to God’s great love for them. They just could not comprehend the depth to which God actually did love His Chosen Nation. Egypt had so instilled a slave mentality into that generation that came out of bondage that they saw everything through the eyes of fear. They were programmed with fear in their subconscious mind that no matter how good God was to them they could not see the love and grace He was bestowing upon them.
Everything God did was because He loved Israel and honored the covenant He entered in to with Abraham. That covenant was possible due to Abraham’s love of God. That was what was being displayed when Abraham tithed the spoils of his victory over the armies that took Lot and his family captive. Abraham was not commanded to do that, he did it out of love and devotion for God, even before the covenant had been cut. That love became the catalyst for the covenant. You can see God taking Abraham deeper into the relationship after that event. This was a relationship based purely on love, faith, and grace, on both sides. (Most outstanding when you consider Abraham was spiritually dead at the time!)
Israel, on the on the other hand, was several generations removed from all of that. 400 years of life in Egypt had affected them greatly. That long season of living in a completely heathen society and becoming the object of suspicion and hatred on the part of the Egyptians had brought them to the place where they were now thinking only as a subjugated slave class of beings. They, as a result, had lost all concept of covenant love. Anyone and everyone who came in to order them around was looked upon with suspicion and hatred. Just another oppressor who was interested in only taking from them, not giving them anything.
This mentality was so deeply ingrained into their thinking that God eventually had to let that generation die off in the wilderness. They just could not accept or receive God’s love on any level, and, they were incapable of loving God as He had commanded them to do for they saw Him as an oppressor, not a deliverer.
There is so much more to share along this line, but let me close with this… when you are only loving God because you are commanded or expected to do so, you are still approaching God with a performance based mentality. Any effort on your part to express a love extracted by commandment will fall woefully short of what God really desires. It is love that is pulled out instead of love that is poured out.
Right along with that is that the love that is performance based actually had a fear-based motivation that keeps you from being able to make any kind of real heart-level commitment to God. “Can’t do that, you never know when God might do something to hurt me!” That is the thinking that is going on under the surface.
The Apostle John demonstrates something very powerful that every believer needs to grab hold to and develop in their lives. He recognized and saw just how much God loved him. He saw this to the degree that he titled himself in his gospel as “the one Jesus loved.” He became developed in this, even before the new birth took place, to the degree that he was completely unafraid to stand at the foot of the cross while Jesus hung and died there. Jesus saw that fearless love and turned over the watch care of His mother to John.
We find no mention of John ever expressing his love of Jesus in any of the gospels. However, we do find multiple occasions where Peter boldly expressed his love of the Lord. He even declared that he would die with Jesus. But, Jesus saw that Peter’s love was performance based. He told Peter that he would end up betraying Him three times and that is exactly what happened. Peter was nowhere to be found on the day Jesus hung on the cross for fear had driven him into hiding.
John, in his first letter, reveals that perfect love casts out fear. That love of which he speaks is not our love of God, but God’s love of us. The greater the revelation of how much God loves us we develop in our lives is the degree that we will find all the different degrees of fear that have been planted in our hearts being flushed out. This in turn enables us to begin to express our love of God, not from any performance based motivation, but from a pure heart of true love pouring out of deep appreciation with no strings attached.
Move from just keeping commandments to living a life of freedom from fear and performance. Open your eyes to the awesomeness of God’s great love for us that was shown and demonstrated through Jesus Christ. Love because you want to, not because you have to, and watch how God responds to a fear-free love. It will amaze you and free you!

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

08 December 2014

Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is not fun at all, BUT when I consider the Nonsense  I'm going through because of it now, I know it will be worth it. I just pray I'm not too late to stop or slow down the damage from smoking. All of you young [and old] people out there, take note, it WILL catch up to you specially with these so called fire safe cigs. What ever they're using to make the self exstinguishing is making them even more fatal!

Terry

07 December 2014

Lesson for the week: 2 Peter 3:8-15 (NKJV)

2 Peter 3:8-15b  (NKJV)

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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.

The Day of the Lord

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.

Be Steadfast

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

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

30 November 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NKJV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Gifts at Corinth

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

23 November 2014

Lesson for the week: Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NKJV)

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :).

Terry

Comments Welcomed

16 November 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV)

The Day of the Lord

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

15 November 2014

Hi All:

This was written by a Facebook friend of mine, Bill Dennington. I think you will find it worth the read :)

Terry

Bill Dennington
I have had people as me over the years, “Why did this or that happen to me?” or “Why did this or that happen to Brother or Sister So and So?” We all want to know the answers to these questions, and rightfully so. We want to know the answer to the age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
While there is no way anyone can know the details that play into events in every situation, especially in the lives of other people, I do know and have studied the truth of how spiritual laws govern our lives as revealed in the pages of the Word of God. I have discovered that just in the same manner as physical laws govern our lives, so to do these spiritual laws govern our lives to contribute to how things play out on a day to day basis.
God, in His sovereignty, created both spiritual and physical laws. He has revealed the secrets of spiritual law throughout the Bible. (By spiritual law I am not talking about the Mosaic Law, but the laws of the spirit realm that are functioning 24/7 just like the laws of physics do in the natural realm).
Just as the laws of aerodynamics govern flight, so do these spiritual laws govern the realm of the spirit. If you violate any of the laws of aerodynamics you pay a price, sometimes a great price. So too with the laws of the spirit, violate any of those laws and you will pay a price. Live your life in a manner that is putting those laws to work in your favor and you will live a blessed life; live your life in a manner that puts those laws to work against you and it will be difficult for you.
It takes knowledge of the Word, wisdom from God, and the leading of the Holy Ghost to live accurately in this earth where spiritual law is concerned. No one is perfect, and we all can become complacent in being diligent to stay disciplined in our lives spiritually. Thus, things can happen, even to great Christian leaders that appear to not make any sense at all.
We cannot know all that led up to individual situations playing out, that is why we are not to judge. We can only judge ourselves and do our best to live our lives in a manner that puts spiritual law to work in our favor.
Sadly, the vast majority of churches today do little or no teaching along this line. It is too easy to just blame God or the devil as opposed to doing the necessary homework and get into the Word of God and dig out wisdom and gain understanding and then teach it in a manner that everyone realizes that they have a personal responsibility to live their lives yielded to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead you each and every moment of the day. He will not lead you in manner that causes you to violate God’s Word or spiritual law.
Violating the law of love is a big area that gums up the works in folk’s lives. In conjunction with violating the law of love is violating the law of forgiveness; refusing to forgive is deadly. Having an undisciplined tongue that speaks words that license death rather than life is another area that causes major issues in the lives of people. Too many Christians speak words of fear, sickness, disease, death, poverty, lack, strife, hatred, and other such words concerning themselves and others to the degree that it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for God to bring blessing into their lives.
Sowing and reaping governs this planet spiritually. Words are seeds and will produce a harvest. Decisions are seeds and set definite things into motion that produce a certain result. All of these things play into weaving a tapestry of life that becomes extremely difficult to unwind or undo without the help of the Holy Spirit and the power of the blood of Jesus.
This is why renewing the mind to the realities of who we are in Christ, what we possess in Christ, and what we can do through Christ is so important. Our union with Him is what gives us the ability to live in victory. Without Him, we can do nothing, but fail. He is not an escape hatch to use when things get too screwed up to handle it any longer. He must be the One to whom we inquire continually to have the wisdom and understanding to know what to do and say that leads us to victory and success. When we live that way we experience true success and He gets all the glory for we cannot claim any of the results as being due to our efforts. It is only our union with Him and living in total dependency on that union that will produce the desired results in life.
Jesus indicated that we can grow progressively in obtaining those results: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred. So we can grow and develop in these things and increase in our sensitivity to His leading as well. This is what we should all strive for on a daily basis.
The greatest enemy of our day in that developmental process is two-fold: becoming too busy and growing too lazy. Laziness is pretty easily recognized, but being busy is much more sinister as it can be justified in our minds. When we are so busy that we are not taking the necessary time to pull aside and inquire of Him on a daily basis, even if that busyness is ministry or church related, we are in dangerous waters.
Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 speak to this matter. Those two Psalms are closely related, as they both give us insight to the kind of lifestyle that a believer needs to live to be successful in this dangerous world we live in. The secret place is a place that is quiet and still, peaceful and a place where we can listen and commune with Him. Jesus spent much time there, and so should we. It is the one place that we cannot abandon if we are going to live in victory in this dark and dangerous world.

09 November 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

02 November 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

26 October 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NKJV)

Paul’s Conduct

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :).

Terry

Comments Welcomed 

19 October 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NKJV)

Greeting

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Good Example

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :).

Terry

12 October 2014

Lesson for the week: n Philippians 4:1-9 (NKJV)


Philippians 4:1-9 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 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.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

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. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

05 October 2014

Lesson for the week: Philippians 3:4-14 (NKJV)

Philippians 3:4-14 (NKJV)

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.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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 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.

Pressing Toward the Goal

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.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

28 September 2014

Lesson for the week: Philippians 2:1-13

Philippians 2:1-13 (NKJV)

Unity Through Humility

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

21 September 2014

Lesson for the week: Philippians1:21-30

Philippians 1:21-30 (NKJV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments welcomed

14 September 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 14: 1-12

Romans 14:1-12   (NKJV)

The Law of Liberty

14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written:
As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed 

07 September 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8-14  (NKJV)

Love Your Neighbor

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Put on Christ

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

31 August 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 12: 9-21

Romans 12:9-21  (NKJV)

Behave Like a Christian

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

24 August 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 12:1-8

Romans 12:1-8 (NKJV)

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

17 August 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 11:1-2a & 29-32

Romans 11:1-2a & 29-32   (NKJV)

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

 

11 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

 May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

 Terry

 Comments Welcomed

10 August 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 10:5-15

Romans 10:5-15  (NKJV)

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

03 August 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 9:1-5

Romans 9:1-5   (NKJV)

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

27 July 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:26-39  (NKJV)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

20 July 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 8:12-25

Romans 8:12-25  (NKJV)

Sonship Through the Spirit

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. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

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. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 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.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

13 July 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 8:1-11

Romans 8:1-11    (NKJV)

Free from Indwelling Sin

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

06 July 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 7:15-15a

Romans 7:15-25  (NKJV)

 

Law Cannot Save from Sin

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

29 June 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 6:12-23

Romans 6:12-23   (NKJV)

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

22 June 2014

Lesson for the week: Romans 6:1-11

Romans 6:1-11 (NKJV)

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

15 June 2014

Lesson for the week: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

2 Corinthians 13:11-14   (NKJV)

Greetings and Benediction

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments welcomed

08 June 2014

Lesson for the Week: 1 Cornthians 12:3-13

The Feast of Pentecost

 

1 Corinthians 12:3-13    (NKJV)

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

01 June 2014

Lesson for the week: Ephesians 1:15-23

Seventh Sunday after Easter 

Feast of the Ascension

Ephesians 1:15-23   (NKJV)


Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :)

Terry

Comments Welcomed

25 May 2014

Lesson for week: 1Peter 3:13-22

1 Peter 3:13-22   (NKJV)

Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :).

Terry

Comments Welcomed

18 May 2014

Lesson for the week: 1 Peter 2:1-10

1 Peter 2:1-10   (NKJV)

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words :).

Terry

Comments Welcomed