20120331

2 Thessalonians 1 - Outline

v1
Who the letter was from, and who the letter was to
v2
Paul's frequent blessing to them, of grace and peace
v3
Growing in faith and charity
v4-7
Our patience through suffering provides evidence of the justice of God punishing our enemies and rewarding us
v8-10
This fearful judgment of God is a good reason to accept the gospel
v11-12
...we pray always for you... (v11)

20120330

Psalm 10 - Key

v4

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.

How often do we think about the things of God? And, when we think about anything, is God really in it? If God is not in all of our thoughts, then we are like the wicked man.

Application

I'll stay on task when I pray, so that my mind doesn't wander onto other thoughts.

To him who knows to do good

James 4

v17

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

You know, sin is not just bad things that we do. It is also sin when we do not do something that we should.

Here's an encouragement to simply do the things that we know we should do.

20120328

2 Corinthians 7 - Key

v6

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

I want to be the Lord's servant, like Titus, that I would bring messages to the Lord's people that would fill them with exceeding joy, even in the midst of all kinds of trouble.

Application

When I'm getting ready to speak to the Lord's people, I'll consider how I can bring them a message of comfort.

20120327

1 Thessalonians 5 - Key

v14

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].

This verse shows several special ways to edify various types of brethren, but it ends with one thing that applies for everybody: ...be patient toward all. (v14b)

Application

I will be patient with all of my brethren, regardless of whether they are unruly, feeble-minded, weak, or anything else. Instead of responding the wrong way to them, I'll pray about the situation and trust the Lord to take care of it, so that I can rejoice anyway.

20120326

Psalm 10 - Outline

v1
Sometimes the Lord seems distant
v2-3
Wicked people are proud
v4-6
Wicked people have evil thoughts
v7
Wicked people have evil speech
v8-10
Wicked people operate in secret
v11
Wicked people think that they are safe from God
v12
Asking the Lord to move
v13-15
The Lord has seen and will help
v16-18
The Lord has heard and will judge

20120325

2 Corinthians 7 - Outline

v1-3
Great boldness of speech
v4-6
Exceedingly joyful though troubled within and without
v7-11
...godly sorrow works repentance... (v10)
v12-16
The apostles' comfort and joy was all bound up in the comfort, refreshment, obedience, and righteousness of other believers

20120324

1 Thessalonians 5 - Outline

v1-4
The difference between how the day of the Lord will come to those in darkness, and to the brethren
v5-10
How the children of the light should live together with Christ
v11
Keep up the good work
v12-13
Loving the laborers, our leaders
v14-15
How to follow what is good, toward ourselves and all people, with peace and patience
v16-22
Exhortations
v23-24
He will make us entirely blameless!
v25-28
Prayer, greetings, reading, and grace

20120322

Psalm 9 - Key

v1

I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

The first part of this verse says, I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my whole heart.... We should look forward to worshiping the Lord in front of other people. We shouldn't just praise the Lord like it's a duty or a chore, but we should enjoy doing it, and do it with gladness.

Application
v14

That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

I'll ask the Lord for His help in my life, with the aim of praising Him for his deliverance.

20120321

2 Corinthians 6 - Key

v10

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.

The beginning of this verse says, As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing.... When troubles arise in our lives and we are sad, then we should stand strong for the Lord. We should not give up.

Application
Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

When I have failed to follow my schedule 100% of the way, then I won't give up on it. I will still do what I can, to get done the things that I should.

20120320

1 Thessalonians 4 - Key

v11,12

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.

Let's be enthusiastic and diligent to do the things that are in front of us, to do. It is not in vain, there is a point to it. If we simply work diligently on the things that we have to do, then we are going to have everything that we need.

Application

Even when my schedule has started to get off track, I'll keep doing what I can to keep my schedule, with new motivation.

20120319

Psalm 9 - Outline

v1-2
Praise from the heart
v3-5
Looking forward to the Lord's deliverance from enemies
v6-7
Contrast between the enemy's temporary destructiveness, and the Lord's eternal triumph
v8-12
Encouraging promises
v13-14
Prayer for mercy so that I can praise Him
v15-17
Here is an axiom: the wicked fall into their own trap
v18
Things won't keep going this way, forever
v19-20
What is man?

20120318

2 Corinthians 6 - Outline

v1
There's the possibility, if we're not careful, that we could receive the grace of God in vain
v2
Now is the time for salvation
v3
Keeping the reputation of the ministry
v4-10
All the ways that we can prove ourselves to be ministers of God
v11-13
The apostles cared about the Lord's people, like their own children
v14-18
Don't even touch unrighteousness

20120317

1 Thessalonians 4 - Outline

v1
As we know to please the Lord, we should walk with Him, even much more
v2-3a
We can know the will of God for our lives
v3b-8
The Lord's will for our lives is purity
v9-10
The Lord's will for our lives is loving the people of Christ
v11-12
The Lord's will for our lives is working faithfully
v13-18
The comforting word of the Lord's return, and the resurrection of the believers

20120316

Without hypocrisy

James 3

v17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Notice that it says, without hypocrisy. If we're talking to other people about how they shouldn't be doing certain things, because they are sin, then we shouldn't also be participating in the same things, even "a little bit."

1 Timothy 5:22
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

The end of this verse says, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. As a matter of fact, the first thing that James 3 said about the wisdom from above, is: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure... (James 3:17)

Ephesians 5:7
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

20120315

Psalm 8 - Key

v4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

We shouldn't think our situation is something that we have gotten for ourselves by some greatness of our own. If the Lord made heaven, earth, space, and all of the creatures, and if He made all elementary materials and even our own lives, then we would have to be fools to think that we could be, have, or accomplish, anything, without Him.

Application

I'll keep a humble perspective about my job.

20120314

2 Corinthians 5 - Key

v17

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Sometimes, we can be reminded of our past, and start to worry that we still have the problems that we have already confessed and repented of. It is an amazing encouragement that the Lord has completely transformed us, including healing the old sinful desires of our heart.

Application
1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In this case, it says that He will ...cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I'll take comfort in the fact that the Lord has cleansed me from, the unrighteous motivations that I have repented from in the past.

20120313

1 Thessalonians 3 - Key

v9

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

We should look at reaching out to people, in Christ, as a great joy, not as a chore. We should greatly look forward to going out to people and helping them with their spiritual condition.

Application
v10

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

I'll pick a couple of people that I'm going out to, to pray for their spiritual condition all the time.

20120312

Psalm 8 - Outline

v1
The excellence of the name of the Lord
v2
The miracle of babies declares the strength of the Lord
v3-4
We can't do anything without the Lord who made everything
v5-8
The dominion that people have, comes from the Lord
v9
Concluding the same way it started

20120311

2 Corinthians 5 - Outline

v1-5
Comparing physical life and eternal life in heaven, to clothes
v6-9
Looking forward to being with Christ, so that we labor to be acceptable to Him all the time
v10-12
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men... (v12a)
v13-15
We should live, now, entirely to serve Christ
v16-21
We have been completely transformed and forgiven by Christ's death on the cross

20120310

1 Thessalonians 3 - Outline

v1-2
They were even willing to be without Timothy for a while, to send him to the Thessalonians
v3-4
We are appointed to suffer tribulation, and we should not let it get to us
v5
If we allow the tempter to tempt us, then past labor can become in vain
v6-8
Our distress is worth it, if we can lead others to walk in faith
v9-11
Our joy, desire, and prayer, should be to go out to others and help them in their faith
v12-13
Increasing and abounding in love can help establish our hearts unblameable in holiness

20120309

giving what is needed

James 2

v16

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?

We shouldn't just pray for things and not do anything about them. If there's obviously something that needs done in a situation, and we are able to do it, then our prayer should be accompanied by action.

This made me think of how, sometimes, we pray for the Lord to help us do the right thing (like getting up on time in the morning). But then, when it is time to make the decision whether to do the right thing, sometimes we don't even try very hard, (if at all), to do it. That does not make sense. If we are going to pray to ask the Lord for His help to do something, then we also need to put our heart into getting that thing done.

20120308

Psalm 7 - Key

v17

I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

We should praise the Lord and sing praises to Him, like this.

Application

I'll think of praise songs to sing, that mention the Lord's righteousness and how high He is.

20120307

2 Corinthians 4 - Key

v17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

Let's take comfort in this: our momentary suffering for Christ is nothing compared to the awesome everlasting future that it brings.

Application
v18

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

I'll live in the constant realization of the reality of the resurrection, so that I don't give up when living for Christ gets a little bit hard.

20120305

Psalm 7 - Outline

v1-2
Recognizing the need for the Lord's deliverance from the enemy
v3-5
Now he stood boldly before judgment, even while admitting that he had sinned
v6-7
Calling on the Lord to move, for the sake of His congregation
v8-11
The contrast between the judgment of the righteous and the judgement of the wicked
v12-13
The Lord will be a warrior against the wicked
v14-16
The wicked people will fall into their own trap
v17
Singing praises to the Lord

20120304

2 Corinthians 4 - Outline

v1-2
Handling the Word of God faithfully and honestly
v3-4
The gospel is only hidden, if at all, to the lost, who have blinded minds
v5
...we preach not ourselves...
v6
The shining light through Christ
v7-11
Persecuted, but not forsaken; (v9a)
v12-15
For all things for your sakes... (v15a)
v16-18
...a far more exceeding, eternal weight of glory; (v17b)

20120303

1 Thessalonians 2 - Outline

v1-2
They knew how the disciples first came to them
v3-6
How they preached the gospel: with honesty and purity
v7-8
The good example of the affection of the Lord's people for each other
v9
Serious hard work and self-discipline, to take care of their own needs and to preach the gospel at the same time
v9-12
How to help people walk with the Lord
v13-16
Being willing to suffer for Christ
v17-20
We should have a real heart for people that we are trying to win to the Lord

20120302

No continuing city here

Hebrews 13

v14

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

The disciples had some people, power, and popularity, at some points in the New Testament; they could have pursued politics, or sought to establish their own great civilizations, then, if they had thought that was what the Lord wanted them to do. We should not be taken up with imagining how we could build some great company or organization in this present physical world. We should pursue the eternal things of the Lord's heavenly kingdom.

20120301

Psalm 6 - Key

v9

The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

We should have this same kind of confidence, that the Lord will answer our prayers.

Application

When I pray, I'll also thank the Lord in advance, for what He is going to do.

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