20120229

2 Corinthians 3 - Key

v12

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

Like they used great plainness of speech, we should speak plainly. We shouldn't speak cryptically, like the Old Testament, according to the letter of the law. We should speak clearly and simply, about Christ.

Application
Ephesians 6:19

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

I'll be more assertive when I preach the gospel.

20120227

Psalm 6 - Outline

v1-5
Reminding the Lord of our weakness, in our entreaty for His mercy
v6-7
The extremeness of his grief
v8-10
Confidence in the Lord's future deliverance, and the departure of the enemies

20120226

2 Corinthians 3 - Outline

v1-3
The people that the apostles led to Christ, provided living evidence that the apostles were for real
v4-6
The apostles were not sufficient themselves, but Christ made them able
v7-11
The giving of the Spirit is even much more glorious than the very glorious giving of the law
v12-14
...we use great plainness of speech... (v12)
v15-16
The Lord will do another great work with Israel
v17-18
The Lord gets glorious changes in our lives by His Spirit

20120225

1 Thessalonians 1 - Outline

v1
The Church is in God and Christ
v2
Always remembering to thank and pray for them
v3
Three applications
v4
Knowing your election
v5
Not only as words, but with power
v6
Joy during affliction
v7-8
Being an example and spreading the Word to every place
v9
False "gods" are vain things that cannot do anything, and cannot help or save us
v10
Turning to the true God, makes a real and significant difference

20120224

Mark 16 - Key

v14

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

It is possible for even the Lord's closest disciples to have a lack of belief.

v16,17

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues...

It seems like what He says about belief in the gospel, and what He says about the signs that would follow those who believe, was very much in the context of believing that He rose and again and is alive.

As "Believers," if we want to have the Lord's power for good in our lives, and eternal rewards with Him, then we need to be those who are believing in His resurrection from the dead.

Psalm 5 - Key

v1

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

This is what we should pray to the Lord, but it is convicting to think about. Would we really want the Lord to give ear to our words, and to consider our meditations? We should watch our speech, and the kinds of things that we are thinking about.

Application
Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

When I catch myself letting words and ideas run through my head that would not please the Lord, I'll remember these verses, and change my mind.

20120222

2 Corinthians 2 - Key

v8

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm [your] love toward him.

Instead of just thinking and saying that we love the believers, we should let them know that we love them. Some people are hard to love, sometimes, because they struggle mich with sorrow and sin, like this person who was with the Corinthians. We should demonstrate our love, even to people who are hard to love.

Application
Romans 12:10

[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

I'll think of ways to confirm my love to a certain person who is hard to love.

20120221

Matthew 28 - Key

v8

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

This is the way that we should share messages with people, about Christ. It says that they did run to bring his disciples word. We should be diligent and excited to preach the gospel, and to bring the Lord's Word to His people.

Application

I'll dedicate a certain amount of time to spend, at minimum, on the seventh day of the week, getting ready to share the Lord's Word with His people.

20120220

Psalm 5 - Outline

v1-3
...In the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto Thee... (v3)
v4-6
Evil people cannot dwell with God
v7-8
But as for me... (v7)
v9-10
You don't want to be found in this other group
v11-12
The blessing and joy of the righteous

20120219

2 Corinthians 2 - Outline

v1-5
...that ye might know the love... (v4)
v6-11
Satan takes advantage when we don't forgive
v12-13
...a door was opened... (v12)
v14-16
We are a perfume to God
v17
Speak the Word of God, out of sincerity

20120218

Matthew 28 - Outline

v1-7
The angel of the Lord terrified the guards, but told the women to Fear not
v8-10
Jesus met them
v11-15
The chief priests and elders bribed the soldiers to lie about Jesus
v16-20
All power is given unto me... Go ye therefore...

20120217

Mark 15 - Key

v39

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

In Mark 15, we can see all these sorrowful things that Jesus suffered when He died. That is what our sin causes.

That makes me wonder how I can keep doing those things. If we really love the Lord, we have to hate our sin.

20120216

Psalm 4 - Key

v7

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased.

People can try to get their gladness from other things, such as vanity (Psalm 4:2). The way that we can really have more gladness, is through righteousness (Psalm 4:5) from the Lord.

Application

With my busy schedule, I'll make sure to finish my time with the Lord before turning to fun activities.

20120214

Matthew 27:39-66 - Key

v63

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

The enemy tries to deceive us into thinking that Christ is not true. But, when we start to think about the ways that we know that Christ is true, then it would obviously be ridiculous to think otherwise. (For example, He made a great difference in my life, that nothing else could.)

Application
Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

I'll comfort myself and others, considering how the Bible's testimony of Christ is true, so our labor is not in vain.

20120213

Psalm 4 - Outline

v1-2
Calling on God, rather than pursuing vanity and deceit
v3-4
Stand in awe of God, who hears when we call on Him
v5-8
Light, gladness, and safety, from the Lord

20120212

2 Corinthians 1 - Outline

v1-2
Greetings
v3-7
Comfort in our affliction to share with others who are afflicted
v8-11
In seemingly overwhelming trouble, trust in God, and He delivers
v12-16
Paul and Timothy's relationship with the Corinthians
v17-20
The promises of God are yea and amen
v21-24
Why Paul had not come to Corinth yet

20120211

Matthew 27:39-66 - Outline

v39-44
Mockers think that they sound so smart, but it ends up obvious that they were so foolish
v45-46
Darkness and forsaking
v47-49
Confusing God's name with Elijah's
v50-54
Amazing events at Christ's death, making who He is, undeniably obvious
v55-61
Joseph of Arimathaea, and the women who followed Jesus, attending to Jesus' burial after His death
v62-66
Deceivers hypocritically accusing Jesus of being a deceiver

20120210

Mark 14 - Key

v15

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished [and] prepared: there make ready for us.

With a room furnished and prepared, where the disciples were supposed to make ready, there was much preparation going on here. In the same way, we should be getting ready for the Lord to come again.

One way to get ready for the Lord, is to be in prayer.

20120209

Psalm 3 - Key

v4

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

We might feel like we have many troubles; but, then we should pray to the Lord about those things, and that will make a difference: He will deliver us.

Application

When I feel like I have many troubles, I'll pray specifically about the things that trouble me, and I'll trust the Lord to deliver me.

20120208

1 Corinthians 16 - Key

v15

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

We should follow the example of Stephanas and his household, in being obsessed with taking care of the needs of holy people.

Application

Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I'll be more flexible to help out the Lord's people.

20120207

Matthew 27:1-38 - Key

v14

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

We should learn from Jesus, how to keep our mouths shut when we should.

Application

Next time somebody accuses me of something, I'll remember this passage, and how, maybe, I shouldn't answer at all.

20120206

Psalm 3 - Outline

v1-2
The many troubles of the Lord's servant
v3-4
The Lord hears His servant
v5
The Lord's blessing in sleep
v6
The Lord's blessing of freedom from fear
v7
The Lord's judgment of the ungodly
v8
The blessing of being one of the Lord's people

20120205

1 Corinthians 16 - Outline

v1-4
...concerning the collection for the saints...
v5-7
Paul hoped to stay with the Corinthians for a while
v8-9
A great door, opened
v10-11
Not despising Timothy
v12
Apollos would come when he had a convenient time
v13-14
Exhortations
v15-16
The house of Stephanas ...have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints...
v17-18
Acknowledge such as refreshed and supplied the saints
v19-20
Greet one another
v21-24
The salutation of Paul

20120204

Matthew 27:1-38 - Outline

v1-2
...they led Him away...
v3-5
Judas tried to repent, but he ended in destruction
v6-10
The matter of the money, a specific fulfillment of the prophesy
v11-14
...He answered nothing.
v15-23
A prisoner released instead of Jesus
v24-25
The people were not afraid to be responsible for Christ's death
v26-31
Christ suffered mocking, beating, and being treated shamefully
v32
They found a man to carry Christ's cross
v33-34
They gave Jesus a drink that He would not drink
v35-38
And they crucified him...

20120202

Psalm 2 - Key

v1

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

This verse is talking about how vain it is for people to imagine escaping from the authority of God. It also makes me think about how people can imagine all kinds of things that are vain. We shouldn't "waste our minds" on worthless, empty, and sinful imaginations.

Application

2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

When I have a break for a few minutes, instead of letting my mind be filled with worthless thoughts, I'll use my spare time to pray.

20120201

the offering unto the Lord

Exodus 35

v10

And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

The Lord has given us our wisdom and ability to do good work. We should use it to do work dedicated to Him.

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