Bible Study (3) - Authentic (3) - Growing in CHRIST - Colossians 1:9-29 - April 28, 2024

 

Bible Study (3) – Authentic (3) – Growing in CHRIST – April 28, 2024

We should encourage and help one another grow in CHRIST.

Our focus scripture is Colossians 1:9-14, 21-29.

Our physical age is irrelevant when it comes to growing in CHRIST. When a person is Spirit-born into GOD’S Family through faith in JESUS, all are infants and must be nurtured, fed milk and then wholesome Spiritual food, taught how to exercise, tutored, apply what we are being taught, trusting our teacher, The Holy Spirit.

FATHER, help us as we continue to grow in YOU, through the Holy Spirit teach, reveal, and provide opportunities to apply. Build our trust in YOU and what YOU teach us, as we journey through life. YOU are AWESOME!!!

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Christians in Colossae. Young Timothy accompanied Paul. Timothy was Paul’s prodigy.

JESUS chose Paul to be an apostle. Paul saw and was chosen by JESUS as Paul was traveling to Damascus to round up those who were following the resurrected JESUS. These followers of JESUS called themselves “The Way.” Paul’s encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus turned him from obliterating the JESUS movement to being an ardent follower of JESUS and proclaiming the Gospel of JESUS to all he could. Thank you, Paul.

Let’s read Colossians 1:9-14: Greeting.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

² To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.^[a]

Thanksgiving - A gracious introduction:

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints ⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.^[b] 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your^[c] behalf, ⁸ and he has told us about your love in the Spirit. Epaphras started the church in Colossae.

Epaphras told those associated with Paul about the love of those in Colossae for JESUS. What resulted when Paul and those he was teaching heard about what was taking place in Colossae? They immediately started to pray for the Christians in Colossae.

What a powerful witness. When we hear of the Holy Spirit working in other places, we should pray for them.

Prayer for others is something Christians sometimes neglect for those just born into GOD’S Kingdom.

New Christians are Spiritual infants, and they need care so they will grow to be Spiritually mature, strong, healthy, full of Spiritual wisdom and fully equipped for their journey through life. That is our responsibility as Christians and the church to equip them for this journey.

When the Holy Spirit is leading a person to a saving knowledge of JESUS, guess who is on the other side ready to discourage or prevent that person from growing Spiritually, through faith in JESUS? Satan/devil. The evil world does not want Spirit-born Christians to grow once they are “born-again.” If Satan cannot keep them from becoming a Christian, he will try to keep them from maturing. DO NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN TO YOU!

The Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC) has a study course for those receiving JESUS. It is called “Operation Timothy.” Each one teach one and stand along with those Spiritually born in GOD’S Family through faith in JESUS. Reaching the lost is more than numbers, it is helping them to grow into full Spiritual maturity.

The salvation of a person is just the beginning of that person’s Spiritual journey. Salvation is more than “I got my fire insurance, so I can live like I desire.” NO! Salvation is an ongoing process. I am 86 years old and still learning and discovering the wonders of CHRIST in me, the hope of glory.

The gifts of the Spirit are essential for all Spirit-born believers to use as they journey through life. We must know our Spiritual Gift or Gifts and use it or them, as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is essential!!! Prayer is entering into the very presence of GOD through our faith in JESUS. We can call GOD the most intimate, loving name of “Daddy.” How precious is that!!!

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

⁹ For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,^[d] 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you^[e] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. ¹³ He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. ¹⁴ In him we have redemption,^[f] the forgiveness of sins.

We who are Spirit-born have been redeemed from the darkness to walk and serve in the light. That applies to all Spirit-born Christians. What a joy and privilege. GOD gives each the joy of his/her salvation and the courage to speak to others about salvation through faith in JESUS.

The Centrality of Christ

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
¹⁶ For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
¹⁸ He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he (JESUS) might come to have
first place in everything.
¹⁹ For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
²⁰ and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.^[g]

Paul just stated why we must come along side of Christians, especially newborn Christians. They need to know the Spiritual basics and establish a solid foundation upon which to build and grow into full Spiritual maturity.

Let’s read Colossians 1:21-23:

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. ²² But now he (JESUS) has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him— ²³ if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it (The Good News of JESUS THE CHRIST).

Once a person is born in the flesh, his/her nature is hostile to GOD because of the sin of our human parents, Adam and Eve. Their original sin is passed to all humans, and it took GOD’S only Son, JESUS, to pay, in full, that original sin debt for humans. However, every person must accept the Passion of JESUS, HIS death and resurrection by the shedding of HIS blood, as atonement for his/her sins.

I used to argue with GOD, and I asked why couldn’t I give my life for my own sins. Guess what HE said? “You do not qualify because I demand a perfect sacrifice and you do not qualify! Good Point!

Let’s read Colossians 1:24-29 - Paul’s Ministry

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim him, warning, and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.

The Apostle Paul counted it all joy to continue building according to the dictates of the chief cornerstone, JESUS The CHRIST, as led by the Holy Spirit.

We read in Acts 4:11: ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone.^[a]

As you may recall, the cornerstone establishes the layout of the walls of the building. JESUS is the Chief cornerstone of the Christian church not built with hands but built by the passion of JESUS and HIS shed blood.

All true Christians are part of the Spiritual building GOD is establishing around the world. Even all nature waits until it is redeemed from decay at the second coming of JESUS.

Romans 8:19: ¹⁹ For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed.

WOW!!! How neat is that all creation waits for that glorious day of full and complete redemption!!!

While we who know the truth wait, let’s share with others the Good News of Salvation and redemption though faith in JESUS THE CHRIST.

We who know the truth are the light to a world of people who are in darkness. FATHER, give us, who know the truth, not to hide it but share it with others as led by the Holy Spirit. This is especially true as we approach the end times and the second-coming of JESUS. Blessings!!!

 

Bible Study - Authentic (2) - Sharing CHRIST - Matthew 28 and 2 Corinthians 5 - April 21, 2024

 

Bible Study – Authentic (2) – Sharing CHRIST – April 21, 2024

We are to invite others into a relationship with CHRIST.

Our focus scriptures are Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

Let’s read Matthew 28:18-20:

 ¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of^[e] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^[f] I am with you always,^[g] to the end of the age.”

JESUS came near because HE wanted them to hear every word that HE uttered. HIS message is the same today for all who know HIM. Don’t hide the Good News but share it as GOD gives us opportunity.

GOD’S redemptive plan had been accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of JESUS. JESUS had conquered the penalty of sin, which is eternal death, by the shedding of HIS blood. Now all who place their faith in JESUS are Spiritually born into GOD’S eternal family, never to be unborn. That part has been Finished!!!

The temple, the sanctified body had not been prepared to be occupied by GOD’S Holy Spirit. That would take place at Pentecost when JESUS sent the Holy Spirit to occupy the human body of all who place their faith in JESUS. The visible confirmation is captured in Acts 2:1- When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ³ They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Those in Jerusalem heard the sound and saw the flames. Why? GOD wanted to get the attention of those in Jerusalem. Wind is powerful and useful when directed. When grain was thrashed, the grain, the edible part of the grain would be separated from the chaff/straw. The grain was tossed into the air as the wind blew and the edible grain would be separated for the straw or non-edible.

Notice that this sound came down from Heaven to distinguish it from ordinary wind.

Think about what was happening an established religious system was being changed from observing the Law to GOD’S Grace through faith in JESUS. A major change in the way the Jews and the world would worship was taking place. The Apostle Peter was the barrier of the Good News of GOD’S Grace through faith in JESUS.

This Good News is the same today through faith in JESUS THE CHRIST.

Three-thousand people became Spirit-born Christians during this time and spread throughout the land as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person who has placed his/her faith in JESUS that moment can be manifested in many ways. Speaking in some known language or a special prayer language. Caution, which will be repeated later “¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he (GOD) wills.” Never forget GOD is the distributor of Spiritual Gifts.

What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit? In 2 Corinthians 5:5: ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

The Holy Spirit is given to true believers as their assurance and guarantee of salvation. When the Hoy Spirit comes into a person’s life, HE brings Spiritual Gifts from GOD to be used as that person grows Spiritually and obediently serves GOD upon earth.

What are some of the Spiritual Gifts? Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12 to see a few. There are about 29 or more Spiritual gifts listed in GOD’S Word.

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts:^[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: ⁸ to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he (GOD) wills. (This is a vital statement. Spiritual Gifts are distributed to each person as HE Wills.)

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Indeed, the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. ¹⁹ And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. ²³ And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, ²⁴ which our respectable parts do not need.

Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶ So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.^[d] 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

We have to be careful and not get caught up in the Gifts and overlook the Giver. The key is to wait upon GOD to give you the gift, HE desires for you. You can desire a gift, but GOD gives a gift to be used for HIS purpose. We now move on to reconciliation.

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:16-19:

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.^[b] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,^[c] yet now we no longer know him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has^[d] come! ¹⁸ Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. ¹⁹ That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

What is Spiritual reconciliation?  Spiritual reconciliation helps ensure Spiritual integrity and transparency. How? JESUS paid for all of our sins in full, therefore no person is prevented from coming to GOD to seek reconciliation through Faith in JESUS.

As Christians, we have been given the gift of reconciliation.

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:20-21:

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him (JESUS) we might become the righteousness of God.

If you are a born-again Christian, did you know that you are GOD’S Ambassador and represent GOD and JESUS to others?

This is an awesome responsibility. GOD’S redemptive plan is for those who know the truth, present the truth of salvation through faith in JESUS to others. How does a Christian know who is in need of salvation? Ask GOD to reveal them to you and when HE does trust that HE will give you the words to say.

I recall the first time I witnessed to a person. It was on a plane headed to New York. I was scared but I knew that GOD had ordained this time. We had small talk and before I knew it, I was into my testimony. As I got close to the end of my testimony, I didn’t know what to expect, but to my surprise the person said, “I have been thinking about such things lately.” Yes, I felt relief. It opened up a friendly conversation.

We must trust GOD to open and prepare the way as we go into the world. Ask GOD to give you the opportunity to present GOD’S plan of salvation through faith in JESUS. It is simple. JESUS willingly left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth to live a 100% human life. To be tempted in all ways humans are tempted to sin. JESUS was perfectly capable of sinning, but he chose not to sin. Why? Because he had to remain sinless in order to be the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD to pay in full for the sins of mankind.

Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her and asks JESUS to come into that person’s life or heart a miracle takes place, quicker than the twinkle of the eye. That person is Spiritually born into the Family of GOD, never to be unborn.

Then what? That is when a person begins eternal life and is taught by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As a Spirit-born person, GOD gives you not only eternal life but Spiritual Gifts for you to use as you obediently serve GOD and JESUS upon earth.

These gifts benefit you and others as needed.

Blessings!!!

 

Bible Study - Authentic (1) - Built on CHRIST - 1 Peter 2:1-12 - April 14, 2024

 

Bible Study – Authentic (1) – Built on CHIRST – April 14, 2024

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 2:1-12

Everything in the church centers on JESUS CHRIST.

JESUS THE CHRIST is foundational established by GOD, “I AM.”

There is only One True GOD (I AM) and only ONE TRUE SON (JESUS THE CHRIST), WHO PAID THE SIN DEBT FOR ALL PEOPLE, WHO place their faith in HIM. JESUS willingly left HIS home in Glory to come to earth to be the only pure, acceptable sacrifice to GOD to pay, in full, for the sins of all humanity for all who will accept HIS PASSION and place their faith in HIM.

GOD established JESUS as the corner stone of the Christian church. The corner stone is the stone that is used to align all the walls of the building being built. The cornerstone determines the future of the final building.

In Ephesians 2: ²⁰ Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

JESUS is the foundation and The ONE upon which all true Christians build. Do you recall last week’s study regarding building upon the solid foundation which has been laid by JESUS? We either choose the building materials as we work in GOD’S Vineyard or as led by the Holy Spirit, to guide us as we work in GOD’S vineyard.

All of the building materials we use, as Christians, will be tested by fire. Certain building materials will combust, but others will withstand the fire. Those that withstand the test of fire will be our heavenly reward which will be used to fashion our crown which, in turn, we will lay at the feet of JESUS.

 

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:1-5:

The Living Stone and a Holy People

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word (Truth),^[a] so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, ³ if you have tasted that the Lord is good.^[b] 4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by^[c] God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood^[d] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Be genuine and realize that as new Spirit-born Christians, we are like newborn babies. We have so much yet to learn.

We are just like newborn infants, and we are totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit to teach us in these formative years to Spiritually grow into mature Spiritual adults, fully equipped to serve and fully equipped for Spiritual battle.

FATHER, we ask YOU to lead and guide every Spirit-born Christian to a fellow Spiritually mature Christian who can teach them the magnificence of serving YOU through the good times and the not-so-good. But it is in the not-so-good times that we get to experience YOU and learn to trust in YOU as YOU carry us through the rough spots in life.

We as Spirit-born Christians are building upon the foundation that JESUS has laid, the church also is building upon the foundation that JESUS has laid. That is why there are so many denominations which are still being modified today. Where do we draw the line?

JESUS gave HIS sinless life for all people.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:6-8:

⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored^[e] cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him (JESUS)
will never be put to shame.^[f]

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone,^[g]

⁸ and

A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over.^[h]

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

What is the importance of the cornerstone of any building? It determines the future alignment of all the walls of the building. The cornerstone dictates the final building but if people decide a different building, it will become the vision of people and not GOD.

The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that HIS Church would be built upon. JESUS is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the true church, not the brick-and-mortar church, JESUS is our standard of measure, direction, and alignment. The leadership of the church and the individual church body decide whether or not the church is headed in the right Spiritual direction as guided by the Holy Spirit.

In the early 19th and 20th centuries, cornerstones were hollowed out and placed in a prominent location on the front of a building. These stones often had an inscription, such as the name of the owner, the name of the builder, or the year the structure was built. Often, the cornerstone was hollowed out, and important documents, newspaper clippings, books, or photographs were placed into a metal receptacle and then placed inside the hollowed-out area in the cornerstone before it was put in place.

You may pass by cornerstones without ever noticing them; however, you can find a great deal of information about the building from these inscribed stones. They are often found on historic buildings and homes in communities around the world.

JESUS is the CHRIST and is the Chief Cornerstone of HIS Church. Often the cornerstone was hollowed out and excellent information was placed inside. Such information about JESUS has been placed in the Bible and authenticated by the life, death, passion, resurrection, ascension of JESUS and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. In 1 Peter 10:24:

He (JESUS) personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. JUST THINK JESUS DID THIS JUST FOR YOU AND ME!

What did JESUS tell Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin who helped Joseph of Arimathea bury JESUS after HIS crucifixion. We read in John 3:1-21:

3 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water (Physically) and the Spirit (Only from GOD), he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ “Are you a teacher^[b] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. ¹¹ “Truly I tell you; we speak what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man(JESUS).^[c]

¹⁴ “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may^[d] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,^[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Everything a Denomination or Church builds upon must be governed and guided by JESUS THE CHRIST/The Holy Spirit. HE establishes the current and future direction of a Denomination or a Church. But do we look to JESUS for direction and the leadership of the Holy Spirit? Or do we lean upon our own understanding? What do we learn from proverbs 3:5-6? Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

Why does GOD do this for HIS chosen? Let’s read on ----

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:9-12:

⁹ But you are a chosen race,^[i][j] a royal priesthood,^[k] a holy nation,^[l] a people for his possession,^[m] so that you may proclaim the praises^[n][o] of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

My, my look what we are as Spirit-born people through faith in JESUS:

-        A Chosen Race

-        A Royal Priesthood

-        A Holy Nation

-        A people of HIS possession

WHY? so that you may proclaim the praises^[n][o] of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. How did we receive mercy? Through the shed blood of JESUS.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. ¹² Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[p] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

Live so that others will see JESUS in you. May our lives be a witness to others but caution, Christians have an enemy but as we read in 1 John 4:1-6: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. ⁴ Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

In the latter days we who are the truth must know how to deal with the unholy spirit world. JESUS IS OUR DEFENDER AND OUR PROTECTOR. Blessings!!!