December 11, 2013

From Gary... Beyond the external...





















This picture is a revelation.  It is the inside of an ice cave; something you would never see on the outside, as sunlight would make everything appear white.  So, the concept of a revelation is appropriate!  But, I wonder, what are people like on the inside?  Probably, they are a lot like this cave- a mixture of all sorts of things; both good and bad.  And what is on the inside IS SOMETIMES VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE.  How does God judge this complexity of human thought, desires, wishes and actions? Fairly, of course!!!  Take a few moments and read this passage to get a STARTING POINT of understanding...


Hebrews, Chapter 4
1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.  2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.  3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest”; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works”;  5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

  6  Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,  7 he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), 
“Today if you will hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”

  8  For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.  9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.  11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.  12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
Of the Israelites who came from Egypt, only two made it to the promised land (Joshua and Caleb)- all the rest died in the wilderness.  Only two people out of an estimated two million!!!  I believe Christianity gives A MUCH HIGHER PROBABILITY OF ENTERING GOD'S REST THAN MERE OBEDIENCE/DISOBEDIENCE TO A COMMAND EVER DID!!!   Why? Because, with Christianity, the emphasis is more on the motives for actions, rather than compliance with a hard and fast LAW.  And, so we find ourselves considering the last part of verse twelve above.  God knows; HE knows EVERYTHING.  As deep as one can imagine and beyond- that is HIS level of understanding.  Somehow, that is accomplished through his word.  That process will have to be explained to me in heaven, because, frankly, I don't know.  What I do know is that we to consistently examine ourselves as to why we do the things we do and to make sure our actions and attitudes are as godly as we can make them (and pray for forgiveness for our shortcomings) .  Anything less is dangerous territory!!!  Today, do what you need to do, but do it for the right reasons, because God sees through your externals, right into the kaleidoscope of the essence that is you.  I pray that HE finds absolutely no blackness of heart there and that you will be eternally blessed by his presence.  Until that time "1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest."

From Gary... Bible Reading December 11


Bible Reading 
December 11

The World English Bible

Dec. 11
Daniel 9-12

Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
Dan 9:2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.
Dan 9:3 I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
Dan 9:4 I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,
Dan 9:5 we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances;
Dan 9:6 neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Dan 9:7 Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.
Dan 9:8 Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10 neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside, that they should not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky has not been done as has been done on Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come on us: yet have we not entreated the favor of Yahweh our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in your truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.
Dan 9:15 Now, Lord our God, who has brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten you renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Dan 9:16 Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all who are around us.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Dan 9:18 My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies' sake.
Dan 9:19 Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don't defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.
Dan 9:20 While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.
Dan 9:22 He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
Dan 9:26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and its end shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate.
Dan 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
Dan 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.
Dan 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Dan 10:4 In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,
Dan 10:5 I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Dan 10:7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn't see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.
Dan 10:10 Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
Dan 10:11 He said to me, Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for to you am I now sent. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.
Dan 10:12 Then said he to me, Don't be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I am come for your words' sake.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:
Dan 10:15 and when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute.
Dan 10:16 Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.
Dan 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.
Dan 10:18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.
Dan 10:19 He said, "Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me."
Dan 10:20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.
Dan 10:21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince."
Dan 11:1 "As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
Dan 11:2 Now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
Dan 11:3 A mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
Dan 11:4 When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.
Dan 11:5 The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
Dan 11:6 At the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times.
Dan 11:7 But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come to the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail.
Dan 11:8 Also their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north.
Dan 11:9 He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land.
Dan 11:10 His sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress.
Dan 11:11 The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand.
Dan 11:12 The multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.
Dan 11:13 The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance.
Dan 11:14 In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
Dan 11:15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand.
Dan 11:16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction.
Dan 11:17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him.
Dan 11:18 After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him.
Dan 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
Dan 11:21 In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Dan 11:22 The overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant.
Dan 11:23 After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people.
Dan 11:24 In time of security shall he come even on the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yes, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
Dan 11:25 He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.
Dan 11:26 Yes, they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
Dan 11:27 As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
Dan 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land.
Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
Dan 11:30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant.
Dan 11:31 Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
Dan 11:32 Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33 Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35 Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.
Dan 11:36 The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all.
Dan 11:38 But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers didn't know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
Dan 11:39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.
Dan 11:40 At the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.
Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Dan 11:44 But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.
Dan 11:45 He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Dan 12:1 "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
Dan 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased."
Dan 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side.
Dan 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Dan 12:7 I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:8 I heard, but I didn't understand: then said I, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
Dan 12:9 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
Dan 12:10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.
Dan 12:11 From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
Dan 12:13 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.
 
Dec. 11
1 John 1

1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
1Jn 1:2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);
1Jn 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
1Jn 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don't tell the truth.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

From Mark Copeland... Closing Prayer And Final Admonitions (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28)

From Mark Copeland... Closing Prayer And Final Admonitions (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28)

               "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

            Closing Prayer And Final Admonitions (5:23-28)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our study of First Thessalonians, we have seen that the epistle
   divides itself into two sections...
   a. Personal reflections (1-3)
      1) Regarding their condition - 1:1-10
      2) Regarding his conduct - 2:1-12
      3) Regarding his concern - 2:13-3:13
   b. Apostolic instructions (4-5)
      1) Walk in holiness - 4:1-8
      2) Walk in love - 4:9-10
      3) Walk in diligence - 4:11-12
      4) Walk in hope - 4:13-18
      5) Walk in light - 5:1-11
      6) Walk in obedience - 5:12-28

2. Mention is made of the Second Coming of Christ in every chapter, and
   so I offered "Holiness In View Of The Coming Of Christ" as the theme
   of the epistle

3. In the final verses of Paul's letter, we finds words that certainly
   fit in with such a theme...
   a. In the form of a closing prayer
   b. In the form of final admonitions

[While this prayer was offered in behalf of the Thessalonians, it
expresses what must be the sentiment that God has for all His children.
That being so, let's take a few moments to first reflect upon...]

I. PAUL'S CLOSING PRAYER (23-24)

   A. THAT THEY BE SANCTIFIED...
      1. That is, "set apart for a holy purpose"
         a. As stated earlier, this is God's will for them - 1Th 4:3a
         b. Especially in regard to sexual purity - 1Th 4:3b-4
      2. By God Himself
         a. He who is described as the "God of peace" - cf. Php 4:9;
            He 13:20
         b. Which He does through the Word of God - cf. Jn 17:17; Ac 20:32; 1Pe 1:22-23
      3. Completely
         a. Not just in part, but in whole
         b. As mentioned momentarily, in body, soul and spirit - 1 Th  5:23b
      -- Of course, we must cooperate with God if this prayer is to be
         answered in our lives - cf. 2Ti 2:19-22

   B. THAT THEY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS...
      1. For which Paul prayed earlier in this epistle - 1Th 3:13
         a. To be blameless in holiness
         b. When?  As here in 5:23...at the coming of our Lord Jesus
            Christ!
      2. Preserved blameless, that is, without fault - cf. Jude 24
         a. Which Jesus makes possible through His death - Col 1:22
         b. Provided we remain faithful - Col 1:23
         c. God is faithful, and will uphold His end; will we uphold
            ours? - cf. 1Th 5:24
      3. Blameless not just in spirit, but in soul and body
         a. Often in the scriptures, the terms soul and spirit appear to
            be interchangeable, referring to that part of man which
            continues after death - cf. Mt 10:28; Re 6:9; 20:4; Ecc
            12:7; He 12:23
         b. They are also used to distinguish one from the other (He 4:12), in which case...
            1) Soul refers to the animal life, as distinguished from the
               mind or spirit
            2) Spirit refers to the immaterial part of man that
               continues after death
      -- God is faithful, and can be counted on to help us answer this
         prayer; but against we must cooperate with God - cf. Php 2:12-16

[To assist those who desire Paul's prayer to be answered in their lives,
we now notice...]

II. PAUL'S FINAL ADMONITIONS (25-27)

   A. PRAY FOR THE BRETHREN...
      1. Paul requested that they pray for him - 1Th 5:25
         a. Something he asked often of his brethren - e.g., Ro 15:30-
            33; Ep 6:18-20
         b. Especially that the gospel might have free course - cf. 2 Th 3:1; Col 4:3
      2. Certainly we should pray for one another as well
         a. When we sin - 1Jn 5:16-17
         b. When we are sick - Jm 5:14-16
         c. When we are serving the Lord - 2Th 3:1
      -- If the prayer of one righteous man avails much, how much more
         the prayers of many righteous!  Wouldn't we want the prayers of
         others on our behalf?

   B. LOVE THE BRETHREN...
      1. Paul charged that they greet the brethren with a holy kiss
         - 1Th 5:26
         a. Something he did often in his epistles - e.g., Ro 16:16;
            1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12
         b. Greeting one another with a kiss was a common practice
            1) In those days, and in many eastern countries today
            2) "The custom hence arose in the early Church of passing
               the kiss through the congregation at the holy communion
               [Justin Martyr, Apology, 1.65; Apostolic Constitutions,
               2.57], the men kissing the men, and the women the women,
               in the Lord. So in the Syrian Church each takes his
               neighbor's right hand and gives the salutation, 'Peace.'"
               - JFB
         c. The emphasis appears to be greeting each other in love, and
            in holiness
      2. Certainly we should have a deep love for one another
         a. It is a mark of discipleship - Jn 13:34-35
         b. It is a sign of true conversion - 1Jn 3:14
      -- Brethren who truly love one another will help each other stay
         on the straight and narrow, to remain sanctified and blameless
         in anticipation of the Lord's return!

   C. READ THE SCRIPTURES...
      1. Paul charged that this epistle be read to all the brethren
         - 1Th 5:27
         a. As he did the letters to the Colossians and the Laodiceans
            - Col 4:16
         b. Believing in the Word of God to build them up and give them
            the inheritance among all those who are sanctified - Ac 20:
            32
      2. We should not underestimate the importance of the Scriptures in
         our lives!
         a. The means by which God sanctifies us - Jn 17:17
         b. By which we are born again and have purified our souls
            - 1Pe 1:22-25
         c. By which God brought us forth, and will save our souls - Ja
            1:18,21
      -- Just as Paul commended his brethren to the Word of God, so we
         need to be committed to the Word of God if we desire that
         inheritance promised to those who are sanctified!

CONCLUSION

1. Paul ends his epistle with a simple prayer:

   "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." - 1Th 5:28

2. It is a prayer that we should all offer to one another...
   a. Do we not all need grace?
   b. Do we not all want the grace of the Lord in our lives?

3. It is a prayer that we can help fulfill in our own lives...
   a. By praying for one another fervently
   b. By loving one another in all purity
   c. By reading the scriptures diligently

4. Doing such things will also help fulfill the prayer for God...
   a. To sanctify us completely
   b. To preserve our spirit, soul, and body blameless at the coming of
      the Lord!

My prayer is that our study of this brief epistle has encouraged us to
always have "Holiness In View Of The Coming Of Christ."  Are you getting
ready for that great event...?

   "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one
   another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish
   your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the
   coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."  - 1Th 3:12-13

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Good luck Bad luck

Good luck Bad luck

Non-believers understandably dispute the believer’s claim that God answers prayers. The Christian’s claim has to be examined within certain parameters and since the non-believer can’t or won’t (or both) share some of the convictions that the Christian takes as "givens" there no point at which to meet. In a sense, they’re using different dictionaries.
The Christian says, "I prayed to God to heal my wife and bring her through a serious illness and she got better." The non-believer says, "I didn’t pray for my wife and she overcame a serious illness. Healing or non-healing is a ‘natural event’. Millions pray for healing and don’t get better. Good people go under and thugs get better. It’s a lottery. If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and you get the right treatment at the right moment before the disease gets too serious you get better." And the non-believer goes on to say, "You notice that fewer prayers are answered where there is less medicine, fewer hospitals and doctors, less food and more microbes?" The believer "knows" the non-believer is wrong because the non-believer doesn’t have the big picture and is arguing only on the basis of conflicting experiential data. The non-believer attributes all the blessings to "good luck".
And what do many believers do? They use the non-believers arguments to prove God doesn’t bring judgement on humanity for its sinfulness. You have sensitive and caring people like Mark Baker talking shallow nonsense and saying that God doesn’t send trouble and calamity on the world "because God isn’t like that." He’s loving and kind and gentle and wants to bless us all therefore he couldn’t bring calamity on us. Wouldn’t you wonder that Mark with a Bible in his hand could talk that way? He says sweet and kind things and thinks that that will help people come to terms with these awful experiences. This is not only untrue to scripture and the character of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, it debilitates people!
Mark Baker makes the very arguments that non-believers have been making for years and thinks he’s helping people. Imagine him telling Amos (see chapter 4) that God doesn’t do such things. Imagine Mark telling Habakkuk, who is feeling very ill because God has told him what he (God), is about to do through a vicious invading army (the whole short book of Habakkuk, and especially chapter 3), that God doesn’t do such things.
And so what do we make of these hurricanes and earthquakes and famines and such? It’s just bad luck? Why would we say it was bad luck? Because good people die in them and thugs live on to oppress, because church buildings are wrecked and brothels remain standing, because babies are left parent-less and drug barons sell even more booze and other drugs?
Because there are random elements in all this are we to say God is not in it? If God sends judgement on humanity must it be on every human at the same time? If he sends judgement on humanity must it hurt only the guilty? Does God not know that the famine he sends on Israel will kill innocent little babies and righteous adults? Does God not know that there are many other nations more wicked than Israel (or at least as wicked) and that they are prospering because God is blessing them with food and water and clothing and so much more?
Must we conclude that God sends no judgements on humanity? None at all? But if he sends them how will we recognize them? If his judgement falls on Ireland or Honduras then innocent children will go to the wall along with righteous grown ups. What are we to say then? Should we deny his judgement on any particular place because he isn’t at that moment judging every other place?
And will God not put the innocent to grief as part of his voice of judgement against a guilty world? He did it in the Christ and did it for the world’s awakening and redemption! And what if it’s the case that God puts innocents to grief in the course of his judgements on a guilty human family and we call it bad luck? What if instead of linking it immediately with the earnest and gracious God who wants to open ours eyes to eternal life we say "the Devil did it" or "just bad luck"? Might we not only be cheapening the pains and losses of these hurting people but might we not be shutting the ears of people to the voice of God?
Is this a complex matter? Absolutely! But that’s all the more reason we should think it through and look for the bigger picture. God forgive us, non-believers and hurting people have enough to contend with without believers pouring out shallow drivel, even if it is well-intentioned. We think if we keep saying that God is a heavenly sweetheart and keep on crooning romantic ballads about him that that will help people face life’s calamities. It’ll do no such thing. The wooing note has its place but even Jesus had his Matthew 23.
Non-believers look at God’s blessings (with all the random elements that are part of the structure around them) and talk of "good luck". Some believers look at God’s judgements (with all the random elements that are part of the structure around them) and talk of "bad luck". When Moses asked the God who was sending him to Egypt to bring blessing in and through cursing—when Moses asked him for a name he wasn’t told, "Tell them Luck sent you."
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.