In His Service

  Belief and Behavior Titus 1:1-3 There is a definite relationship between belief and behavior in our lives as believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus told us in the gospel accounts that the fruit of our lives would be an indicator of our faith. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. " Our faith is identified by our fruit. “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (behavior)” (Matt. 7:20)   And we are to know the Word of God, the truth, for it teaches and accords us with godliness. So let's begin with the first portion of the text, “Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. ” (NLT) Paul, in writing to Titus who had been sent to Crete to pastor the church there by Paul, address...

  The Coming Kingdom and The Days of Christ’s Glorious Presence 2 Tim. 4:1-5 There has been much said, both true and false, about the holy glorious presence of Lord God and of His Son, Jesus Christ in our days. If we listen and align our thoughts, lives, and experiences with the truth of the Word of God, then the awesomeness of God’s glory, His presence, will be evidenced by His Holy Spirit presence. Not in a manufactured and manipulated manner, but in peace, humility, and in yielding to His awesome powerful presence as we hear His voice and kneel, bow, or even prostrate ourselves in His holiness and in fear in His majestic light. For this is what the Holy Word of God says of those who have experienced the holy presence of our almighty God and Lord. (Ps. 27:1; 119:130; 1 Jn. 1:5-9) So, as we begin with the last chapter of the last epistle written from Paul to Timothy, let’s ask God to speak to us through the written Word, the logos. Let’s read the first portion of the text, “In...

         Holy Scriptures Are Able to Make You Wise for Salvation 2 Timothy 3:10-17 It all begins with salvation, for Paul, Timothy and for all us. It is the starting point of wisdom, the fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10), the understanding and knowledge of God’s Word and the perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2). Paul's ministry had been through twenty some years of joy, strength, and rejoicing, but also persecution and suffering . He had Timothy on some of these missionary journeys and recalled in this last letter the victories and sufferings for the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor.11:23-29) So let’s reading the first portion of the text, “ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus wil...