The New life in Christ: Declare these things; Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Titus 2:15.

Qualifications of Bishops:

The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 1Timothy 3:1.

For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self controlled. He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

There are also many rebellious people idle talkers and deceivers; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what is not right to teach.

For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. Titus 1:7-14. Amen.                                                                                                       

The New Life in Christ: Godlessness in the last days:

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-have a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 2Timothy 3:1-7.

They will go from bad to worse. 2Timothy 3:13.

Rebuke them sharply. Titus 1:14. Amen.

The New life in Christ: This is good, and pleases God our Savior. 1Timothy 2:3.

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1Timothy 1:5.

So that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 1Timothy 1:18-19.

Our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4.

Command and teach these things. Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1Timothy 4:11-12. Amen.                                            

The New Life in Christ: All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. Philippians 3:15.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you needs before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8.

How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites. You take away widows’ houses, and you say long prayers so that people will notice you. S o you will have a worse punishment. Matthew 23:14.

And so you became a model to all the believers. 1Thessalonians 1:7. Amen.

The New life in Christ: O priests, this command is for you. Malachi 2:1.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. Malachi 2:7.

A son honors his father and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the LORD of host to you, O priests, who despise my name. Malachi 1:6.

I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. Malachi 1:10.

If you will not listen, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them. Malachi 2:2. Amen.                                          

The New Life in Christ: According to their deeds, so will he repay; Isaiah 59:16.

The LORD’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue mutters wickedness.

No one brings suit justly,

no one goes to law honestly;

they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,

conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity. Isaiah 59:1-4.

Justice is turned back,

And righteousness stands at a distance;

For truth stumbles in the public square,

And uprightness can not enter.

Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.

The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.

Isaiah 59:14-15.

(But) According to their deeds, so will he repay; Isaiah 59:16. Amen.

The New life in Christ: Set forth your case, says the LORD; Bring your proofs… Isaiah 41:21-22.

O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them?

For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2Chronicles 20:12.

“Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. 2Chronicles 20:15.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced;

those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.

You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them;

those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

For I, the LORDF your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10-13.

"It is mine to avenge; I will repay." Hebrews 10:30.
The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; Isaiah 50:7.  Amen. 

The New Life in Christ: In the latter days you will understand it clearly. Jeremiah 23:20.

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Jeremiah 23:1.

Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD.

For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:11-12.

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16.

They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet, who has a dream tell the dream,

But let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully.

What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:27-28.

So they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:32. Amen.

The New life in Christ: Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; Jonah 3:9.

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying, “Go at once to Nineveh, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 1-1-2.

When the news reached the King of Nineveh...

Human beings…all shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:6-10.

But this was very displeasing to Jonah and he became angry. He prayed and said, “O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? ...And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

And the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Then Jonah went out of the city and made a booth for himself there.

The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush.

But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered.

When the sun rose Jonah was faint and asked that he might die.

But God said to Jonah, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow;

And should I not be concerned about Nineveh?” Jonah 4:1-11.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2. Amen.    

The New life in Christ: The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 1Timothy 5:24.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 1Timothy 6:3-5. Having a form of godliness but denying its power…Have nothing to do with them. 2Timothy 3:5.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 2John 1:10-11. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17.

What good is it, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?

Can such faith save him?

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? James 2:14-16.

A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:24 & 2:26. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: An Invitation to Abundant life:

Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly, who despise the gain of oppression, who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it,

who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed

and shut their eyes from looking on evil, they will live on the heights;

their refuge will be fortresses of rocks;

their food will be supplied, their water assured. Isaiah 33:15-16.

For human ways are under the eyes of the LORD, and he examines all their paths. Proverbs 5:21.

All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Turn away from mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils, for of what account are they? Isaiah 2:22.

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what is fears, or be in dread.

But the LORD, let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:12-13.

The LORD said:

Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote; so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. Their wisdom of their wise shall perish…Isaiah 29:13-14.

Who did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought?

Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes, and so you do not fear me?

I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help you. Isaiah 57:11-12. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Take Life as It Comes:

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people who are treated according to the conduct of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Everything that confronts them is vanity, since the same fate comes to all to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners. Ecclesiastes 9:2.

Though sinners do evil a hundred times and prolong their lives, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they stand in fear before him, but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God. Ecclesiastes 8:12-13. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: You are looking only on the surface of things. 2Corinthians 10:7.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 2Corinthians 10:12.

But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

For it is not who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2Corinthians 10:17-18.

Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2Corinthians 11:15. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: They should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1.

“In certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Luke 18:2-8. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: The Judgment of the Nations:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another…

Then the king will say to those on his left hand… ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed cloths and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or a needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

And the king will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: The Judgment of the Nations:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another…

Then the king will say to those at his right hand…you that are blessed.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:31-40. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: A word in season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23.

It is not right to be partial to the guilty, or to subvert the innocent in judgment. Proverbs 18:5.

For though the righteous fall seven times, they will rise again;

but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. Proverbs 24:16.

The righteous are delivered from troubles and the wicked get into it instead. Proverbs 11:8.

Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just. Proverbs 2:20. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:10.

Just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love…see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2Corinthians 8:7.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2Corinthians 9:7.

As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.” 2Corinthaians 9:9. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Galatians 4:16.

On Divisions in the Church: What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 1Corinthians 1:12-13.

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?  For one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each task.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

For we are God’s fellow workers; 1Corinthians 3:3-9.

So then, no more boasting about men! 1Corinthians 3:21. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Jesus taught these things as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:21-29. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Luke 12:43.

I tell you the truth, that servant put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat menservants and maidservants.

The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.”

For everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:44-48.

“Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Revelation 22:11-12. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: For this was your good pleasure. Luke 10:21.

On the occasion an expert in the law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him  

of his cloths, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed away by on the other side.

So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came when the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the inn-keeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do like wise.” Luke 10:25-37. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.”

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me…’

But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in you lifetime you received good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Luke 16:19-25.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Isaiah 58:4.

“I will tell you the kind of fast I want:

Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes.

When you see someone who has no cloths, give him yours, and don’t refuse to help your own relatives.

Then you will call out, and the LORD will answer.

You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:6-9.

Then Jesus said... “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite you’re your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid.

Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

Then you will be blessed, because they have nothing and cannot pay you back.

But you will be repaid when the good people rise from the dead.” Luke 14:12-14. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: As it is written: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11.

To someone who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles

himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2:24.

Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

“‘These people honor me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain;

Their teachings are but rules taught by men.’” Matthew 15:6-9.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside to myths. 2Timothy 4:3-4. “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.”

If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matthew 15:13-14. Amen.

                                                                                                       

The New life in Christ: I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 1John 2:26.

The gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12.

As for those who seemed to be important-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance – those men added nothing to my message. Galatians 2:6.

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.

But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him. 1John 2:27. Amen.