The New Life In Christ – We live by faith (spiritual blessings), not by sight (material blessings).

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in Spiritual words. 1Corinthians 2:13.

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2Corinthians 4:1-2.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I want you to know…that 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 1:10-12.

For everyone looks out for his interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself…he has served…in the work of gospel. Philippians 2:21-22.

Join with others in following my example…and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, which whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.

I planted the seed, Apollo’s watered of, 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, (whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Philippines 1:27) and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are god’s fellow workers; you are God’s field; God’s building 1Corinthians 3:6 -9.

          I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offence of the cross has been abolished.

Galatians 5:10 & 12.

Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine – sounding arguments. Colossians 2: 3-4.

…do not boast over those branches (mortals). If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root (the grace of God) supports you. Romans 11:18. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Rise up, O, Lord! Do not let mortals prevail; Psalm 9:19.

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. John 6:32.

 What I mean in 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.

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe_as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 1Corinthians 3:5.

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2Thessalonians 2:4.

Their destiny is destruction… Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3:19. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied… Acts 26:15.

As it is written:

“There is no righteous, not even one;

there is no one who understands,

no one who seeks God.

All have turned away,

 they have together become

worthless;

There is no one who does good,

not even one.”

“There is no fear of God before

their eyes.” Romans 3: 10-12 & 3:18 & 3:20.

You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages (good deeds which please the Lord, our God) you failed to pay the work men who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. James 5:3-5.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

(But)…and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:20 & 3:24. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – And I sought for anyone among them…but I found no one none. Ezekiel 22:30.

Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law. The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each down without fail; …But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt. Zephaniah 3:4 & 3:7.

A son honors his father and servants their master. And 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 hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.

Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple doors so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. Malachi 1:6 & 1:10.

Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! Malachi 3:8.

Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteousness and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. Malachi 3:18.

The days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Hosea 9:7. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - …so that I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:26.

In you, they take bribes to shed blood; you take both advance interest and accrued interest, and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten me, says the Lord GOD.

Can you courage endure, or can your hands remain strong in the days when shall I deal with you? Ezekiel 22:12 &14.

Its priests have done violence to my teaching and have profaned my holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean… Ezekiel 22:26.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15-16.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to him we must give account. Hebrews 4:13. Amen.

 

The New Life In Christ – An Invitation to Abundant Life.

Ho, everyone who thirsts come to the waters; and you that have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk with out money and with out price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for

that which does not satisfy? Isaiah 55:1-2.

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, (For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine… 2Timothy 4:3) and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. (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.) Jeremiah 2:13.

“If you knew the gift of God…you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” John 4:10.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6.

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord….and understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:10 & 5:17. Amen.

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

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke21:1-4.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry; because your heart is not right before God. Acts 8: 18-21.

“Woe to you, blind guides! ...Which is greater: the gift, or the alter that make the gift sacred? Matthew 23:19.

“Woe to you…you give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matthew 23:23.

The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me… Isaiah 29:13.

Consider how you have fared. Haggai 1:5. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Struggling with sin & Life through the Spirit! All must test their own work. Galatians 6:4.

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was expect through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” Romans 7:6-7.

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature. God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

So that no one may boast before him.

Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  1Corinthians 1:27 & 1:29 & 1:31. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – We also rejoice in our sufferings… Romans 5:3.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:2-5.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what is to be in need, and I know what is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Corinthians 12:10.

We live by faith (spiritual blessings), not by sight (material blessings). 2Corinthians 5:7.

“I believed; therefore I have spoken.” 2Corinthians 4:13. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – You diligently study the Scriptures… John 5:39.

No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. Hebrews 8:11.

"Not everyone who says to me ,'Lord,Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven," but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”_ when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28.

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins. James 4:17.

As it is written: “He ha scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God…for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2Corinthians 9:9 & 2Corinthians 9:13.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples (followers, believers), if you love one another.” John 13:35. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - …the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. Isaiah 33:6.

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble it. Proverbs 15:16.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Proverbs 22:1.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich…When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; Proverbs 23:4-5.

The faithful will abound with (spiritual) blessings, but one who is hurry to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20.

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 the fortresses of rocks; their food will be supplied, their water assured. Isaiah 33:15-16.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Whom 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 you do not fear me? Isaiah 57:11.

For the LORD spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: Do not call conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:11-13.

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; Isaiah 29:13.

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my teaching in your hearts, do not fear the reproach of others, and do not be dismayed when they revile you. Isaiah 51:7.

Turn away from mortals, who have only breathe in their nostrils, for of what account are they? Isaiah  2:22. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: 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.

In the latter days you will understand it clearly. Jeremiah 23: 16 & 20.

I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed1” How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart?

They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another…

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.

Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

…so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:25-29 & 23:32.

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1Thessalonians 5:21-22. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - How lightly you gad about, changing your ways! Jeremiah 2:36.

…obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to with their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whoever good he does, whether he slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way… Ephesians 6:5-9.

Like the partridge hatching what it did not lay, so are all who amass wealth unjustly; Jeremiah 17:11.

You wickedness will punish you and your apostasies will convict you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD you God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts. Jeremiah 2:19.

Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1Thessalonians 4:8. Amen.

 

The New Life In Christ - …not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy…saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 2Thessalonians 2:2.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2Thessalonians 2:2-4.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but delighted in wickedness. 2Thessalonians 2:9.

But you, man of God, flee from all this… Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called… 1Timothy 6:11-12. Amem.

The New Life In Christ - …yet they can not find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11.

Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14.

No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what future holds? Ecclesiastes 10:14.

Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything. Ecclesiastes 11:5.

But mark this: There will be terrible time in the last days… 2Timothy 3:1.

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. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2Timothy 4:3-5. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2Corinthians 11:15.

Then the LORD God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of light, and eat, and live forever”-therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed He cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24.

Do not deserve yourselves…For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written “He catches the wise in their craftiness”, and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about men! 1Corinthians 3:18-21.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2Corinthians 3:5.

God…who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. 1Timothy 6:16. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10.

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2Corinthians     8:8-10.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” 2Corinthians 8:14-15.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 2Corinthians 8:20-21.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God…and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2Corinthians 9:13. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Proverbs 22:1.

...contributing a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing that you have received from the LORD your God. Rejoice before the LORD your God…as well as strangers, the orphans, and the widows who are among you-at the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. Deuteronomy 16:10-11.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27.

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him. Proverbs  14:31.

If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13.

Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:10.

For the Lord…who executes for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing… Deuteronomy 10:18.

You shall bring out the full tithe…and store it within your towns;…as well as the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, may come and eat their fill so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work that you undertake. Deuteronomy 14:28-29.

Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you. There will, however, be no one in need among you… Deuteronomy 15:3-4.

Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth. I therefore command you “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11.

Speak out for those who can not speak, for the right of all the destitute. Proverbs 31:8. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” Luke 11:28.

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him, “but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his words, God’s love is truly made complete in him. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1John 2:3-6.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 1John 2:15-16 & 1:20.

…let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1John 3:18-20. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the over flow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Matthew 9:14.

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ‘Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-2.

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus…and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Matthew 15:1-2.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and “sinners”? Mark 2:15-16.

When the Pharisee who had invited him (Jesus) saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such woman. Now what do you say?” John 8:3-5.

He (Jesus) said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts…. Luke 16:15

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - For consider: What! If you despise the rod, Will it not happen? Says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 21:13.

In you, they take bribes to shed blood; you take both advance interest and accrued interest, and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten me, says the Lord God.

Can you courage endure, or can your hands remain strong in the days when I shall deal with you? Ezekiel 22:12 & 22:14.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deed will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been through God.” John 3:19-21.

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. 2Timothy 4:3.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13. Amen.

The New Life In Christ – A Warning Not to forget God in Prosperity:

Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna…in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:2-3.

For the LORD your God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe. Deuteronomy 10:17.

For I know how many are you transgressions, and how great are your sins-you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe and push aside the needy in the gate.

Hate evil and love good, establish justice in the gate; Amos 5:12 & 5:15.

“Everything they do is done for men to see:...they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces… Matthew 23:5-7.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have… Hebrews 13:5.

But godliness with contentment is great grain. 1Timothy 6:6.

Each one should test his own actions. Galatians 6:4. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Temptation tests our Holiness. Truth, Faith.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

…Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

…Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor….

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!”…. Matthew 4:1-11.

The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” The Lord said to the Satan, “Have you considered my servant JOB? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power;… Job 1:7-12.

“Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:10.

The Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning; Job 42:12.

Then Satan entered Judas...one of the twelve…he went to chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him (Jesus) over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14-16.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…? Acts 5:1-10.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Timothy 6:10.

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36.

But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you? He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself,” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”… Genesis 3:9-13.

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:4-5.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13.

(We are the only responsible for our own temptations and sins. So let us do not try to blame others.) Amen.

The New Life In Christ - From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who want for him. Isaiah 64:4.

Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make flesh their Strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. …It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.

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

…so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD.

But “the burden of the LORD” you shall mention no more, for the burden is everyone’s own word, and so you pervert the words of living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. Jeremiah 23:1-2 & 23:11 & 23:32 & 23:36.

…but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 1Thessalonians 5:21. Amen.

                                                                             

The New Life In Christ – Jesus said to them, “Today salvation has come to this house…” Luke 19:9.

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zachaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of ‘sinner’.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…” Luke 19:2-9.

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:4.

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. John 7:24. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understanding it. H e produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:23.

WARNING: GOD’S JUDGMENT IS COMING.

While they were listening…he (Jesus) went on to yell them a parable: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas….He was made king, however returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

…The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more’.

…“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

“His master replied, I will judge you by your own words…Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?”… “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what ha has will be taken away.’ Luke 19:11-26.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

Have salt in yourselves. Mark 9:50.

“You are the light of the world…Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16.

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12.

You search the scriptures… John 5:39. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:26. For as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2:24.

Its priests have done violence to my teaching and have profaned my holy things…they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean…

Its prophets have smeared whitewash on their behalf, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, “Thus says the Lord God.” when the LORD has not spoken. Ezekiel 22:26 & 22:28.

…you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? Romans 2:21.

…for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is a jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 1Corinthians 3:3.

…They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families for sordid gain what is not right to teach. Titus 2:11.

…for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. Romans 3:13. Amen.