The New Life in Christ: The purpose of giving gifts.

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… Ephesians 4:11-15.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2Corinthains 11:14.

No one might boast in the presence of God. 1Corinthians 1:29.

For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, distinguishing themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness.

Their end will match their deeds. 2Corinthians 11:13-15.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Only God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. 1Peter 4:11.

Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the words of God;

whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies,

so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. 1Peter 4:11-14.

Yet if anyone of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 1Peter 4:16.

And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?”

Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good. 1Peter 4:18-19.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2.

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

A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who accept it; wherever they turn they prosper. Proverbs 17:8.

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.

If you say, “Look, we did not know this”-does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds? Proverbs 24:12.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Set forth your case, bring your proofs, says the LORD; Isaiah 41:21.

Follow the inclination of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory… Psalm 115:1.

Even now you are still not ready, for you all still of flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclination?

For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.

I planted, Apollos watered,

but God gave the growth.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1Corinthaians 3:3-7.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: When you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 1Corinthians 11:17.

For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it.

Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.

When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper.

For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another comes drunk.

What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in?

Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

What should I say to you?

Should I commend you?

In this matter I do not commend you! 1Corinthians 11:18-22.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: No one has ever seen God; 1John 4:12.

Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be? Ecclesiastes 8:7.

No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the 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.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Yet no one remembered that poor man. Ecclesiastes 9:15.

I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city.

Yet no one remembered that poor man.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Ecclesiastes 9:13-17.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: You have laid up treasure for the last days. James 5:3.

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 1Timothy 6:6-7.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1Timothy 6:10.

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

(And so,)

…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, “Who is the LORD?” or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: So let no one boast about human beings. 1Corinthians 3:21.

I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.

For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1Corinthians 3:16-17.

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

But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. 1John 2:27.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Testing the Spirits.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit,

but

test the spirits to see whether they are from God;

for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1John 4:6.

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16.

Amen.

The New life in Christ: Now as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in love-also excel in this generous undertaking. 2Corinthians 8:7.

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 2Corinthians 9:8-9.

Amen.

The New life in Christ: Now as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in love-also excel in this generous undertaking. 2Corinthians 8:7.

It is question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.

As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.” 2Corinthians 8:14-15.

Amen.

The New life in Christ: Now as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in love-also excel in this generous undertaking. 2Corinthians 8:7.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and will be repaid in full. Proverbs 19:17.

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

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse. Proverbs 28:27.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The blessings of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22.

“Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver” says the LORD.

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasures. Proverbs 8:18-21.

In the house of the treasure there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. Proverbs 15:6.

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

The power of  worldly riches stops at the door of the LORD’s Home.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; Proverbs 2:6.

If you seek wisdom like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures-then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4-5.

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1.

The blessings of the LORD makes rich (in spiritual life not in material life, silver or gold), and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The only thing that counts is faith working through love. Galatians 5:6.

For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14.

If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you say to them, “Go, in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of it?

So faith by itself, if it has not no works, is dead. James 2:15-17.

Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1John 3:18.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Seek the LORD, seek righteousness… Zephaniah 2:3.

If sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.

Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”-my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths; Proverbs 1:10-15.

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

Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households, but those who hate bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Seek the LORD, seek humility… Zephaniah 2:3.

Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.

All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:2-12.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: I am the LORD, who frustrates the omen of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish; Isaiah 44:25.

A certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great.

All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

And they listened eagerly to him because fro a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God…” Acts 8:9-25.

Amen. 

The New Life in Christ: “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Matthew 15:13.

For some times ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.

After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them…Acts 5:36-39.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: And these signs will accompany those who believes: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:17-18.

Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer, though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.”

He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, the changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. Acts 28:3-6.                                   

If you are able!-All things can be done for the one who believes, said Jesus. Mark 9:23.

Amen. 

The New Life in Christ: Satan is nothing, but our own evil thought.

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. Luke 22:3.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Mark 14:42.

A man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

“Ananias,” Peter asked, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal?

How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!”

Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”

And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”

Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’

Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. Acts 5:1-10.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: If you believed, you would see the glory of God. John 11:40.

When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the LORD.

Jeremiah 29:13.

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, and the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.

So I tell you, whatever you ask, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: in the world you face persecution. But take courage. John 16:33.

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world-therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19.

Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a human is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.

So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. 

Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:20-24.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. Isaiah 58:8.

False and True Worship.

“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”

Look, your serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers.

Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist.

Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.

Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself?

Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of injustice,

to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed g free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry for help, and He will say, Here I am. Isaiah 58:3-9.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: For they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:43.

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 2Timothy 4:3-4.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God.

You need milk, not solid food;

for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness.

But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12-14.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: He (Abraham) did not weaken in faith. Romans 4:19.

As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”-in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him… Romans 4:17-24.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Mark 13:31.

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and those who live on it will die like gnats;

but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended. Isaiah 51:6.

Your words were found,

and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart;

For I am called by your name,

O LORD, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: This is the sign to you from the LORD. Isaiah 38:7.

Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, “Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and defend this city.

“This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has promised:

See, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.”

So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.

The living, the living, they thank you… (living witness) Isaiah 38:5-20.

Amen.