He New Life In Christ: Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. 2Corinthians 1:24.

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent-not to put it too severely.

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - if there was anything to forgive -I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake in order that Satan might outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2Corinthians 2:5 & 2:8 & 2:10-11.  

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2Corinthians 4:8-9.

For we who are being given over to death for Jesus’ sake  so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but left is at work in you.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” 2Corinthians 4:11-13.

(Living witness) Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6.

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness. 1Thessalonians 2:4-5.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 2Timothy 4:2.

Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10.

“Everyone on the side of truth listens to me”. John 18:37. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Do not fear the reproach of others, and do not be dismayed when they revile you. Isaiah 51:7.

I have put my words in your mouth, and hidden you in the shadow of my hand… Isaiah 51:16.

And I will put it into the head of your tormentors, who have said to you, “Bow down, that we may walk on you”; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to walk on. Isaiah 51:23.

For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in the spirit, like the wife of man’s youth when she is cast off, says the God.

For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. Isaiah 54:6-7.

…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. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: I said to myself, “Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself, “But again, this also was vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:1.

I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;

I bought male and female slaves…

I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings of the provinces… and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.

Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. I said in my heart,

God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work. Ecclesiaste3:16-17. Amen.  

The New Life In Christ: The temptation of Jesus.

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 Son of God tell these stones to become bread. (Testing his (Jesus’) spiritual power)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple, “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down”. For it is written:

“He will command his angels

concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their

hands,

so that you will not strike your foot

against a stone.” (Testing his faith)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: Do not put the LORD your God to the test”.

Again the devil took  to a very  high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.(Testing his temptation towards the worldly riches) “All this I will give you”, he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written” ‘Worship the Lord your GOD, and serve him only.

Then the devil left him (evil thoughts), and angels (spiritual blessings) came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11.

Devils and Satans are nothing, but our own evil thoughts. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: For by him all things were created; …all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:16.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is head of the party, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:17-18.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29.

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 handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human command and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:21-23. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Find out what pleases the Lord…understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:10 & 5:17.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained…and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of the Christ.

Their destiny is destruction… Philippians 3:5-19. Amen.