9/12/12

And the memory lives on...


September 11th has come and gone, but the memory of the twin towers is still with us.  So is the knowledge that it was radical Islam who perpetrated this atrocity.  And they are still do like things to Americans!  Yesterday was just another example, as they think it nothing to kill Americans.  Frankly, it is hard for me to feel very charitable towards them today, as I think of what they have done.  Forgiveness can sometimes be a difficult thing as is revealed by this passage from the book of Galatians...

Galatians, Chapter 1
13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.  14 I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,  16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,  17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.  18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.  19 But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.  20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,  23 but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”  24 And they glorified God in me.

 Saul (who became the apostle Paul) changed.  He no longer persecuted Christians, but became one himself!!!  Still, it must have been hard for those who had suffered at his hands to accept him and love him for his changed life.  I urge everyone who reads this, NOT to hate those of the Muslim faith, but rather pray for them.  At the same time, I encourage everyone to vote against a President who coddles Muslims and supports their terrorism with a billion dollars of our money.   May God deliver us from Barak Obama!!!

Sept. 12 Psalms 61-63


Sept. 12
Psalms 61-63

Psa 61:1 Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
Psa 61:2 From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psa 61:3 For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
Psa 61:4 I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.
Psa 61:5 For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Psa 61:6 You will prolong the king's life; his years shall be for generations.
Psa 61:7 He shall be enthroned in God's presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
Psa 61:8 So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.
Psa 62:1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
Psa 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress-- I will never be greatly shaken.
Psa 62:3 How long will you assault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
Psa 62:4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
Psa 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
Psa 62:6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
Psa 62:7 With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psa 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psa 62:9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
Psa 62:10 Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don't set your heart on them.
Psa 62:11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
Psa 62:12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
Psa 63:1 God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
Psa 63:2 So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.
Psa 63:3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.
Psa 63:4 So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.
Psa 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
Psa 63:6 when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.
Psa 63:7 For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
Psa 63:8 My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.
Psa 63:9 But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Psa 63:10 They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.
Psa 63:11 But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.

Sept. 12 1 Corinthians 8


Sept. 12
1 Corinthians 8

1Co 8:1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1Co 8:2 But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.
1Co 8:3 But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.
1Co 8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;"
1Co 8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
1Co 8:7 However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
1Co 8:8 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
1Co 8:9 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 8:10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1Co 8:11 And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
1Co 8:12 Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY" Introduction by Mark Copeland 

                    "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                              Introduction

AUTHOR:  The apostle Paul, as stated in the salutation (1:1).  The 
references of a personal nature also confirm this, especially when 
compared to other Pauline epistles (cf. 4:9-12; Col 4:7-14).

RECIPIENT:  Timothy, Paul's "beloved son " (1:2; cf. 1Ti 1:2,18).  We
are first introduced to Timothy in Ac 16:1-3, where we learn that his 
mother was Jewish and his father Greek.  From this epistle we also 
learn that his mother and grandmother had been believers in Christ, who
raised Timothy in the Scriptures (1:5; 3:14-15).  Well spoken of by the
brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Paul desired that Timothy travel with 
him and therefore had him circumcised to accommodate Jews they would 
seek to evangelize.

This began a long relationship of service together in the work of the 
Lord, in which Timothy served Paul as a son would his father (Php 2:19-
24).  Such service included not only traveling with Paul, but remaining
with new congregations when Paul had to leave suddenly (Ac 17:13-14), 
going back to encourage such congregations (1Th 3:1-3), and serving as
Paul's personal emissary (1Co 16:10-11; Php 2:19-24).  He had the honor
of joining Paul in the salutation of several epistles written by Paul
(2Co 1:1; Php 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1), and from such epistles
we learn that Timothy had been with Paul during his imprisonment at 
Rome.  Such faithful service also resulted in his being left in Ephesus
as Paul's personal representative (1Ti 1:3).  He may have still been 
in the area when this letter was penned.

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:  The general consensus is that following his
first imprisonment in Rome (cf. Ac 28:16,30-31) Paul was released and
allowed to travel for several years before being arrested again.  It 
was during this second imprisonment that Paul wrote this epistle from
Rome (cf. 1:16-17).  Every indication is that he did not expect to be 
released (cf. 4:6-7) and shortly after this letter was put to death by
Nero.  Since Nero was killed in 68 A.D., Paul would have died a short
time earlier.  This letter can therefore be dated around 66-67 A.D.

PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE:  This epistle contains Paul's stirring words of
encouragement and instructions to Timothy, his "beloved son."  Longing
to see him (1:4), Paul writes this letter to have Timothy come quickly
to Rome, and to bring along Mark, a cloak that was left at Troas, and 
some books and parchments (4:9-13).  He uses the occasion, however, to
write concerning those things that are most heavy on his heart related
to Timothy's work.  Therefore, Paul writes to encourage Timothy:

   * To stand strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:1)

   * To commit to others what Paul had taught him (2:2,14)

   * To preach the Word! (4:1)

   * To endure hardship and afflictions (2:3; 4:5)

   * To fulfill his ministry as an evangelist (4:5)

THEME OF THE EPISTLE:  With all the exhortations and instructions 
related to his work as a minister of the gospel of Christ, an 
appropriate theme for this epistle might therefore be:

                      "FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY!"

KEY VERSE:  2 Timothy 4:5

   "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the
   work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION (1:1-5)

I. EXHORTATIONS TO STEADFAST SERVICE (1:6-2:26)

   A. WITH ZEAL AND COURAGE (1:6-12)

   B. WITH STEADFASTNESS AND LOYALTY (1:13-18)

   C. TRANSMITTING THE TRUTH TO OTHERS (2:1-2)

   D. ENDURING HARDSHIP (2:3-13)

   E. DILIGENT AS A SERVANT OF THE LORD (2:14-26)

II. EXHORTATIONS TO SOUND DOCTRINE (3:1-4:5)

   A. IN VIEW OF PERILOUS TIMES TO COME (3:1-9)

   B. REMEMBERING PAUL'S OWN EXAMPLE (3:10-13)

   C. BY ABIDING IN THE SCRIPTURES (3:14-17)

   D. BY PREACHING THE WORD (4:1-5)

III. EXHORTATIONS TO COME QUICKLY (4:6-18)

   A. PAUL'S END IS NEAR (4:6-8)

   B. PAUL'S CIRCUMSTANCES AND REQUESTS (4:9-18)

CONCLUSION (4:19-22)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

1) Where do we first read about Timothy?
   - Acts 16:1-3

2) What was the name of his grandmother and mother? (2Ti 1:5)
   - Lois (grandmother)
   - Eunice (mother)

3) How did Paul affectionately regard Timothy? (1:2)
   - As his beloved son

4) What is the general consensus for the time and place that Paul wrote
   this letter?
   - Sometime around 66-67 A.D., at Rome shortly before his death

5) What were Paul's circumstances in Rome? (4:6,10-11)
   - Near the time of his execution
   - Forsaken by Demas, others have gone, only Luke is with him

6) What two purposes does Paul have in writing this epistle?
   - To ask Timothy to come quickly
   - To exhort Timothy in his service as an evangelist

7) What is the theme of this epistle, as suggested in the introductory
   material?
   - Fulfill Your Ministry! 

8) What is the key verse?
   - 2Ti 4:5

9) According to the outline proposed above, what are the main points of
   this epistle?
   - Exhortations to steadfast service
   - Exhortations to sound doctrine
   - Exhortations to come quickly

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