Leaving Laodicea

When Paul says, "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Col. 1:24), we scratch our heads and wonder how that could be?How could a man, even the over-the-top Apostle Paul, actually rejoice in his sufferings?  Especially when we realize Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the church at Colossae.  How is that even possible?  And what is there to rejoice about?  We, in our culture, rejoice when our suffering is over. Yet Paul rejoices in the midst of his suffering.What can we learn from this?  Much.  So keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Colossians 1:24-29.

When Philip uttered the words, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (John 14:8), he probably didn't fully understand the implications of what he was asking.  Actually, his words went more like this:"Lord, show (or, put on a demonstration, to point out, to present in sight) us the Father, and it is sufficient (or, it will satisfy, we will be content) for us" (John 14:8).This was not Moses begging God to reveal His glory (Exodus 38:18).  No, this was the disciples wanting more than Jesus.  They wanted to trust a visible manifestation of something more than simple faith in Christ.Have you ever done the same?  Have you longed for the Lord's power or blessing or answered prayer or a miracle more than the Lord Himself?  If so, keep listening.The following is a study on John 14:7-9.

When Jesus tried to comfort His disciples He went about it in a way that seems foreign to us.  We comfort by trying to take the pain away, by saying some soothing words that aren't always true.We say, "Hey, don't worry about it, don't cry, everything's going to be alright"— even when we know it won't.But Jesus comforted His disciples by pointing to the big picture, the grand scheme, to life beyond the here and now.  He had them look beyond their current pain and predicament to the reality of eternity.  And in that light, how bad can a few passing problems in this life really be?He said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).Jesus is preparing a place for me, and He's coming back for me, so I can be where He is.  Changes e

To totally commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ is the first thing we must do to spiritually prepare for the coming persecution in this country.  And, as we said last week, the way to do that is found in the words of John the Baptist.  John said, when comparing his ministry with that of his Lord:"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).The first statement, the "I must decrease" part is easy to understand yet difficult to apply.  But what about the second statement, the "He must increase" part?  What does that mean?  How can I, a mere mortal, make Jesus more than He already is?  Or, what can I give Him, who created everything, that He doesn't already possess?Keep listening as we begin to answer this all-important question that will give us practical steps to total commitment.The following is a study on Total Commitment.

As we face coming persecution in this country, one of the most important preparations we can make is to totally commit our lives to the living Lord Jesus.  But that raises a few questions.What does total commitment look like?And what does total commitment really mean?How can I be totally committed to Jesus?Where do I start?What do I do?The answer is two-fold and is crystallized in the words of John the Baptist.  He said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).   Ah, that's it.  First, Jesus must increase and, second, I must decrease.  Or is it the other way around?These are vital questions that need to be answered, and answered now.  Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Total Commitment.

With the winds of the coming persecution beginning to blow our way, we must ask ourselves this all important question:  Is there something we can do now, before the persecution begins in earnest, to prepare for what is soon to happen?And we discovered the answer is, yes.  We can do the following:One, we can totally commit our life to the living Lord Jesus.Two, we can begin to disengage from the world’s system and begin to live in His kingdom.Three, we can embrace persecution as a means of furthering the Gospel by looking beyond ourselves and looking only at Him.Which sadly, leads to a few more questions that each of us struggle with.How can I totally commit my life to the living Lord Jesus?  Is that even possible?Is He trustworthy?Will He keep His promises and  Word to me like He said?Does He really love me that much?To find out the answers to these question, keep listening.The following is a study on Colossians 1:19-23.

We  know it's coming.  We can see the signs of it everywhere.  Persecution for the church has now come to our own shores and, quite honestly, we are ill prepared for it.  Which raises the all important question:  Is there something we can do now, before the persecution begins in earnest, to prepare for what is soon to happen?And the answer is, yes.  One, we can prepare spiritually by totally committing our life into the hands of the living Lord Jesus, come what may.Two, we can prepare physically by disengaging from the world's system and begin to live in His Kingdom.Three, we can prepare emotionally by embracing persecution as a means of furthering the Gospel by looking beyond our own circumstances and looking only at Him.And we can begin to prepare today.  The following is a lesson on Preparing for the Coming Persecution in America.

After Judas left the others in the Upper Room to go finalize his act of grand betrayal, Jesus affectionately spoke to those who remained, calling them His "little children" (John 13:33).  He then gave them a new command."A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agape) one another; as I have loved (agape) you, that you also love (agape) one another.  By this (your love for one another) all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another" (John 13:34-35).Question:  How is that even possible?  How are we to love each other the way Christ loves us?  What does that look like in real life?  And why is our love for each other the defining mark of being a disciple of Christ?Do you want to find out if it is even possible to love like Jesus?  If so, keep listening.The following is a study on John 13:31-38.

In Matthew, Jesus continually spoke about life in His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.  In fact He began His preaching the same way John the Baptist did, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2, 5:17).  Which raises a couple of questions:What exactly is His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven?  And where is it?  Is it something we can see and feel? And how are we suppose to live in His Kingdom?Are the realities in the Kingdom of Heaven the same as they are in everyday life?And if not, how are they different?And how can I be a citizen of His Kingdom when I'm a citizen of the United States of America?  How can I be in two places at the same time?  Is that even possible?Possible?  Yes.  But also expected for the Believer in Christ.  Listen to find out more about what life is like Living in Two Kingdoms— at the same time.The following is a study on Colossians 1:13-18.

There are several questions that each Believer will ask themselves sometime during their spiritual journey.  And these questions usually go something like this:How are we to be delivered from the guilt of sin and the unrelenting attacks of Satan?How can we walk in faith and confidence and guard against the “wiles of the devil”?How are we to daily face the struggles of the enemy and our fallen flesh?What has God provided for our victory?And how can we continually live in that victory?But remember, the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10) is found when we live in the victory already provided by Christ.  And to do that, we need to simply “put on” what we often leave behind.Confused?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Matthew 6:13 and Ephesians 6:10-18.

When Jesus said to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11), He was speaking to the critical issue of dependence.  What, or who, are we dependent upon?Are we dependent on our own ingenuity, hard work, investments, our education, job, retirement, our view of the future, our own wits, our self-determination, self-esteem, competitiveness, aggressiveness, our advanced degrees from esteemed institutions, or family pedigree, our status, popularity, charisma or fame?Or, are we dependent on God alone?One is repeatedly taught and modeled in Scripture.  And the other is the darling of our fallen culture.Which of them are you dependent on?The following is a study on Matthew 6:11.

When Jesus begins to close His public ministry He makes a statement that, if not understood correctly, casts the Father in the light of a cruel taskmaster, a petty ruler, or a cold, cynical, calculating Nazi.  But when this same statement of Jesus is understood properly, in context, it shows the breathtaking love and grace of the Father in a way that will astound each of us.We find the controversial statement in John 12:39-40:Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:“He (God) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, (why) lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I (God) should heal them."Does this really mean what it says?  Does God really harden people's heart so they can't believe in Him?  Yes. And no.  But you'll have to keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on John 12:37:50.

One truth in the Christian life is that we have all been hurt by those we love and by those who we thought loved us.  Whether it's our spouse, our family, a former close friend, or someone in the church, we've all suffered from the words or actions of someone else we trusted.  And the scars run deep.So what do we do?  Mostly, we withdraw, vowing to never trust again.  We pull up the drawbridge, turn out the light, and hide alone deep in our room.  Simon and Garfunkel, many years ago, captured this so well in their song, I Am a Rock.I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty, that none may penetrate.I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.I am a rock, I am an island.Don't talk of love, I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory.I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.If I never loved I never would have cried.I am a rock, I am an island.But the Christian life is not meant to be lived in bitterness, fear and unforgiveness.  Why?  

In Matthew 6, in the middle of what we call the Lord's prayer, Jesus told us to pray this way:"Your kingdom come. Your will be done (to what extent) on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).But what does that really mean? And what are we actually praying for?We could say it like this:"Your (the Father's) kingdom (or, dominion, reign, sovereign rule, authority, throne, the exercise of kingly power) come (or, arise, come forth, show itself, be established, become known)."Or like this:"Your (the Father's) will (or, active volition, resolve, purpose, mandate, a command with the emphasis on the authority of the one commanding) be done (or, to become, to begin to be, to come into existence, to happen)."Does that change anything for you? It does me. To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on Matthew 6:10, the Lord's Prayer.

With our society and culture crumbling all around us it behooves the church to assess its commitment to Christ.  Are you hot or cold or lukewarm?  Is Christ on the outside of the church knocking, waiting, for us to open the door and allow Him into His church? (Rev. 3:20).These are scary times.  But not unprecedented times.  In fact, it's these very times that bring out the best in the church.  It's times like these where true men and women of God step forward to take their stand for truth.  It's the time of Daniel, Elijah, John the Baptist and Gideon.The following is a study on the call of Gideon.

Jesus said to pray in this manner:  "Our Father in heaven, hallowed (or, sanctify, make holy) Your name" (Matt. 6:9).But is there more to God's name than just... God?  How can we make holy the name of God when we don't really know what that name is and what His name reveals about the nature of God?  For example, in the Old Testament God our Father is also known as:Jehovah-tsidkenu - Jehovah our RighteousnessJehovah-m’kaddesh - Jehovah Who SanctifiesJehovah-shammah - Jehovah is ThereJehovah-shalom - Jehovah is PeaceJehovah-rophe - Jehovah HealsJehovah-jireh - Jehovah Sees or His Provision Shall be SeenJehovah-nissi - Jehovah our BannerJehovah-rohi - Jehovah our ShepherdWant to know more about God's names and His nature?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Colossians 1:9-11 and the names of God.

Paul's prayer for the church at Colosse was that they would be "filled with the knowledge of His will" and they would "increase in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:9-10).  How is that even possible?How do we increase in the knowledge of God?How do we grow closer to Him?How can we learn to hear His voice?And how can we live in the center of His will?Have you ever asked yourself these questions?  If so, keep listening for the answers.The following is a study on Colossians 1:9-11.

In Matthew 21 we see Jesus enter the temple of God, and He violently "drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves" (Matt. 21:12).  And He proclaimed God's temple was to be a "house of prayer" and not the "den of thieves" they had made it (Matt. 21:13).  And once that cleansing was done, something amazing happened.Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them (Matt. 21:14).Did you catch that?  First, a cleansing to turn the temple into a house of purity.  Next, the declaration that His house is a house of prayer.  Then, it becomes a house of power when the blind and lame are healed "in the temple" (Matt. 21:14).  And finally, it becomes a house of praise (Matt. 21:16).Could the same thing happen to you?  Absolutely.  Keep listening and find out how.The following is a study on Matthew 21:12-16.

The truth found in the Scriptures is that God loves us with an everlasting love, even when we don't love Him.  In fact, at the point of our deepest sin and rebellion, at the time of our greatest rejection of Him, at the very moment of our disdain for the sacrifice of His Son, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).  And He expects, even commands, us to love each other with the kind of love He has for us.Which leads us to ask a couple of questions.How can we love others with God’s love when we find it so hard to feel loved by God ourselves?Does God sometimes hide from us and our pain?And, if not, why does He allow pain and suffering to happen to me and my family?Where is His love during those bad times?Troubling questions.  Do you want to know the answers?  If so, keep listening.The following is a study on Colossians 1:3-5.

What is the most urgent need in the church today?The need for purity in sexual matters.To end abortion and homosexuality in our nation.Financial integrity in all matters and generosity to others.Greater evangelism and church planting.Disciplined, Biblical thinking— a Christian worldview.To end the plague of divorce in the church.No, the most urgent need in the church is for a deeper knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).  And how do we go about meeting that need?  Just keep listening.The following is a study on Colossians 1:3 and prayer.