Daily Inspirations

  Good morning. In case you did not know it – in the last days difficult times will come. All we have to do is look around. His idea of difficult times though may not be the same as ours. We may think of it as being difficult to make ends meet. He's talking about it being difficult to live the Christian life. For men will be lovers of self (they only think of others as a means of fulfilling their own desires), lovers of money (just like in first Timothy), boastful (they like to boast about the things that they have done; some of them about what they've done to Christians), arrogant (they think they are better than anyone – and dare you to oppose them), revilers (especially of Christians and their beliefs), disobedient to parents (and we thought our children were bad at times – but the children of today are much much worse), ungrateful (they don't even know how to say thank you – they don't think they need to; everything is owed to them), unholy (nothing is off-limits ...

  Good morning. Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. Notice it is talking about speculations. It is not talking about some certainty in the Bible. People have opinions about different things, and when someone disagrees with them they get upset. Then you have quarrels. You even have quarrels over things that are in the Bible. That is why we have so many denominations. The Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient went wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. You can disagree without being quarrelsome. As you soon as you start to quarrel, they stop listening and start fighting. You are supposed to be trying to win them - not the argument. However you don't let those wrong statements slide - you correct them, but with gentleness. The goal is not to win the argument but to lead them to the kno...

  Good morning. Paul continues: nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "the Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness." Almighty God, ruler of the universe, knows you are His. Other people should also know that we are His. And so we should abstain from wickedness so that others will not speak badly about Him. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and earthenware, and some to honor some to dishonor. Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. God cannot use a dirty vessel. Note: you have to cleanse yourself. So what if we are a clay pot? We can still be a vessel for honor. Then Paul tells Timothy to flee from youthful lusts. But you don't just flee from something. Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with tho...

  Good morning. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workmen who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. It is not something that happens naturally. You have to be diligent to do it. It is too easy to slack off - to let something get in the way. It is also easy to let down your standards when those around you disagree with the truth. It is not just unbelievers that don't want to hear the truth; it is also believers that don't want to hear it. So you let things slide to keep the peace. In the end you will become just like them. And of course you've got to want to know the truth; and sometimes the truth is not what you currently believe. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. That's hard to do especially at work. Even Christians let down their guard when they are with nonbelievers. They want to be accepted so they join in the conversation. We need...

  Good morning. Yesterday we saw that Paul was convinced that God was able to guard what he entrusted to Him. Today we see that Paul tells Timothy to guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. So God guards what we entrusted to Him, and we are to guard what He entrusted to us. He has entrusted a great treasure to us. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Paul did not just whisper things to Timothy, he told them in front of everyone. Paul entrusted things to Timothy, and he was supposed to entrust those things to other faithful people who would teach others. The same is true for us. We hear things from the pastor or other great teachers; we are then to share these with other faithful people; they in turn will be able to share the same things with others, and so on. Next what some think was a song of that day. For if we died w...

  Good morning. As we finished last time Paul talked about the gospel – for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. People tried to make Paul ashamed of standing for the gospel and preaching it. They beat and mistreated him terribly. And yet he was not ashamed. Some people try to make us ashamed of standing for the Gospel. If they can make us feel ashamed, we won't be saying things that they know is right – which they have been wrong about. And why was Paul not ashamed? He didn't just know about Jesus – read about Him in a book. He knew Him personally. All Christians have Jesus living inside of them, but Paul actually spoke with Him face-to-face in a vision. When we know Jesus, we can be confident that He will take care of everything that we have entrusted to Him. It is...

  Good morning. Paul, speaking of God: Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. We are the called out ones. He called us out of something (The world) that He might bring us into something (holiness); just like He called Israel out of Egypt into the promised land. We did not work our way into this salvation - it was His grace. And it was not a last minute thing – He did it from all eternity past. Even though it was in Scripture, the world came to know it by: now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. They had the word, but could not see what God was going to do. Or even if they did see it, they rejected it because it did not fit their doctrine. Things have happened in the modern era that the church did not see because it did not fit their ...

  Good morning. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind – what a Segway! As you've heard before, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. When we put our eyes on the problem and not on God, then we do get afraid. The shadow of our problem makes it look bigger than it actually is. The power that is within us is able to overcome any obstacle that comes against us. How do you get an aggressive dog to listen to you when he grows up? You have to start when it is a puppy. You have to take control of the obstacle before it becomes an obstacle. Then you won't fear because you know it for what it really is. Sound mind can also be translated sound judgment. We all need that 24/7. If you fear, then you will not exercise sound judgment. Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. If we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. Father thank You that...

  Good morning. Paul tells Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge – which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Not just Timothy but all Christians have something entrusted to us - the proclaiming of the Gospel. It is also good advice to avoid worldly and empty chatter. Nothing good can come from it; but a lot of bad can. It can seep into our own way of speaking. Remember that bad company corrupts good morals. It seldom works the other way around. Unbelievers think that they have this special knowledge that we don't have, and that we are dumb to believe the gospel. Even Christians get sucked into this type of discussion, and eventually come to believe what these unbelievers are saying. They then try to get other believers to believe their unbelief. That is the end of first Timothy. In second Timothy Paul reminds him to kindle afresh the gift of God which ...

  Good morning. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilot, that you keep the Commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now commandment is singular not plural; so he's not talking about the 10 Commandments. It may be where at the beginning he urged timothy to instruct certain man not to teach strange doctrines etc. Later he says this command I entrust to you. He was to keep the commandment until the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. And speaking of Jesus: who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the king of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. Then back to the rich – instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. That is what happens a lot of times when...

  Good morning. Now a verse that has several different possibilities of translation. For the love of money is (a/the) root of (all/all sorts of) evil. Whichever way you translate it, the love of money is a big bad thing. Some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pang. For most people it's not love of the money, but the love of what money can bring. Where is their treasure? For these people it is here on earth - the money. And because of that they wander away from the faith. You cannot seek both. Remember: you will love the one and hate the other, or you will hold to the one and despise the other. Notice also that they pierce themselves. It is a type of spiritual "suicide". Paul tells Timothy "but flee from these things, you man of God". We can't just look the other way. As long as they are in eyesight, they will be in "heart sight". God does not just tell us to run away from something, He also tel...

  Good morning. Yesterday we were speaking of godliness. Godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. Another word for godliness here is piety. Of course piety is not good when it has an attitude of "I am holier than thou". That type of godliness does not come with contentment. They are never "happy" in what they do. They are ever striving to become more godly. We have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. This crotchety old man saved up $10,000. He had made his wife promise that she would bury the $10,000 with him. At the funeral she carefully placed a box inside the coffin with him. Her friend asked, you didn't really put the money in there did you? Of course I did, said the woman. I am a Christian, and I keep my word. How could you do that, her friend asked? I wrote him a check. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge...

  Good morning. Paul told Timothy to let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. While we may not be youthful anymore, Paul's advice to Timothy is a good one for us too. We should show ourselves an example of those who believe. Remember the title of the book the ugly American? Well some Christians could be called the ugly Christians. They were not good examples of what it means to be a Christian. The first area Paul mentioned was speech. There's that tongue again. ... if anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of ...

  Good morning. What about these liars seared in their own conscience - men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods. I've mentioned before groups that say we should go back to the Old Testament dietary laws. In some instances we would probably be better off, but they do it for religious reasons not for health reasons. Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer (that does not mean that everything is healthy though). And pointing these things out you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. That is where our true nourishment comes from – the word of God. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present and also for the li...

  Good morning. After Paul tells women to be quiet (of course he doesn’t mean to not participate in the service), he talks about the qualifications of leaders in the church. He then says: I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. They did not know how to behave in church – it was not something that came naturally. They may have seen how to behave in temples of idols. Paul even told the Corinthians how to behave. It is not the building but the people who are the household of God. Just like a pillar in a building helps support it, the church is supposed to support the truth. Great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh (Jesus was God revealed in the flesh), was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. This is probably one of the songs they sang back then. Then som...

  Good morning. First of all I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is of course whether or not we agree with their politics. We get what we pray for. We seldom pray for the individuals; we generally pray that they be replaced. And why do we pray for them – so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This will help set the stage for the following results: this is good and acceptable in the sight of our God and Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. If Christians are living in turmoil from the government, it will be hard to present the message of salvation to others. There is one God, and one mediator also between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. He is the only one who can bring mankind to God. There are not many paths to Go...

  Good morning. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Jesus was born to die. He was our Passover lamb. God turned Paul completely around – if He did that for Paul, He will do it for us. The "best of us" without God is not as good as the "worst of us" with God. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. So if you know someone who is really doing things not favorable to God, there is always the good possibility that person will someday come to God and even bring many people to God. Of course it may be really hard to put up with that person until that person does come to God. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. That is the way we should all...

  Good morning. Sorry. This accidentally got sent the other day. We are in first Timothy. He had told Timothy to instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which gave rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. We have that in the church today. Some people get off on a tangent – away from preaching the gospel of salvation. They are so enmeshed in figuring out what is going to happen and when Jesus is coming, that they completely get away from preaching salvation. They are tired of preaching the simplicity of the gospel – they figure their congregation is already saved and doesn't need to hear it. They are searching for the "deeper" things of God. There is nothing wrong with doing some of that on your own. However most people in the congregation need to be studying the elementary principles of the foundation of God. Paul continues: but the goal of our instruc...

  Good morning. Finally Paul is done with the end times. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. We were chosen from the beginning; it was not an afterthought by God. Remember Paul just got finished talking about people believing a deception. We however believed in the truth. He again mentions that sanctification comes by the Holy Spirit. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were not called just to get our fire insurance. We were called unto sanctification. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught. Paul loves to tell people to stand firm. Sadly today believers are taught the traditions of men, not of God. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and g...

  Good morning. What about that lawless one we saw last time? Whom the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; now it does say in revelation that out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; also the beast and the false prophet would be thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone; but the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him and sat upon the horse. Back to the lawless one - that was the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. They did not want to believe the truth, because the truth meant that they were wrong. When you don't want to know the truth, it is easy for you to be deceived. You want to believe anything that says it is OK to do whatever it is that you are doing. Why did they be...

  Good morning. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him (here we are back at the end times); that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a messenger or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. In other words, you won't need anyone to tell you – you will know it yourself for sure. While it could sneak up on you like a thief, it won't happen without your knowing it. Let no one in any way deceive you. Remember that in the gospels Jesus told His disciples that many would come saying they were the Christ; or that He was here or there. What is one of the things that has to happen first? It will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. That has to occur first. Has the apostasy come? And just in case you were not sure who he was talking about: who opposes and exalts him...

  Good morning. Now about those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus: these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed – for our testimony to you was believed. Here is "that day" again that we saw the other time. We will see it again next time. It's not just a little spanking. It is eternal destruction. Of course right now, they don't care about being away from the presence of the Lord, but at that time they will. To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power. Many times we don't feel worthy of our calling. And sometimes we don't even have a desire for goodness. The ones facing eternal destruction certainly don't have a desire for goodness. And why do we want...

  Good morning. And Paul's prayer for them is my prayer for you: May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. As Paul said before, it is God who sanctifies you. And He does not do it partially – He does it entirely. It is your entire tri-partite being. We can trust Him to do it because He is faithful. That is the end of first Thessalonians – now for second Thessalonians. He talks about their faith being greatly enlarged and the love each one had towards one another. They had perseverance and faith in the midst of all their persecutions and afflictions which they endured. It's hard enough to maintain your faith when everything is going great – they did it even in the midst of persecutions and afflictions. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be considered ...

  Good morning. Back to Thessalonians: in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Like the rejoicing, it does not say to give thanks that it happened, but to give thanks in the midst of it. It is not optional – it is God's will. As I've said before, things have happened throughout my life that were not things to be thankful for at the time – but I would not be here, if they had not happened. Be thankful that God is in control of everything. It may not look good now, but it will in the end. Do not quench the Spirit. Of course that has happened in a lot of churches; some of them even Pentecostal. There have been so many abuses in the past that pastors are afraid of what might happen. Do not despise prophetic utterances; but examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good. Again with abuses in the past, it is easy to be skeptical about prophecies. However when they are real – it is after all God speaking. We are to examine what i...

  Good morning. Paul tells the Thessalonians to appreciate those that diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord, and give you instruction - to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Then a surprising statement – live in peace with one another. Why would you have to tell Christians to live in peace? You would think that would be normal. Sadly it's not true. I'm sure you know of some that need to heed that. Admonish the unruly - churchgoers? Yes. Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. We have all needed encouragement and help, not to mention patience with us. And then reminiscent of the golden rule – see that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always. He didn't really say that did he? Yes he did. He didn't say to rejoice that it happened, but in spite of it happening. Pray without ceasing. Of course that does not me...

  Good morning. I pray everything goes well. Back to the end times: while they are saying, "peace and safety!" Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. That's part of the day coming like a thief. They will think everything is just fine. They will not be expecting judgment day. Where it says they shall not escape, the words translated "not" is actually a double negative in Greek. That means it is an emphatic "not". But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness. We should see it coming. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day let us be sober. And so what should we do? Having put on the breastplate of faith and ...

  Good morning. Continuing with the end times: for the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. The Thessalonians were afraid that their believing loved ones who had died would not get to participate in the resurrection. No believer is going to be left out. We will be reunited with them one day. A lot of people say they believe Jesus could return at any moment – but do they really? Many of them don't act like it. If they really and truly believed that Jesus could return at any moment, would they do and say the things that they do and say? Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. A lot of Christians are trying to figure o...

  Good morning. This is the will of God, your sanctification. Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. So to love one another is (super) natural. You don't have to work it up. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. In other words mind your own business. Remember that elsewhere it says if someone doesn't work, they don't eat. Then some verses we all hold dear at times. We do not want you to be uninformed about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. It's hard to remember that when you think about those we hold dear who have gone before us. It does not say t...

  Good morning. Paul tells them that he was encouraging and imploring them as a father with his own children – why? That they may walk in a manner worthy of the God who called them into His own kingdom and glory. It wasn't to lord it over them – it was for their own good. You received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not, as the word man, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. This reminds us of Hebrews 4:12 - the word of God is living and active… Able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. He tells them that they are his hope and joy and crown of exultation in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. Even though he went through a lot of afflictions, he was comforted about them through their faith; and that he really lived if they stood firm in the Lord. That was how he judged whether or not he succeeded – by them remaining faithful to God. It wasn't by the praise of men or signs and ...

  Good morning. Even after Paul was mistreated in Philippi: we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. In fact it always seemed like the more opposition Paul had, the bolder he was. Most of us would have stopped with even a little opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit. Originally the word translated deceit meant a lure for catching fish. It looked like the real thing, but in the end it meant destruction for the fish. So too Paul's words were not a lure to deceive his listeners. Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts. God showed His approval by signs following. When Paul spoke, he did not try to "tickle their ears", but told them what God wanted them to hear, even if they did not like it. Men may preach the gospel from wrong motives, but God knows what is in their hearts. For we nev...

  Good morning. We are now in first Thessalonians. Again we may cover things that we have covered before. Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. Paul did not just say a bunch of words to them. His words were legitimized by the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. Signs are supposed to follow the preaching of the word of God. Too many preachers have good sounding words and style, but there is no power behind the words. Sometimes preachers say words that they don't really believe in. They don't have conviction in their words. Traveling evangelists come in, say a bunch of words, and then leave. You never get to know them personally – to see if they live up to their words. Wherever Paul preached, he would usually spend time there - sometimes even years. The people got to know him – to see that he lived what he preached. You ...