Wednesday 30 November – Jude
Jude
Introduction
The author is a man named Jude, which is a form of the Hebrew name Judah (Greek – Judas) that was common in the New Testament period. The writer distinguishes himself as the brother of James (v.1), most probably that James who was a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church, which would identify Jude as one of the brothers of Jesus (Matt. 13:55).
Although he makes no claims for himself beyond that he is a “servant of Jesus Christ” (v.1), Jude is obviously writing as a leader in the church. He is writing to Christians to warn them about heresy that is creeping into the church and to urge them to “contend for the faith” (v.3).
Finishing Well
It is easy to start well. Full of enthusiasm, we set out on a race or a journey, only to find as we go along the road that things are getting tough and we are tempted to give up. Keeping going and finishing well are a whole lot harder than getting started.
It is with these things in mind that Jude is writing this letter. He is concerned that those who have started out in the Christian faith will give up before the end, discouraged or distracted by the false teachers who are preaching “cheap grace”.
To this end he reminds his readers of many examples of people who started well but lost their way in their walk with God. For example, there were the Israelites who refused to obey God and press into the Promised Land and so lost their lives in the desert (v.5). There were the angels who chose to follow satan (v. 6), and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who will suffer eternal punishment for their sins (v.7). There was Cain, who wanted God’s approval like Abel, but refused to do what God asked, Balaam who chose the favour of an earthly king over God’s approval and Korah who wanted what Moses had and tried his own means of getting it (v.11). All of these people messed up because they wanted to take short cuts to glory instead of persevering in obedience to God.
By contrast, Jude urges his readers to keep doing the right things right. He encourages them to “contend for the faith” (v.3) recognising that holding on to, and standing up for, the truth involves a fight. He tells them to build themselves up (v.20) by praying in tongues. He urges them to guard and keep themselves in the love of God (v.21), to refute the arguments of those who seek to undermine the gospel (v.22) and to seek to hold on to those who are wavering in their faith (v.23). He knows that it will take effort, focus and determination to keep going in the faith until the end of their race.
But Jude also knew that as we do our part, God will do His, to ensure that we stay on track. He is the God who is able to keep us from falling and to present us unblemished to the Father (v.24). Praise Him!
Prayer:
* Commit yourself to contend for the faith, and thank God that He is working in you to help you walk closely with Him day by day.
* Pray for your cell members and anyone you disciple, that they would resist all temptation from the enemy and stay faithful to the end.
Tuesday 29 November – 2 Thessalonians 3
Doing Good
The phrase that really challenged me today is in v.13. It says, “But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”
A statement that often comes up in sermons is, ‘Keep on doing the right things right.’ I don’t know about you, but often I am tempted to take a short cut or disobey a rule because it is inconvenient.
Where I live we have a fire escape outside a lounge on the top floor. The other day I was in there looking for my son. I was tired and hot and in a rush, and I was really tempted to go down the fire escape because it comes out right by my front door. I remember going almost out the door. Nobody was around, it is a rule that doesn’t make sense to me except that it is dangerous for kids, and I knew I would be causing no harm to anybody. I physically stopped and deliberated going towards the fire escape and then turned around. I felt a strong nudge from Holy Spirit remind me that He is watching and I need to do the right thing. So, I backed out and went the long way around.
Sometimes, it is wearying, both physically and spiritually to do the right thing. Somebody annoys you and you want to display your impatience; somebody says something nasty and you want to retaliate; you do all the work and just for once you want to relax and sit back and make others do the work instead. God has a different standard though. His is a standard of always striving for excellence and maintaining a high level of integrity. His is a standard of doing good no matter what the cost or consequence. Doing good does not always come naturally to us, but it is the root or basis of our new nature in Christ. We need to set an example by doing good just as Paul says earlier in the chapter that the Thessalonians set an example to the other believers.
Today I challenge you to make it a discipline in your life always to do good, to train yourself always to do the right things right and maintain a high level of integrity.
Prayer:
* Repent if God is convicting you about not always choosing to do what is good.
* Ask His help to make right choices and not to grow weary in doing good.
* Pray for the other members of your cell.
Monday 28 November – 2 Thessalonians 2
Stand Fast
Verse 15 says “Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” I was reminded of a hymn we used to sing when I was growing up. I used to belong to Boys Brigade, which is a Christian organization for boys and teenagers. The motto was ‘Sure and Steadfast’ and the logo was an anchor. The first verse of the hymn goes like this:
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
I have watched quite a few movies about the sea and some of the storms that occur on the sea. (Titanic, The Perfect Storm and Poseidon, to name a few). The sea is an unpredictable, untamed, violent force of nature. It can destroy a ship the size and weight of the Titanic in an instant. It can take you way out to sea on its dangerous currents before you realize it. It can leave you floundering on the brink of drowning if you get caught in the cross-currents near the shore. It is beautiful but dangerous.
This verse exhorts us to stand fast and hold onto the traditions which we were taught. These traditions are not rituals but rather instructions that have been passed down from one person to another. In this instance when Paul uses the word ‘tradition’ he is talking about the revealed truth of God that contains no error. This verse could be worded as ‘hold onto the teachings of the revealed truth of God which you have been taught.’
Ephesians 6 is probably the most well-known spiritual warfare passage in the Bible. If you read through that chapter, the word ‘stand’ occurs 3 times between verses 10 and 20. When a word occurs frequently, a point is being made. Chapter 6 of Ephesians links in with our verse in Thessalonians. Satan wants to destroy us but Paul is advising us in both passages to stand. To be able to stand in the face of our enemy we need to know the truth. When we hold onto the truth that we have been taught, we are able to stand firm. Our anchor will hold in all the storms of life.
Prayer:
* Ask God where you may have weak points in your understanding of the truth.
* Ask God for more revelation of the truth so that you can stand more firmly.
* Pray for the other members of your cell group.
Sunday 27 November – 2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians
Introduction
Author: Paul
Date
This epistle was written from Corinth shortly after 1 Thessalonians, between AD 51 and AD 52.
Purpose
Communication in the early church times was not what it is today. A phone call or a session on Skype™ with Paul would have cleared up the questions that any of the early churches had. Instead, though, they had to write a letter with their questions and then track Paul down, and then he would dictate his reply to them and it would be sent back. This process could take anything from weeks to months. There were some misunderstandings that had crept into the church, through false teachers, about the Second Coming, and this epistle was written to counter the false teachings. In addition, Paul takes the opportunity to encourage the young believers to stay steadfast and to work for their living.
1 and 2 Thessalonians compared
There are some who believe that 1 and 2 Thessalonians contradict each other on the doctrine of the second coming. The two epistles are actually complimentary. 1 Thessalonians speaks about the suddenness of Jesus coming back to those who are unprepared. 2 Thessalonians highlights some of the events that will occur before Jesus returns.
Destiny
Recently I have been thinking a lot about making a difference in the world. Destiny is a subject close to my heart, and I have been examining who God made me to be and asking Him to reveal more of my destiny. I want to fulfill my destiny because I know it is the only place that I will be fulfilled and the only way that I can truly leave a legacy behind me.
William Jennings Bryan wrote, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” This quote encapsulates some of my beliefs about destiny. I need to proactively seek my destiny and intentionally walk in the path God leads. I need to constantly check each step of the way with God to ensure that I am following in His footsteps and not going astray.
David waited about 20 years from the time he was anointed as king to when he became king. Joseph waited about 20 years from the time that he had his dreams to the time that he was second in charge over all of Egypt. Abraham waited about 25 years from the time he was promised descendants to the time that Isaac was born. Jesus only began His ministry at 30. This highlights how much time there is for me to go astray if I am not actively seeking God for each step I take in the path He has set for me.
You may be wondering what this has to do with today’s passage. Paul was exhorting the Thessalonians, and he made some statements that I want as part of my legacy, things that people observe about me as I walk through this life.
My faith is growing exceedingly (v.3).
I have patience and faith in persecution (v.4).
Counted worthy of the Kingdom of God (v.5).
Counted worthy of His calling and fulfilling all the good pleasure of His goodness
(v.11).
The name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in me (v.12).
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you walk closely with Him, growing in faith and obedience, so that you can enter in to all that He has prepared for you and leave a good legacy for future generations.
* Pray for our church celebrations today, that each person would be encouraged to press in and press on in their walk with the Lord.
Saturday 26 November – 1 Thessalonians 5
The Nature of God
At the beginning of this chapter we are reminded that we are not people of the night, but people of the light. To those of the night, Jesus will come like a thief in the night. We need to be awake and ready for Him. This means that no matter when Jesus comes back, we are in a place of no regrets because we offered God our best at all times.
I was discussing with someone the other day how most immoral behaviour occurs at night, and Paul refers to this in v.7. We live in the light and are people of the light, and we need to live a life that reflects this. Further on in the chapter Paul lists some things that describe what walking in the light looks like. I am a list person and appreciate the specifics of what is expected of me, so this passage is really helpful! This list brought to mind specific areas where I have failed. I think of failure as part of learning; every experience whether good or bad is an opportunity to learn and grow. In v.23, Paul prays that our whole body, soul and spirit would be preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord. Blameless does not mean sinless, but free from regret and above reproach. This is how I want my life to be – a life of no regrets. As you read through this list be encouraged that God tells us what He is like and how we can be like Him.
Recognize those who labour among you.
Esteem highly in love those in authority over you.
Warn the unruly.
Comfort the fainthearted.
Uphold the weak.
Be patient with all.
Don’t allow anyone to offer evil for evil.
Pursue what is good for yourself and others.
Pray without ceasing.
Be thankful in everything.
Don’t resist the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Don’t despise prophecies.
Test all things.
Hold onto what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil.
Prayer:
* Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you which areas you need to grow in.
* Pay attention only to the areas that Holy Spirit points out to you.
* Ask God for a strategy to help you grow in these areas.
* Be obedient to what He tells you!
Friday 25 November – 1 Thessalonians 4
Purity in an Impure World
Throughout the Bible we are exhorted to abstain from sexual immorality. In our world today, sexually explicit material is everywhere; the pornography industry is huge; prostitution and child-prostitution is rampant; rape and other sexual crimes are extremely high; reality TV shows encourage sexual activities outside of marriage; daytime TV shows look at marriages that are sexless because of pornography; homosexuality is accepted more and more in and out of the church; sex outside of marriage is the norm; tax laws are being changed to encourage people to live together outside of marriage.
On a recent news programme the presenters asked the public to write in with their views on how to stay committed to marriage today. One of the presenters said she had no problem as she and her partner had managed to stay together for 10 months so far! Last week she was talking about her four month old baby. Putting the numbers together, she was pregnant before they got married. I remarked to my wife that the whole nation knows this now, and she reminded me that society says that it is OK. I am trying to teach my children to have sexual purity, yet society is bombarding them with a different message.
In Paul’s day, most of the pagan religions condoned sexual immorality as part of their religious rites. Roman culture had few sexual boundaries. A major issue in the early church was to maintain sexual purity. Things appear to be no different today.
Here is a list of sexual activities the Bible prohibits:
Lust i.e. the sinful desire for illicit sex (1 Peter 4:3).
Adultery i.e. extramarital sex (Exodus 20:14).
Incest i.e. sex with a close relative other than one’s spouse (Leviticus 18:6-18).
Homosexuality i.e. sex with a person of one’s own gender (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Bestiality i.e. sex with an animal (Leviticus 18:23).
Verses 7 and 8 are key verses that say, “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” We need to take a passion for sexual purity into our world today.
Prayer:
* Pray for the church, that we would give a clear and compelling message about sexual purity.
* Pray for the young people in our society growing up without moral guidelines and subject to so many sexual pressures.
Thursday 24 November – 1 Thessalonians 3
Afflictions
Today, I would like to highlight v.3 which says, “That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” This is a subject that we would rather avoid, preferring to focus more on the blessings of Christianity because it appeals to our comforts. Here are some other verses to look at that relate to this one.
2 Timothy 3:12: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
John 15:18-21: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me (Jesus) before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
These verses are a reality check for me. They show me that we are to expect afflictions as part of our life in Christ. Yet, when they come along I get so surprised and annoyed that anything hard should happen to me. I am a Christian, abundantly blessed by God, with eternal life and the God of the universe on my side, so WHY ME?
The reality is that life is harder for a Christian today because we cannot behave the way the world behaves; we don’t have the moral (or immoral) code that the world has. More and more, Christians are being alienated and persecuted, and the world is moving increasingly into godlessness, which means that we have to move upstream against the flow.
We need to expect afflictions, friends, and when they come we need to take James’ words as our cloak, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:3). We need to realise that affliction is something that will refine and condition us to make us more like Christ. We like to focus on blessing, and this verse shows us that as we endure trials there is blessing: we will have more patience!
Prayer:
* Ask God to help you not to run from affliction but to recognise its value and its necessity in this life.
* Pray for any Christians you know of who are suffering for their faith right now.
Wednesday 23 November – 1 Thessalonians 2
A Couple of Questions
We know that 1 Thessalonians was written in response to what Timothy found when he visited the Thessalonian church to find out how they were doing. I was trying to figure out what the questions were that Paul was trying to answer, knowing the questions would be useful in identifying with the Thessalonians, and applying what we read in Paul’s letter to them.
Question 1: Was Paul’s coming to the Thessalonians in vain?
After Paul’s arrival in Thessalonica, he caused some unrest. Reading through Acts 17 and 18 gives us some background to some of the goings on. A friend wrote to me this week. He started a DIY project at home because he wanted something to do on the weekends. His parents got ill and had to come and live with him. Now, his house is a mess, his parents require a lot of care, and he doesn’t have the time to finish the project. After starting a project like this you would wonder if it was all in vain.
In vv.13-16 we see that Paul going to Thessalonica was not in vain because he brought the Gospel to them. They had been converted, and the church was setting a good example. As Christians, we need to count the cost of the gospel, and often we think the price is too high. We have to work through this because the price is high when following Jesus – it will cost you your life! Are you prepared to pay the price? If not, you may wonder if it is all in vain because the soil of the world we live in today is resistant.
Question 2: Was Paul’s message authentic and his conduct above reproach?
This question was bothering the Thessalonians when Timothy visited, and Paul justifies his conduct to them in this letter. He remained above reproach; he did not want to be a burden, so took no financial help at all; he gave the gospel truthfully and freely; he did not seek glory from men; he did not deceive the Thessalonians; he was gentle and cherished the Thessalonians as a mother does her baby.
The message today is that we need to walk worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make sure our conduct is above reproach.
Prayer:
* Ask the Lord to help you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
* Pray for our church leaders who labour so faithfully for God and for us.
Tuesday 22 November – 1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians
Introduction
Author: Paul
Date
This letter was probably written from Corinth around AD 51 and is probably Paul’s earliest epistle.
Thessalonica
This was one of the first cities to be evangelized by Paul and Silas when they landed on the continent of Europe. Paul had a divine vision of a man from Macedonia inviting Paul to preach the gospel there, and that’s what drew them to this region. Thessalonica was a port city and commercial centre located about 100 miles from Philippi in the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. The Egnatian Way, an important highway linking Rome with Byzantium, passed through it, making it a thriving port and one of the wealthiest trade centres in the Roman Empire.
Because of its strategic location, it also became a base for the gospel to spread into Greece and Macedonia. In Acts 17 and 18 we read that Paul preached for three Sabbath days in Thessalonica and had great success with Jews and God-fearing Greeks. Some who rejected Paul’s message and were envious of his success hired some thugs to attack him. When Paul could not be found, Jews brought Jason, the owner of the house where Paul was staying, before magistrates and charged him with treason on the grounds that he was harbouring someone who was teaching that there was another king, Jesus. Jason was released after paying a bond or security. Paul and Silas felt it wise to move from Thessalonica, even though it meant cutting their work there short. They went to Berea and had to move from there as well; then Athens briefly and then Corinth. Meanwhile, Paul was concerned about the believers in Thessalonica and sent Timothy to see how they were doing.
Purpose
Paul was deeply concerned about the state of affairs in the newly-formed church he had had to leave so abruptly. Unable to return himself, he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the young believers there were getting on. Timothy brought back a good report about the growth of the infant church and the progress of the believers. This letter is Paul’s response to what Timothy found there, and advice about various issues that might trip them up in their Christian walk.
Hard Questions
There are two statements in v.3 that we should examine, which will challenge and teach us today.
Labour of Love. This is an interesting choice of words because work is generally pleasant, stimulating and fulfilling but labour is hard, strenuous, relentless and sweaty work often to the point of fatigue, weariness and exhaustion; you can barely stand up when you have finished. The Thessalonians’ love for Christ was labour as they “received the word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Spirit.” (v.6). The world today seems to be persecuting Christians more and more.
I was challenged by this today because a few months ago I was struggling with God because I didn’t think God was doing His bit in meeting my needs. Arrogant, eh! For a few weeks I really wrestled with God over some stuff. Today I felt so bad that my faithfulness and commitment to God was influenced by my comforts. Do we labour out of love for Christ or are we going to give up on God when the going gets too tough? Hmmm…. hard question!
Patience of hope. In v.10 it says “and to wait for His Son from Heaven, who He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” The believers in Thessalonica fixed their hope firmly on the return of Jesus, and they were patient in the knowledge that whatever happened, Jesus would deliver them.
I don’t know about you, but my hope is not always fixed on the return of Jesus. My eyes are looking way before that event, and I spend more time thinking about how God will work out things tomorrow than looking to the return of Jesus. I plan on tomorrow being there! Today I am challenged by the life perspective of the Thessalonians, and strive for the balance “to live life like there is no tomorrow but to live life so I don’t waste tomorrow”. I think this perspective on life may change what we do each day. If there was no tomorrow, would you go to the gym today, or go clothes shopping, or play squash, or worry about having no money? Hmmm…. another hard question!
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you have the right perspective on life; to labour for the kingdom with your hope fixed not on this life but on the things to come.
* Pray for any new Christians you know, that they would grow in their knowledge of the Lord and their love for Him.
Monday 21 November – Jeremiah 52
How do we Measure Success?
In this appendix to the Book of Jeremiah we are given more details of the fall of Jerusalem recorded earlier in Chapter 39. This chapter demonstrates the fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecy about the demise of that city. In fact, with our hindsight and further knowledge of history we can see that everything Jeremiah prophesied came to pass.
So how do we see Jeremiah? The world would see him as a failure – he was poor and unpopular, with few friends and family members to support him. His prophesies were rejected by both the politicians of his time and the religious leaders. Yet despite all this He was obedient to God and fulfilled the work God gave him to do.
How do we measure success? In today’s society it is measured in terms of money, possessions and status – the circles you move in, the designer clothes you wear, the gadgets you own, the car you drive, the area you live in. But for God the standards are different. He is interested in obedience, faithfulness, living a righteous life, carrying out the work He has entrusted to us. He looks for the fruit of the Spirit in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Are you chasing after worldly success – trying to impress people? Or are you seeking after God’s kingdom first, trying to please him?
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you to be strong and obedient like Jeremiah.
* If you have been chasing after the wrong kind of success, repent now and ask God to help you adjust your thinking.
* Thank God for the gift of prophecy and pray that God would raise up people to speak with a prophetic voice in today’s society.