Women of Firm Faith

Afflictions are a normal part of one's walk with the Lord.   2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”   Although perfectly normal, the enemy will often use them to derail a believer, or even disqualify them altogether. Mark 4:16-17 describes how the word can be received this way,  “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”   There are also those who say they know Jesus, but have unbelief in their heart. Their actions always give them away.  Titus 1:15-16, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being ...

Verses 1-9,  “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness— God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and to...

Paul writes a letter to the church in Thessalonica, along with Timothy and Sylvanus, who were his co-laborers in ministry. Paul was used by God to plant this church, after only three weeks of effective teaching. We read in Acts 17:1-4,  “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”   When God opens up an effective door for ministry, no one, not even Satan, can shut it. These three Sabbaths were so effective at persuading a great multitude to believe, because Paul was not trying to persuade them with human w...

Verses 2-4,  “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”   Paul speaks here of the effectiveness of earnest, vigilant prayer, coming from thankful hearts. It is very hard to maintain bitterness in your heart when you are seeking God daily. The realization of His grace toward you alone is enough to cause you to be thankful, and in response, be gracious toward others. You can tell who is  not  spending time in God's presence because they have no joy, no peace, and no love for their brethren. Because they do not obey His commands, they follow the dictates of their own heart and backslide rather than progress in their walks.   Jeremiah 7:23‭-‬24, “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be ...

Verses 1-4,  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”   If we are truly born again, then our lives should look different from before. Our focus should be on heavenly things, not on things of the earth that we know will one day vanish. We have a limited amount of time and energy while here on earth, so how do we use ours? Many who claim to be saved, will not die to their life. You can tell because they constantly complain about how they are being wronged, or grumbling about what they think they ought to have, but don't. They are so focused on themselves, in fact, that they cannot even see the needs of others. Nor do they have the peace of God, but rather confusion.   James 3:16, “For w...

Paul is encouraging the church in Colosse to continue in the faith that they once received. Verses 6-7,  “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”   What is interesting here is that they had never seen Paul in person, and yet they accepted his position of authority in their lives. Also, you could say that Paul had not seen them, but still had internal conflict over their spiritual well-being; meaning his love for them is sincere. This is the power of the Holy Spirit. Physical distance does not need to separate true believers in Christ. The closer to God we walk, the more alone and isolated we may feel at times. After all, the world is under the sway of the wicked one and many inside the church are following the same broad path that leads to destruction as the unsaved.   Philippians 3:17-19, “Brethren, join in following my ...

Verses 3-8,  “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.”   As the gospel was being spread around the world, Paul is hearing of the faith of those living in Colosse and the fruit of their belief and their love for the saints. It didn't matter to Paul that he was not the planter of this church, and they had learned about the Lord through Epaphras. It blessed Paul regardless, because he wasn't concerned with ga...

Paul loved the Philippians greatly, who brought him much joy as their leader in ministry. He calls them his crown because they are evidence of his labor in Christ. Our hearts should be to bring that kind of joy to our leaders. Being stubborn and unwilling to yield causes them grief and does not profit you either. This same principle applies to our husbands. The walks of a man's family members, or those he loves, should be the crown or fruit of their labors and bring them joy not sorrow. As much as this church had right, Paul still needed to exhort them to put differences aside and focus on the unity they had as believers in Christ. It is to easy to get caught up in the differences we have, but we need to set those aside and  be of the same mind in the Lord.  This does not mean you overlook sin in the church just to keep friendships. Many today accept differences of mind toward God, in order to embrace commonality in temporal, fleshly things. This is totally backwards and not w...

Verses 2-6,  “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”   As believers in Christ, we must rejoice in Him and not in ourselves or the situations we find ourselves in. We are called to do  “all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”  Philippians 2:14-15.  Paul would not be warning against dogs and e...

Verses 1-11,  “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, ...

Verses 4-11,  “I thank God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Paul wrote this letter while under Roman house arrest, to the ...

Verses 1-9,  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Children are called to obey their parents because it is the right thing to do. Unfo...

Verses 1-7,  “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” We are told to walk wisely and understand the will of the Lord. So what is the will of the Lord for us? In a word... holiness . We are called to be imitators of Jesus, who was our ultimate example. Of course we will never fully measure up to Christ, whic...