December 1st THE PARABLES
Why Parables?
This is why I speak to them in these parables; because they go through life witth
their eyes open, but see nothing, and with their ears open,
but understand nothing of what they hear.
Matthew 13:13, J.B. Phillips New Testament
The Greek word...
LOST and FOUND
When do we receive Eternal Life?
And this is the eternal life, namely, that they might be having an experiential knowledge of you, the only genuine God, and of Him whom you sent on a mission, Jesus Christ
John 17:3, An Expanded Translation, Wuest
What is eternal...
LOST and FOUND
A Real Christian (b) Christ IN You
To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations,
I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood
Galatians 1:16, Modern English Version
Locked inside a prison cell, undernourished and dying. Perhaps you felt that...
LOST and FOUND
A Real Christian (a) You IN Christ
So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old things have passed away, behold, they have become new
2 Corinthians 5:17, Recovery Version
What makes a real Christian? Is he someone who has reached higher levels on a...
LOST and FOUND
How can I Feel Less Stressed?
As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works,
just as God celebrates his finished works and rests in them
Hebrews 4:10, Passion Translation
Found but feeling fatigued. Saved but still stressed. Didn’t Jesus say that...
LOST and FOUND
What is your Worst Fear?
In God--I boast in his promise--in God I trust, I am not afraid.
What can mere men do to me?
Psalm 56:4, NET
What fear do you live with? Perhaps it is not coimetrophobia or nosocomephobia or even pogonophobia? (See a list of 227 phobias here...
LOST and FOUND
Enjoy freedom in the New Covenant (b)
They will no longer teach each one his neighbor, or each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ for all of them will know me, from their smallest and up to their greatest,” declares Yahweh, “for I will forgive their iniquity and their...
LOST and FOUND
Enjoy freedom in the New Covenant (a)
Christ defines your faith; he is your freedom from anything from which
the law could never free you! Find your firm footing in this freedom.
Do not let religion trip you up again and harness you to a system of rules and obligations...
LOST and FOUND
A New Creation in a New Covenant
So that, assuming that anyone is in Christ, he is a creation new in quality.
The antiquated, out-of-date things [which do not belong to the new life in Christ Jesus] have passed away. Behold, all things have become new in quality
2 Cor 517...
LOST and FOUND
A New Beginning?
Put on the new [καινὸν] self, which in the likeness of God
has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth
Ephesians 4:24, NASB
“My life is in a complete mess! I have tried to make changes, to start over again, only to fall flat on my face...
LOST and FOUND
Can Willful Sin cause me to Lose Salvation?
If we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light,
we have [unbroken] fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt
[keeps us...
LOST and FOUND
Will God Whip me into Shape if I Sin?
For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines,
and he scourges every son whom he receives
Hebrews 12:6, NASB
So, you’ve messed up again - a really bad sin this time! God has surely lost patience with you this time and will send you...
LOST and FOUND
Ready for Battle? (d) Prayer
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints
Ephesians 6:18, ESV
The whole armour of God is composed of six items. Prayer may be...
LOST and FOUND
Ready for Battle? (c) helmet, sword
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the spoken word of God;
Ephesians 6:17, New Heart English Bible
Man’s greatest strength is to trust God. Satan’s objective is to make us distrust God, painting...
LOST and FOUND
Ready for Battle? (b) breastplate, shield, boots
Take your stand then with … righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace
firmly on your feet … Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can
quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you...
LOST and FOUND
Ready for Battle? (a) belt
You must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you
confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
Ephesians 6:13, The Passion Translation
At times, does the will to resist a certain...
LOST and FOUND
How can I control sin?
Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
1 Peter 4:1, Modern English Version
The answer is - WE cannot control sin! Our...
LOST and FOUND
What is Repentance?
I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God
and faith in our Lord Jesus
Acts 20:21, HCSB
We have been taught that we need to repent and ask God for forgiveness every time we sin. This raises questions: What if I commit some...
LOST and FOUND
Justification and Sanctification (a)
For he that has died is justified from sin
Romans 6:7, Darby Bible Translation
“For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin” (NWT). In Watchtower theology this verse is applied to those to be resurrected on earth with a...
LOST and FOUND
You have Changed!
Do not be shaped by [conformed to; pressed into a mold by] this world [age];
instead be changed within [transformed] by a new way of thinking
[or changing the way you think; the renewing of your mind]
Romans 12:2, Expanded Bible
“Be transformed” in...