Posts

TO THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS

“Paul, and Silvanus [Silas] , and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2).   The Apostle Paul visited the City of Thessalonica about 50 or 51 A.D. during his second missionary journey.  During this trip, he had intended to go into Asia and preach the Gospel there, but the Holy Spirit prompted him not to.  He would have then traveled to Bithynia, but, again, the Spirit forbade him to do so.  It was then that Paul had a vision.  In it he saw a Macedonian man who prayed for Paul to come to Macedonia and help them.  Such clear direction from the Lord couldn’t be ignored.  Paul and his group, which included his fellow minister Silas, and the young disciple Timothy, promptly reversed directions. They passed through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica.    Wheneve...
Post a Comment
Read more

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, Whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness .” (Malachi 3:1-3).   “ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light : which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9, 10).   My wife and I had the opportunity to...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT

“ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing...Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” (John 15:5, 8).   “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth [prunes] it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ” (John 15:2, 3).   “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection .” (Luke 8:14).   Every fruit or nut bearing tree, and every fruit bearing shrub or vine, should produce healthy, mature fruit.  This is what they were created to do, and they do it quite naturally given the proper conditions:  good fertile ground, ample sunlight, consistent watering,...
Post a Comment
Read more