2 Timothy 2:4

A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. (2 Timothy 2:4)

Three points:

1. We Christians are soldiers.

The battle is NOT physical; it IS spiritual. The Devil continuously fights us with temptation. He does this by sorrows, troubles, sickness, discouragement, verbal abuse from some non-christians. He never quits; we can never be discharged from battle. We may desert, but never are we discharged.

2. We want to please.

We want to please our commanding officer, the Lord Jesus. If not, why not? Too many today do not want to please the Lord Jesus. Things in this life have distracted us. Sin looks too attractive. God helps us. We need repentance.

3. Civilian life

Civilian life here is living like the world, instead of the way the Lord Jesus wants us to live. We look to the world to get our clue on how to dress, act, marry, raise our children. Why are there so many Christian divorces? Why is there little, if any, difference between Christian and non-christian? It is because we are mixed up in the civilian life. The Devil has beat us. Let us plead to the Lord Jesus for help; let us forsake our sins; let us ask forgiveness, and let us repent. God will help us.

Psalms 15:1

LORD, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?
(Psalms 15:1)

Three points:

1. Lord

Who is he talking about? Lord implies someone with authority; it also implies--from the way it is used here--someone to whom I submit. This Psalmist is someone who has submitted to God. Is He your Lord?

2. Who may enter your Temple?

Note the word "your". Entering voluntarily to worship the Lord. There is also desire, a willingness, and ability. We have all this. Are we eager to enter His Temple and worship Him, or is something holding us back like sin or pride?

3. Who may worship?

Is there some qualification? Is there some requirements? Surely there is. The rest of the Psalm deals with that. We need to have our beliefs and actions in line with Gods.

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Three points:

1. There is great reason to be happy

People like to be happy. There is no greater happiness of being thankful to God than knowing the forgiveness of sins.

2. Garments of salvation

After Adam and Eve sinned (disobeyed God's law), they clothed themselves in fig leaves. After repentance, God clothed them with the garments of salvation--lamb skins.

3. We are like Adam and Eve

We sin (disobey) against God, too. With our repentance, God clothes us with salvation. Our sins are forgiven. Any true Christian understands; the weight, burden, of sin and guilt is gone. It is time to rejoice. Let us be thankful and rejoice today.

Galatians 1:9

We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell! (Galatians 1:9)

Three points:

1. What the is Gospel?

If you're not sure take the Good Person Test. In summary: we have broken God's law. We are liars, thieves, blasphemer, adulterers, and coveters. This type of person must be punished. God's punishment is hell. The Lord Jesus Christ died for sins; he paid the punishment. Now we must repent, call on Him to forgive our sins, trusting Him, and giving Him the right place in our lives.

2. Any other gospel is wrong.

The gospel of good works, intellectual assent, or "You need an experience with God" will all fail. Any other gospel spoken by someone is condemned, along with that person.

3. Know the true gospel and preach that.

Let's not fool ourselves by doing anything else.

Exodus 23:8

Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent. (Exodus 23:8)

Three points:

1. Bribe

A bribe is anything that will appeal to our lusts. We desire money, career advancement, favors, etc, so "here take this, and help me out." We are only fooling ourselves to allow this.

2. Bribes blind us

A bribe will cause us to close our eyes to truth and making proper judgments. Someone buys what they want from a person in authority.

3. Bribes ruin the innocent

Accepting a bribe means a good decision is not made. It is prejudiced. Thank God His decisions are always right. Let us be prepared to go what is right. Doing what is right is in the Bible.

James 5:7-8

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8)

Three points:

1. Be patient

Patience is waiting with contentment. We can't be frustrated, whinny, or manipulative. The waiting may be long or short.

2. The farmer

An example is given to us of a farmer. A farmer plants and must wait for the harvest. There is no way to speed up or slow it down. This type of patience is what we need.

3. The Lord Jesus will return

It is hard to wait for our Lord to return for us and straighten out the mess in this world. We must establish our hearts, that is, make up our mind,our emotions, desires, and passion, for He will come, but we must wait. This is faith: the Lord Jesus said that he would come, and He will come.

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. (Romans 12:16)

Three points:

1. Have an honest opinion about yourself.

We shouldn't think that we're better than someone else or worse than someone else. If we are, we should be humble about it.

2. Don't be a so-called name dropper.

We shouldn't try to be friends with the famous just so we can say, "Yea, so and so is a friend of mine." It is a type of pride.

3. Realize our opinion may not be the best.

We can give our views, but we need to be aware that others may have a better or worse opinion. Listen, then speak. It doesn't mean we have to give up our opinion but to listen and realize ours may not be the best. Truth is the criteria, not science. The Bible is better than science. Truth and facts don't change; science does.

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)

Three points:

1. They overcame.

What did they overcome? They overcame the Devil, Satan, the adversary.

2. How did they overcome?

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. We cannot overcome Satan without God's help. He is simply too strong. But with the blood of the Lamb, there is no difficulty. They also overcame him by the word of their testimony. They did not deny the Lord Jesus when things got tough. They were faithful. They prayed. They were content to wait until God delivered them.

3. They didn't make their life top priority.

They loved something, someone, more than themselves. How much do we love the Lord Jesus? Are we willing to follow, even if we might have to die because of it? He suffered and died. We might have to also.

Psalms 111:4

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. (Psalms 111:4)

Three points:

1. God doesn't do anything without reason.

His creation, His dealings with people, His promises are all wonderful works to be remembered. Memorizing has its blessings. Look around you, take a break and be outside, see all that God has done. It is through the intricate detail and design that we are aware of His creative genius.

2. The Lord is gracious.

Grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Consider everything that you and I have. We do not deserve it. It is a blessing and gift from God. Even the hard things in life, God turns around to be a blessing.

3. The Lord is full of compassion.

Some make him out to be a tyrant, but He is not. Remember how Jesus had compassion on the multitude and fed them, how He healed the sick, and how he dealt with His enemies. But the day is coming when we die as it is appointed and after that the judgment.

Job 34:29

When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?-- (Job 34:29)

Three points:

1. God is sovereign.

He can do what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants. No one can stop Him.

2. God gives peace.

If God gives peace, there will be peace--whether it is an individual or a nation. It is conditional. The person or nation must meet His conditions. The person must repent, confess their sins, and by trusting in the Lord Jesus call on His name, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

3. God is not found by our examination.

No matter how we look, test, examine, search, or seek, He will not be found, if He wishes to be hidden. But the Lord Jesus has come, and He can be found by those who seek Him. We who are Christians can truly rejoice!

Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

Three points:

1. Sometimes the godly life is tested.

Are we really a Christian? What better way to prove it then to test it. Abraham was tested, the Lord Jesus was tested, and all the saints from the first until now. A friend of mine has had a non-healing fracture of his leg. This has gone on for months. He cannot work, he cannot walk, he cannot do much of anything except sit. How is his faith? Strong.

2. Abraham believed God would take care of the problem.

Shouldn't we have the same attitude? Pray, then wait for the answer. It may be, "No" or "Yes". We don't know how God will answer, but He will.

3. They continued walking.

While waiting we still must go on living. No sloughing now; it is time to live. Keep the faith. Pray and wait. God values waiting.