remem.me

David Passes Plans to Solomon

"Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;

And the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;

Also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord."

{Some of David's plans were his own, otherwise "plans...by the Spirit" would not have been mentioned}

The Lord Gave Plans

“All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.”

If You Forsake Him

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

Warning / Lord's Table

"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep."

Message of the Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Pray/Sing w/the Spirit & w/ Understanding

What is the conclusion then? I will PRAY with the spirit, and I will also PRAY with the understanding. I will SING with the spirit, and I will also SING with the understanding.

Psalms Listed 1st to be Included in Gatherings

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Paul Teaches the Lord’s Commandments

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

Paul makes the direct connection that what he teaches are actually the commandments of the Lord.

Tongues Edifies Yourself

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Paul's Planning

"Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).

And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

Great & Effective Door

But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Great & Effective Door

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Faith in God's Power

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;

That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Laborers Together eith God

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

For we are >laborers together with God< you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Deliver to Satan

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Anyone Called a Brother

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges.

Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Only What Edifies

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not edifying. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

Not All Expedient

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

(Find the things that ARE "EXPEDIENT" and constantly build yourself up & at the same time avoid that which tears you down)

Do Not Deprive

"Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment."

All Things to All Men

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

To those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

World Class Athlete / Christian

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

If We Confess

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sins of the Whole World

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."

Love Not the World

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."


In this passage, what promise is given to the one who "does the will of God"?

Must Keep God's Commands

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Because We Keep His Commandments

"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."

Spirit of Truth & Error

"They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

According to His Will

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Keeps Himself

"We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him."

If the Lord is God

So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

Plans for House of the Lord

"In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv.

And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he (Solomon) was seven years in building it."

Redeemed by the Blood

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Sprinkling of Jesus Blood

Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Born of the Word of God

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever, because,

“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Born of the Word of God

"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever!"

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Milk of the Word

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Called to Suffer as Jesus Did

19. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

20. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

Suffering in God's Will

"For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit"

Do Not Run With Them

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Shepherd God's Flock

"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

God Uses Music to Change People

After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is.

And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet A GROUP OF PROPHETS coming down from the high place WITH a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and THEY WILL BE PROPHESYING.

Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.

You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.

So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Anger from God's Spirit

Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.

So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

By Many or by Few

Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

{Sometimes finding God's will takes trial and error or even by multiple choice as to how a scenerio unfolds...after seeking the Lord’s guidance}

God Regrets Choosing Saul

Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying,

“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”

And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.

Skilful on the Harp

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.

And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”

So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”

Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.

So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Holy Spirits Overwhelming Power

Now it was told Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!” Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?”
And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” So he went there to Naioth in Ramah.

Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

David Strengthened Himself

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Eli's Certain Judgment

Then the Lord said to Samuel:

“Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.

And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

Works in Those Who Believe

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed It, not as the Word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works IN YOU WHO BELIEVE."

Satan Hinders Godly Plans

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Recognize those Over You

"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves."

Spiritual Overview

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He who calls you is faithful, Who also will do it.

Pure Conscience

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money

Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

Savior of All Men

"For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

These things command and teach."

Departing from the faith

1) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Saving You & Others

Till I come, GIVE ATTENTION to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

DO NOT NEGLECT the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

MEDITATE on these things; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY to them, that your progress may be evident to all. TAKE HEED to yourself and to the doctrine.

CONTINUE in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

In the Latter Times

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

Saving You & Others

MEDITATE on these things; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY to them, that your progress may be evident to all. TAKE HEED to yourself and to the doctrine.

CONTINUE in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Words of Faith

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ,

Nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Flee, Pursue, Fight, Lay Hold

But you, O man of God, FLEE these things and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

FIGHT the good fight of faith, LAY HOLD ON eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Notice the ACTION VERBS

Love of Money

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

God Himself Searches

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

To Know What Was in His Heart

Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items;
storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks.
Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property.
This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

Till There Was No Remedy

"And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.

But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy."

Weapons of Warfare / Obedience to Christ

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for:

PULLING DOWN strongholds,
CASTING DOWN arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God

BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY to the obedience of Christ."

No Dominion Over

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

No Dominion Over

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

Thorn in the Flesh

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for MY STRENGTH is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the POWER OF CHRIST may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.

For when I am weak, THEN I AM STRONG.

Spiritual Blindness

3. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4. Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

ALL THINGS Become New

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, ALL THINGS have become new.

Now ALL THINGS are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Ambassadors For Christ

That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Judgement Seat of Christ

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Separate

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Therefore - “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

Come Out & Be Separate

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate", says the Lord. "Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters", says the Lord Almighty.

Come Out & Be Separate

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate", says the Lord. "Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters", says the Lord Almighty.

Reap how you sow

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Do Not Receive or Greet

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.

For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Our God & Savior

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

A Dog & Sow Returning

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Peter: His Teachings & Paul’s Are Same

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

As also IN ALL HIS EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

God Wants None to Perish

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Faith Can Grow - Exceedingly!

3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

4. So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

5. Which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

Power, Signs, Lying Wonders

9. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10. And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Not Receiving the Love of the Truth

9. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10. And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12. That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Do Not Keep Company

And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Pray for Us & the Word

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Withdraw from the Disorderly

"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you."

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God;

Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began;

But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

To Be Thoroughly Equipped

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

BUT YOU must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Wise for Salvation

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture Inspired

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Perilous Times Coming

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Perilous Times Coming

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be...

Lovers of themselves,
Lovers of money,
Boasters, proud, blasphemers,
Disobedient to parents,
Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, Slanderers,
Wiithout self-control, brutal,
Despisers of good,
Traitors, headstrong, haughty,
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.

And from such people turn away!

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

Preach the Word

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

I Have Fought the Good Fight

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Jesus Healed All

"...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

1 year in Antioch

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Holy Spirit the Author

“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus"

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

Separate to Me

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,

“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Staying Where God Worked

Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

THEREFORE THEY STAYED THERE A LONG TIME, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Reporting to Antioch

From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

SO THEY STAYED THERE A LONG TIME with the disciples.

Strengthened in the Faith

And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Jews & Greeks Believe

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Therefore many of them (Jews) believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”

Double Checking Praised

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

Paul Preaches to Jews & Gentiles

“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.”

Reasoning From the Scriptures

“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.”

We must use the Scriptures to reason with & explain to people who Jesus really is. To do this, we must be spend much time in the study of the Word of God & in prayer.

God Hoping People Will Grope for Him

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

Jesus will Judge

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

Persuaded Jews and Greeks

“And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Paul 18 Months Corinth

When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

2 Year Stint

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Repentance & Faith

And when they had come to him, he said to them:

“You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Months in Greece

Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months.

And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Paul’s 3 Years of Ministry

"Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

Able to Build You Up

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Paul Refuses Redirection

And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

{Quality of Leadership: steadfast commitment to the revealed will of God}

Philip the Evangelist

On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.