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Temptation

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Hearing God’s Voice

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: This is “a command showing that the prophetic is something that all Christians must learn how to excel in…not merely ‘prophets.’ “)

Hearing God’s Voice

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “Unfortunately, there are a lot of pathetic prophets who revel in oppressing people and manipulating people with their words. Yet, Paul gives us a life-giving filter through which we can scrutinize these so-called impressions.”)

Hearing God’s Voice

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “This simple verse explains that prophetic impressions of God never ‘take over our mouths’ like the demonic, nor give us an excuse for rudeness or rebellion. Indeed, the manner in which a word is delivered is as critical as the word itself. It should lead to peace.”)

Holy Living

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

(Footnote: Paul was quoting the Greek poet Menander.)

Perseverance

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Provision

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Holy Living

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Sexuality

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Holy Living

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

The Return of Christ

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Temptation

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.

Grace/Works—Salvation/Justification

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Temptation

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Holy Living

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Leadership/Pastoring

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it 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 will never fade away.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: This is “a command revealing the heart and spirit behind how we are to lead people and the rewards for doing so.”)

Anxiety/Thoughts

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Temptation

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The Return of Christ

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Sexuality

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.

The Return of Christ

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Prayer

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: This is “a command that joy and thanksgiving should always be a part of prayer.”)

Hearing God’s Voice

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: This is “a command to avoid the two extreme approaches to the prophetic that are common in today’s church: cynical abstainers vs. unhinged mystics.”)

Leadership/Pastoring

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: This is “a command that explains that both doctrine and lifestyle matter.”)

Generosity/Stewardship

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Calling/Destiny

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Provision

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Generosity/Stewardship

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

On the Bible

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

On the Bible

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Doctrines of Heaven & Hell

He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

The Return of Christ

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Leadership/Pastoring

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

On the Bible

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Return of Christ

(He) will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.

Calling/Destiny

God determined the times set for us and the exact places where we should live.

Holy Spirit

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “This verse communicates several profound truths: (1).The Baptism of the Holy Spirit results in true power – the kind they didn’t already posses. (2). God doesn’t merely want witnesses; but, witnesses with power. Thus, it is the thesis of the entire book of Acts.”)

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “This verse is doctrinally significant because, the infilling of the Holy Spirit is not automatic with salvation. The Scriptures often show the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a subsequent experience (see also Acts 19:2).”)

Doctrines of Heaven & Hell

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wiseawill shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “A scripture indicating that Hell is forever, not temporary. And that people will be conscious, not sleeping – two things that many cults deny.”)

Generosity/Stewardship

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Calling/Destiny

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Grace/Works—Salvation/Justification

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Leadership/Pastoring

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “This verse unpacks what many call the ‘five-fold’ ministry – five different types of leaders within the body of Christ.”)

Anger/Conflict Resolution

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Holy Living

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Holy Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

(Note from Pastor Peter Haas: “Although our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we still need to create space for Him through daily surrender. As Paul says a chapter later, “be continually filled” 5:18. And this is a classic summary of how His Spirit transforms our relationships.”)

Holy Living

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Holy Living

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Prayer

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Healing

He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.