2 Timothy (Program #5) – The Worsening of the Decline

One definition for decline in the American Heritage dictionary is “a disease that gradually weakens or wastes the body.”  Yesterday’s life study program from 2 Timothy chapter 2 was on the spread of the churches’ decline.  Now, today we are covering chapter 3 and the worsening of the churches’ decline.

We are bringing you the healthy words from the life study of 2 Timothy to counter the disease that would weaken the Body of Christ.

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Colossians (Program #25) – The Living of the Saints in the Union with Christ (1)

In any situation where you have more than one person occupying the same space, conflicts and differences are bound to occur regardless of how compatible these people might think they are. Just check with any married couple. While these conflicts are not only disruptive to a peaceful marriage life, they’re also devastating within the Body of Christ which Paul calls the New Man in Colossians and Ephesians. So what does the Bible offer as a solution to the conflicts that occur in our daily life and our Church life? Well, we’ll see in today’s life study of the Bible.

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Colossians (Program #11) – Filling Up What is Lacking Of The Afflictions of Christ

In the writings of the Apostle Paul, there are terms and  concepts found no other place in the Scripture.  It was Paul who talked about “the Body of Christ” and the “One New Man” and the “stewardship” or the “economy of the mystery”.  In Colossians 1:25 Paul said that it was given to him to complete or fill up the word of God.  Yet other writings came after his in the New Testament.  So in what sense was Paul’s ministry, a ministry of completion?

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Philippians (Program #16) – Being Like-Soul and Risking Our Soul

What causes divisions among Christians today?  Virtually every division in the Body of Christ comes from Christians who truly love the Lord and desire to do something for Him.  In this life study of Philippians program today we want to examine the source of division.  This is a fascinating life study and very much related to the experience of Christ.

Because our experience of Christ is affected by the matter of division. The basis for fellowship is the apostle Paul’s comment in Philippians 2:20 about Timothy been like-souled with him.  Paul says “I have no one like-souled who would genuinely care for what concerns you.”

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Ephesians (Program #67) -Putting on the New Man by Growing Up into Christ

The Church as seen in Ephesians has many aspects. First as the Body of Christ, the Church has His life. But even in a higher aspect is that of the New Man. In order for the Church to be joint with Christ as the head to become he New Man, it must not only have the life of Christ, but it must also have Christ as its’ person. It is this aspect that the apostle Paul was focused on as he prayed so earnestly in Chapter 3 that we would be strengthened so that Christ might make His home in our hearts.

What is it really to have Christ making His home in our hearts? It means that His person with His own likes and dislikes would occupy our hearts, replacing even becoming our own likes and dislikes.

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Ephesians (Program #56) – The Whole Armor of God (1)

The book of Ephesians unveils the Church as the center of God’s purpose and eternal plan. It also shows us the Church in several aspects that progress from the Body of Christ to a full grown man fully matured in life, in the expression of God to ultimately become the Bride of Christ for His satisfaction. That brings us to Chapter 6 and spiritual warfare.  Verse 10 “Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil”

It’s here that many readers of the Bible lose sight of one very crucial truth regarding the real focus of Ephesians.  Remember, Ephesians is a book on the Church, the corporate expression of God and in the realm of spiritual warfare, this is even more crucial. For us to put on the whole armor takes the Body, all the members, we can not fight the spiritual battle alone.

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Ephesians (Program #53) – A Summary of Exhortation in Chapter 5

Ephesians is the most profound book in the Bible portraying the Church as the Body of Christ, as the New Man, as the Bride and eventually a corporate warrior. No other book brings us such depth of understanding, to this very central item in God’s eternal purpose.

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Ephesians (Program #39) – Arriving at Three Things

Oneness is a critical matter in the book of Ephesians. This book which has the Church as the Body of Christ as its’ subject stressed oneness in a number of places. In Chapter 4 we’re told in verse 3, to be diligently to keep the oneness of the Spirit then in verse 13, we have a marvelous expression concerning oneness. “Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of  the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Yes, our oneness surely is the oneness of the Spirit but we must not overlook the destination of our oneness, a three fold destination.

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Ephesians (Program #36) – The Base of Our Oneness

In Chapter 4 of Ephesians there is a strong word by the apostle Paul regarding the oneness of the Body of Christ and how we as Christians need to keep this oneness diligently.  Verse 3 “Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace:”

But Paul does not then leave it to our imagination as to what this oneness actually means or how we are to keep it. Because he go on to say 3:4-6 “One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism;  One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.“

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Ephesians (Program #33) – To be Filled unto All the Fullness of God

The church means a variety things to different people.  Its’ lowest perception is that of a building on the corner. Higher yet is there is the gathering of the people of God.  Then to more enlightened students of the Bible is the Body of Christ. This is a more abstract term but certainly a higher understanding.

But finally we come to Ephesians especially Chapter 1, 2 and 3 where we see the highest definition of the Church. The Church which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all and to know the knowledge surpassing love of Christ that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. To see it in this light as the fullness of God requires more than simply Bible study.  As we study today, it requires a vision even revelation.

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