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You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
4 So [hoste] that we [hemas] ourselves [autos] glory [kauchaomai] in [en] you [humin] in [en] the churches [ekklesia] of God [theos] for [huper] your [humon] patience [hupomone] and [kai] faith [pistis] in [en] all [pas] your [humon] persecutions [diogmos] and [kai] tribulations [thlipsis] that [hos] ye endure: [anechomai]KJV-Interlinear
4 therefore, we ourselves speak
proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the
midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. NASB
When Daniel was visited
by the angel, he was told that in heaven he was highly esteemed.And so too, Paul indicates that there were
those in Thessalonica who were well regarded.
As with Daniel, so too
those folks in Thessalonica were well respected, not because of who they were,
not respected because of their personable attributes, not respected because of
their wealth or social status or talents or attainments in this world, but they
were well respected because of their faith, and their ability to stay with
their faith, even in the midst of the difficult times they had to live with, in
their day.
When one is successful,
talented, popular and so forth, it is very easy to be
polite or even generous with your time and attention.
However, when your life
is falling apart, when you fall on hard times, when the world has seemingly
abandoned you to the dogs, then holding on to your once personable personality
is difficult, let alone your faith.
In difficult times, it
is very easy to blame others, become angry, become disillusioned, even blame God for your predicament. Why me?
And certainly without a
daily Bible study, your spiritual resources will be lacking and your
orientation to life will lead you in the wrong direction.
Only with a commitment to
a daily study, can you realize that it is not God who is after you, but the
world who is trying to get you away from God and His plan for your life.
Daniel had a
reputation.The Thessalonians had a
reputation.And their reputations had nothing
to do with worldly talents or accomplishments.
They had faith in their
life, and a faith that was not blind, but powered by Bible doctrine in their
souls.
Faith is not a wish and
a roll of the dice.True faith is developed
through learning truth and is aided by the correct orientation to life with
confidence.
Knowledge of God
through doctrine, builds up understanding, and application of that
understanding builds up confidence, and confidence builds up wisdom and
certainty, and that in turn builds up faith.
The circumstances of life
in this world are full of uncertainties and hopelessness because the world
cannot guarantee success or happiness, or anything else.By itself, the world can offer you
nothing.The Bible calls it vanity or
emptiness or nothingness.
However, the spiritual
life originates from God, and in God there is certainty, because God is able to
do what He wills, and to fulfill all of His promises. God has endless power, endless sovereignty, endless
resources, endless authority, endless ability, and more.Moses was told when he asked Gods name, I Am, which stands for infinite resources.All of Gods attributes are infinite, and therefore
the tripling of the response so indicates the cohesiveness and infinity of the
Godhead.
Therefore, in doctrine
there is the revealing of Gods endless abilities, which He places at your
disposal, through faith.
No, God is not a
genie.No, God is not going to grant
your wishes.But yes, God will advance
you to spiritual maturity and advanced wisdom, such that your faith will be
second to none, and your spiritual perseverance will not falter when the world
attempts to cause you to lose your faith by blasting you with an endless stream
of problems.
The world has nothing
to offer you, but God has everything to offer.
The world cannot offer you
true esteem, only empty and temporary accolades.
True respect, true
reputations come only from heaven, which is the only place that they will count
for anything, and be permanent.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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