“Command and teach these things….…. devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:11, 13 ESV
‘Forced Learning,’ it sounds negative. It gives the impression of lack of freedom and choice. It can also assume indoctrination. The world’s education system has many contributors forcing their brand of learning based off their worldview to indoctrinate unexpecting students. This is occurring from early childhood development to our colleges and universities. Sadly it is also in some of our most prestigious non-profit and religious organizations and even in some churches. The justification for this teaching is they are in sync with the changing progressive culture. People in the early days of the New Testament found themselves in much the same situations. Paul, the apostle, has a few words to say about this.
Paul was giving Timothy instructions on being a disciplined servant of Christ. Timothy’s job was to teach and instruct the church of the ways of God, salvation, and Chrisitan living in a world with an ever-changing culture. Paul said to ‘Command and teach these things.’ The early church faced false teachers claiming something new and contrary to Scripture. Timothy was to devote himself to being persistent in the public reading of Scripture in worship services. He was also to continue to exhort and teach the brethren, in fact Paul told Timothy to ‘command and teach these things.’ It sort of sounds like ‘forced learning,’ but if Timothy’s teaching was based on the truth of God’s Word from God Himself then Timothy had a responsibility to carry out that command to teach those things.
Christians today have the same responsibility to communicate the truth of God’s Word. This is not to be left up to the pastor but is an obligation of every living saint. The error of false teaching must be met with truth from the Bible. The progressive cultural of our day is increasingly drifting away from the Bible with their forced learning procedures. It’s time to ‘command and teach these things.’ in the love of Christ.
“…… train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT
A physical fitness program is worthwhile pursuing. There are countless benefits in maintaining good physical health. It is often said, ‘you have one life to live, so make it a good one.’ Being physically fit through exercising and healthy eating habits improves your life tremendously in this world but unfortunately doesn’t do a thing for the afterlife. But there is a training program available that will provide benefits for this life and the one to come. It is training yourself for godliness.
Paul told Timothy to train himself to be godly and to pass it on to those in the church he was pastoring. Timothy was battling false teachers submitting error in biblical doctrine leading people astray through godless ideas. It sounds very familiar to our day. Paul says not to waste time arguing over these ‘myths or fables’ which there really are, but to put a training program in place to instill godliness.
A spiritual training program for godliness requires self-discipline just as any physical fitness program. One must be dedicated to wanting spiritual growth and have a strong desire to live a godly life. Paul says this program promises benefits in this life. Benefits to us include a closer walk with God, a more effective prayer life, greater understanding of the Bible, and encouragement to share the gospel with others. This leads to the benefits of others as they now hear the word of God presented to them by godly people speaking and living the truth of the gospel and not the godless ideas of the day. We need to combat the false godless teaching of our day, but we must first be spiritually trained for godliness. So, let us get with the program.
At the end of the parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge (Lk.18:1-8) Jesus says, “I tell you; he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk.18:8 esv) Jesus is fast forwarding to His second coming and is indicating that a spiritual decline will be in progress. The time will be a time of persistent prayer for true believers similar to the woman in the parable.. This will be a time of mass spiritual decline. True faith will be scarce. False teaches will be leading people away from the gospel, and persecutions will be on the rise.
The apostle Paul informs Timothy of the same thing in his letter of instruction of 1 Timothy. “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” (1Tim.4:1 esv) As the days get closer to Christ’s return, Satan and his demons know they are running out of time. The day of everlasting torment is getting closer for them. Their only purpose is to lie, deceive, and destroy.
The world has been observing these devilish effects for some time now. There has been a great exodus of people from the church in recent years. Many churches have abandoned their gospel roots of salvation to include unbiblical methods of salvation to get along with the changing culture. It’s not hard to see who is behind this apostasy. The evil one is doing all he can to keep people in need of salvation from hearing the true gospel. Be aware Satan is also in the business of deceiving Christians with false doctrine to keep us from growing in Christ and from evangelizing the truth.
May we be alert to the deception around us, not getting caught up in it, and be in a steadfast position to continue to share the gospel in these ‘scarce faith’ times.
Last week we looked at the first of the Five Solas of the Reformation, ‘Sola Scriptura’ or scripture alone. The Bible being sufficient for all we need in the way of Salvation records the truth of Jesus’s own words in the gospel of John, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ (Jn.14:6) The second solas is ‘Solus Christus’ which states that salvation is only through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ alone. There is no other way to get to the Father except through Jesus and He doesn’t need any of our help to get us there. He is totally sufficient.
During the Reformation period, the church’s greatest need was to regain its focus on Christ as the head of the church. With that accomplished through Luther and the rest of the Reformers, the next step was to ensure the teaching of Scripture that Christ alone through faith was the only necessary means of salvation. Scripture confirms that Jesus is fully God and fully man making it possible for Him to be the only bridge between God and man. It was important for the Reformers to establish the Divine nature of Christ and His Human nature. The Reformers affirmed “The statement of faith made by the Council of Chalcedon (451). It reaffirms the Christological definitions of Nicaea and Constantinople and formally repudiates the errors of Nestorius and Eutyches. It declares Christ to be one Person in two natures, the Divine of the same substance as the Father, the human of the same substance as us; these are united unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, and inseparably.” (1)
Jesus as the only Savior, and the only way to God is the predicted Messiah in the Old Testament who was to come. The Hebrew word for Messiah is ‘mashiach,’ which means ‘anointed one.’ ‘Mashiach’ translated into Greek as ‘christos” translated into English as ‘Christ.’ Therefore Jesus Christ is the ‘Anointed One, Jesus the Messiah, the Savior.’
Note some verses from Scripture stating ‘Christ alone’ in Salvation. Jesus says to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6 nlt) And Jesus speaking to Nathanael after He called him to be His disciple said to him, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” (Jn. 1:51 nlt) Jesus is referring to the book of Genesis and Jacob’s dream of a ladder descending from heaven. Jesus, the Messiah, is the ladder for access between God and man.
All of us are lost in our sin estranged from God with no help of reconciliation on our own. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” (Is. 53:6 nlt) The Reformers witnessed the church falsely instructing people to secure their Salvation through indulgences and human works. Salvation is only available when full payment for our sin is paid for by the only one able to do so, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the sinless Son of God. And by faith in Christ (the ladder) and His death and resurrection, we have forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. ‘Solus Christus’ Christ alone is all sufficient for our Salvation.
There is an undercurrent here in the United States, and I believe in many nations around the world, of a spiritual revival about to take place. As in past history when people drift away from God, chaos erupts, society crumbles, and it appears all is lost. The cry of ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ is the sounding board used by many Christians to throw up their hands in defeat and give up. Yes, Jesus Christ is returning one day to rule, but it is in times like these that God raises up people to pick up the mantle of the gospel as the only way out of our present-day chaos. Individuals here in America and throughout the world are starting to have an impact on our current and future generations by following the Holy Spirit’s lead that revival starts with me, then the church, and then all nations.
The word ‘revival’ comes from two Latin words, ‘re’ meaning ‘again’ and ‘vivo’ which means ‘to live.’ So, the meaning is ‘to live again.’ Applying this to the Christian’s spiritual life it is the restoration of believers in Christ by the Holy Spirit’s work. This pertains to those of us who have also drifted away. There is no human strategy involved, but we are involved as we follow the Spirit’s leading. True revival starts small with a few people expanding to a group of people then to the whole church and on to other churches and cities around us exploding into the vast regions of the country in which we live. Richard W. DeHaan writes, “We shall consider ‘revival’ as that special season of refreshing when many believers simultaneously experience deep, Holy Spirit conviction, causing them to make private and public confession of sin, along with a renunciation of it…..and the whole experience bearing fruit in the salvation of the lost.” (1) Note that ‘revival’ is not political, it’s not governing, and it’s not claiming a special right or privilege. Revival is getting right with God which leads people to do the right and moral things in every aspect of their lives.
The word ‘nations’ used in the Bible both in the Old and New Testament means ‘people.’ The Hebrew word ‘goy’ is used as “nation, people.” In the New Testament, the Greek word used is ‘ethnos’ meaning “a race (Gentiles), people, a multitude living together.” Therefore we’re talking about people. This should quiet those who criticize movements of spiritual awakenings as found in some of our college campuses in the United States and elsewhere around the world as a political movement. It is not. It is the Holy Spirit working in the hearts and men and women who are serious about their relationship with Christ and desire to live accordingly.
Where do we go from here?
Pray! All Christians should be praying for revival in their own country and other countries around the world. It starts with individuals being sensitive to the Spirit’s call who is also calling others to join you and vice-versa. Don’t neglect the Holy Spirit’s nudging in this direction. Getting ourselves right with God, praying for others, and praying for those in authority to come to know Christ as savior will see a revival that will be hard to miss. Remember, revival is about changing lives. The rest will take of itself as revival expands through the nations.
“They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.” 1 Timothy 3:9 NLT
As 2025 comes to an end and we embark on a new year, ask yourself ‘was I able to fulfill any of the commitments I made for the year?’ If you have, praise God! There are not many of us who have been able to keep those well intended commitments. Any failed attempts during the year are concerning when we are seeking to improve in certain areas of our lives, but when we fail in our commitments to God concerning our spiritual lives it’s disastrous. We have failed God, ourselves, and all those around us.
The apostle Paul gave Timothy the qualifications he was to pass on to the those who would become deacons in the church. In the middle of these qualifications we find the essential and most important one, “They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.” (1Tim.3:9 nlt) The term ‘mystery of the faith’ refers to the truth of the gospel now revealed after being hidden until the resurrection of Christ. Jesus came to save sinners in which we are now to walk in the newness of life. Christians are to display Christ’s righteousness available through the Holy Spirit. Deacons must live a life that reveals the truth of the gospel which is living a life committed to godliness.
Although Paul is addressing future deacons of the church in this verse, this main qualification should be the commitment for every Christian to godliness in 2026. Those of us who know the Lord were called for a purpose. We are to share the gospel with others through words, through our lives, and through our commitment to godliness. Let’s make sure we fulfill this commitment all through 2026.
“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.” Luke 3:8 NLT
One’s ancestors can have a positive or negative effect on them. Positively speaking, one born into a family of great wealth and high standing in the community usually fare well. One born into the other end of the spectrum have an uphill battle from the start. But the outcome of both is not based on one’s ancestors’ wealth or status in life, but what they have accomplished with the opportunities afforded to them. Opportunities to follow one’s dreams and passions along with their God given skill set gives them the responsibility to choose the direction of their future.
Our lot in life is not based on who our ancestors are. My father was a machine assembler, that didn’t make me one; he was also a talented musician, not me either; and he was an excellent cook, certainly not me. Some people believe that because their parents were Christians they are also Christians. Many believe that being baptized and belonging to the church their family has traditionally attended for years also makes them a Christian and assured of heaven.
The problem is some attribute salvation and becoming a Christian to a family inheritance. Salvation is to choose to follow Jesus Christ, accepting Him as your personal Savior. There is no such thing as a Christian Ancestry guaranteeing salvation. Those who came to John the Baptist thought the same thing. They were Jews who were descendants of Abraham. It was their rite of passage. Their ancestry made it all right. John made it clear it was not so. They needed to repent of their sins and turn to God. (Luke 3:8)
Still true today, one needs to acknowledge and repent of their sins, trusting Jesus’s work on the cross for salvation. It’s a personal choice, it’s your choice, why not make it today!
As an avid sports fan I must admit boxing has been left behind, and shame on me. My younger years saw the hype of major prize fights as Ali-Frazier, Ali-Foreman, Foreman-Frazier, among others during the 1970’s. Being captivated I watched and participated in them always looking for an upset and being shocked when there was one. Somewhere along the line my interest started to fade, paying attention only to the headlines. No excuse. I guess my sports interests got a little crowded.
I say this to say my interest may have faded, but the sport has not faded. Its popularity is still strong with 400 million regular viewers worldwide. It is estimated that there are around 1.2 billion fans today. So, I guess it’s safe to say, they haven’t missed me. But my guess is, I must be missing something. Boxing is a sport dating back to the third millennium B.C. in Egypt. It first appeared as an Olympic event at the 23rd Olympiad in 688 B.C… And in the first century boxing was one the competitive contests of the Isthmian games held in Greece. The apostle Paul was well acquainted with these games as they were held in Corinth before returning to Isthmus. Paul also had knowledge of boxing as a sport in these games.
Paul often used illustrations from life events to get a spiritual point across. He wrote to the church in Corinth, “I do not box as one beating the air.” (1Cor.9:26 esv) Corinth residents would have been familiar with boxing as an event in the Isthmian games. Boxing by nature is a contact sport. One beating the air doesn’t get very far. Paul was noting his zeal in telling others about Christ and the training involved. One must give it all they got when contacting others with the truth of the gospel for it to have any effect. Paul was saying he was not like a boxer who waves his arms around with no results.
Although I left boxing behind as a sport there are valuable lessons to learn. Be sure to make solid contact in presenting the gospel with others and always give your best in training with the Lord, never beating the air.
“Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” Mark 15:34 NLT
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The book of Mark as you know if you have been following along each Sunday is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news. This week as we near the end of our study we come to the reason why Jesus came down to earth, Mark writes in the tenth chapter of this book, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk.10:45 nlt) Indeed, Jesus came to give up His life so we may be saved from eternal damnation and hell fire. Jesus is about to be led to the cross after being released by Pilate into the hands of Roman soldiers after the crowds selected Barabbas to go free and Jesus to be crucified. For this purpose, Christ came, to save us from our sins.
“The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment.” (Mk.15:16 nlt) The praetorium was the headquarters of the Roman Cohort and also served as the official governors residence in Jerusalem. The soldiers job was to carry out crucifixions under Pilate’s orders. They took extra time before leading Jesus up to calvary’s hill as they mocked Him as the King of the Jews. Dressing Him in a purple robe, an old military cloak to represent royalty, they weaved a crown of thorns from a prickly plant and placed it on His head. The soldiers proceeded to mock Jesus by striking Him, spitting on Him, bowing down to Him mockingly and shouting ‘Hail, King of the Jews.” After they had their fill the soldiers led Jesus out to be crucified.
Due to lack of sleep the night before and the crucial beating Jesus received by the Roman soldiers He was to weak to carry the crossbeam all condemned prisoners were to carry to their crucifixion. The soldiers forced a man named, Simon, from Cyrene a city in Libya with a large Jewish population, to carry Jesus’ crossbeam. Simon was most likely in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. An interesting note concerning his two sons being mentioned, Alexander and Rufus, we do not know much about them. Though unknown, however, they must have been well known to the people Mark was writing to because he made note of them.
“And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).” (Mk.15:22 nlt) Golgotha is an Aram. Word meaning ‘skull.’ It possibly got its name from the frequent crucifixions that took place there. As was customary, they gave Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to deaden the pain, but Jesus refused it. The solders proceeded to nail Him to the cross and divided His clothing in which they cast lots for as predicted in the Old Testament. “They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.” (Ps.22:18 nlt) They placed a sign above His head, which was also customary, stating the crime in which each criminal was being put to death for. Jesus’ simply said, ‘The King of the Jews.’
On each side of Jesus was a criminal, both of whom were arrested for taking part in an insurrection, which was a capital crime that carried a death sentence. We know from other gospel writers that one of them insulted Jesus by telling Him to save Himself and them, but the other criminal realizing his guilt and just punishment asked Jesus to remember him when He went into His kingdom. A lesson for each of us to take seriously that everyone is saved the same way, admitting our sin and confessing to the Lord. Failure to do so will result in not being in the Kingdom of God.
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Ridicule and insults were being tossed at the servant Jesus on the cross. From the passers-by to the religious rulers all were taunting Jesus to come down from the cross and prove Himself to be the Son of God. “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” (Mk.15:32 nlt)
At noon the Bible says darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mk.15:33-34 nlt) Again, from a reading in the Old Testament book of Psalms, David writes “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Ps.22:1 nlt) Jesus felt the deep abandonment from His Father as God the Father cannot look upon sin. God saw the sin of the whole world placed on His Son Jesus; He could do nothing but turn His back. A price felt by Jesus that was more painful than the physical pain He endured during the crucifixion. He did that for each one of us.
Jesus then cried out loudly and breathed His last. His death was not like most who have died from crucifixion. Most would be on the cross two or three days, their bodies exhausted and slipping into unconsciousness before death. But “Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.” (Mk.15:37 nlt) Mark then records the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. There was no need any more for anyone to offer a sacrifice for sin. Christ paid that price with His own blood once and for all time. The writer of Hebrews notes, “Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (Heb.10:11-12 nlt)
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A Roman officer, who may have been the closest witness to Jesus on the cross, exclaimed after what he just saw, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Mk.15:39 nlt) This officer who was in charge and seen many crucifixions knew this was no ordinary death. Jesus had the strength to call out in a loud voice, evidence that He laid down His life for us, it wasn’t taken from Him. The Roman officer was right; Jesus truly is the Son of God.
Next week we end our study in the book of Mark with the resurrection of Jesus Christ which gives us all assurance of eternal life for those of us who believe on His name. Until next week……
“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.’” Matthew 11:25, 26 NIV
The value of a good education cannot be understated in the world today. We see the results of this by the examples of under developed countries and societies where education is not a priority or possible due to economic restraints. The opposite is noticeable by countries and societies which place a great emphasis on educating their young people. It is also a noticeable concern on the value placed on an ever-changing curriculum to satisfy the demands of the many social issues of our day diminishing necessary hours devoted to the basics of education. In the end, those countries and societies that have a balanced educational system will prepare the next generation to succeed both individually and for society at large.
While secular education and advanced knowledge are essential to our way of life here on earth, religious education doesn’t prepare us for life beyond this life. Sometimes religious education, even ‘Christian’ education, can get in the way of the truth of the gospel. Religious schools and universities are not immune to the pressures from outside their walls of education. Those places of higher learning will soon fall to the temptation for inclusion and financial support if not maintaining the simple childlike faith of the gospel. Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” The ‘wise and learned’ in Jesus’ day were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They were the professors in the religious schools of higher learning. Their many years of study had blinded them and overshadowed the basic truth of the Word of God. They were filling their minds, but not their hearts. They were pursing book knowledge but not the author of the book.
Our Lord is not impressed by our educational pursuits in the secular field, religious field or both. He is not impressed by our standing in the community or the boards of education we sit on. And He is not impressed in the position we hold in the church, although all these accomplishments can be used to serve Him, and in that He is well pleased.
Jesus said His Father was pleased to reveal the things of His mission to little children, humble followers of Christ. As important as education is in our day, the gathering of information and acquiring of knowledge, do not let it keep you from becoming a ‘humble follower.’
Word for the Soul 