Category: New Testament

1 Thessalonians 3:10 The Role of Humility in Perfecting Faith

Who was to say that their faith was lacking?

1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV)
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

I am impressed with the transparency and humanity of this text. The Apostle, writing to these believers, expresses his inability to forbear, his distress, and his anxiety over the faith of these troubled souls.

  • They were saved

  • They were assembled as a church but

  • They were not long believers before they were battered believers

And Paul had been forced to leave them. The persecution was so intense that he could not remain to establish them against the persecution.

Paul prayed for them, and Paul longed for an opportunity to see them face to face and “perfect that which was lacking” in the faith.

Wait!

Lacking?

Who was to say that their faith was lacking? What gave Paul the right to “perfect” whatever was lacking?

It takes humility to admit we have not arrived spiritually and maybe even more humility to accept that God could use a man of the same nature as our own to perfect us.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Thessalonians 3:10 The Role of Humility in Perfecting Faith

1 Thessalonians 2:11 A Father’s Work

Godly humility will help him

1 Thessalonians 2:11 (KJV)
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

One can’t help but be impressed with the pathos of this chapter. Though Paul was not in Thessalonica long, he had developed a loving relationship with them. This was due largely to the investment he placed in them while there but must have grown through prayer, concern for their suffering and his intense longing to return to them.

He speaks of them as brethren
They shared the same family. They had all been washed in the blood of Christ and born into the family of God.

He speaks of cherishing them as a mother would
Obviously, the simile is pictorial. He was not feminine in any way. Understand the Bible normally as well as literally.

He speaks of exhorting them as a father would
This in no way breaks the point of Matthew 23:9 (KJV) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

It’s another simile.

In a very practical way it does instruct in a father’s work to exhort, comfort and charge his children. The strength of a father does tend to comfort. To be wrapped in the strong arms of your dad can support us even in our adult years. I loved getting “bear hugs” from my father. The other two, exhorting and charging, can be sources of contention between a father and his children. There comes a point when a young man especially doesn’t appreciate his dad’s “push,”

Godly humility will help him to see that this is God given work for the father.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Thessalonians 2:11 A Father’s Work

Colossians 1:23 Unveiling the ‘If’

It is better a soul never makes a profession than to make a bad profession and then move away from it.

Colossians 1:23 (KJV)
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The question of the condition.

Albert Barnes says, “The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel.”

There is no question that he is correct. The question comes as to upon whom the “if” rests.

The “if” does not rest upon the Christian
If it did, if our salvation were conditioned upon our ability to continue leading a life becoming of the gospel, then salvation would be all of works and none of faith. It would make the work of Christ on the cross and the renewing of the Holy Ghost temporary at best. The New Testament message falls apart if our faith begins in Christ but finishes in us.

The “if” rests upon Christ
Those who are saved will continue in the faith, grounded, and settled. It’s not a question. There is no doubt.

Here’s the key: such a thing as a false profession exists. Such a profession is proven because it never continues in the faith. It may begin well. It may blossom temporarily. In the end, because it is not grounded in Christ, it moves away from the hope of the gospel.

We must preach not a religion but a relationship with Jesus. Religion will produce a soul deceived into a false profession that can never last.

It is better a soul never makes a profession than to make a bad profession and then move away from it.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Colossians 1:23 Unveiling the ‘If’

Ephesians 2:1 Were, But No More

The context isn’t argumentative in nature

Ephesians 2:1 (KJV)
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

And you…
That’s confrontational, isn’t it?
I can imagine a boney finger pointing in someone’s face.
Many older Christians I know describe the day of their salvation like that. One described Harvey Springer, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Englewood, CO, in the 1950s, as pointing his long boney finger into his face while preaching. He meant the message was directed (by the Holy Ghost) at him.

That confrontational direct approach can be an effective means of working in the soul. But to the resistant one, it can be a significant irritant.

And you…
The context isn’t argumentative in nature, at least not in a negative sense.
The Word of God identifies this audience “to the saints… and the faithful in Christ Jesus” and says of them, “who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

Were, but no more. Ephesians 2:5 (KJV)
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

To not be what we once were is the most glorious story in the world. But it can only happen if, when we once were what we once were, someone confronts us with what we are but do not have to be.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ephesians 2:1 Were, But No More

Ephesians 1:1 To the “Unfaithful in Christ?”

Ephesians 1:1 (KJV)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

There are two classes of believers addressed in the text.

The saints
Pastor Randy White of Taos, New Mexico, claims this is a designation of Jewish believers. I’m not ready to accept that claim, but it fits Ephesians’ context.

The faithful in Christ Jesus
I wonder if there is such a thing as “the unfaithful in Christ Jesus?” We certainly don’t see them in the Bible unless we see them in those who were rebuked by name.

Could this be considered a dig against those who weren’t faithful? No question some opposed the premise of the church being one new man, composed of Jews and Gentiles bonded in Christ.

Could everyone who is in Christ by faith be called faithful? I think that’s how we view it today. Anyone who believes themselves to be a Christian believes themselves to be faithful. Faithfulness, in some ways, is not of us anyway but of Christ.

Could this reference only the believers who would willingly receive this teaching? Was Paul saying that this letter was meant only for those who faithful to his teaching and preaching?

I’ve learned that some claim to be saved but have no intention of obeying the Bible. A faithful believer is one, I believe, willing to embrace the teaching of the Bible, especially in those areas that are contrary to human nature, and most especially in those areas related to the local church.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ephesians 1:1 To the “Unfaithful in Christ?”

Galatians 5:15 That Ye Be Not Consumed

You can do that. You can bite and devour. Who’s going to stop you?

Galatians 5:15 (KJV)
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

The principle of the passage begins in Galatians 5:13 (KJV)
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

We have been called unto liberty. We do have this liberty in the Lord.

But liberty not only comes at a great price, in this case, the life of the Saviour, but liberty also carries a huge responsibility. We are not to use our liberty for the advantage of our flesh. We are to use it to love and serve one another.[1]

It is so very easy for us to confuse our liberty as “the liberty to do as we please.” 

  • The liberty to seek personal gain. 
  • The liberty to climb out from submission. 
  • The liberty to use others rather than to serve others.

The thing about personal liberty is that there is no legitimate way for others to restrain it. Hence the warning, Galatians 5:15 (KJV)
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

You can do that. You can bite and devour. Who’s going to stop you? But take heed, beware, because that lifestyle has a way of turning on itself.

Better to fulfill the law, Galatians 5:14 (KJV)
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

[1] This does not mean we must never contend or separate. Note Galatians 5:12 (KJV) I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Galatians 5:15 That Ye Be Not Consumed

Galatians 2:5 That The Truth Continue

Galatians 2:5 (KJV)
To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

This is a controversial topic, but it derives from a controversial text. Someone confronted Titus that he, being Greek, should be circumcised. Titus somewhat controversially refused. Peter controversially ate with Gentiles. Then he controversially separated from them. Paul controversially confronted Peter about his hypocrisy. So, you see, it is legitimate to address a controversial subject from this text.

Paul judged some as false brethren
There is such a thing as a professor of the faith who is not a possessor of the faith. That must be clear, and warnings must be issued about the dangers of false professions and of our associations with false brethren.

Some of the brethren were unaware that the judged were false brethren
Imagine how indignant the false brethren would be of this accusation. Imagine also how upset and perhaps confused the brethren, still fooled by the false professors, would be of this accusation against them.

Paul and I think Titus would not submit to the false brethren
I can imagine that created quite a stir among the people.

Unity in a church is a prize to be treasured. But it is not to be had at any price. Unity in a church must only be had among true brethren.

The others must be exposed so the truth “might continue.”

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Galatians 2:5 That The Truth Continue

Galatians 1:24 Elevate God

Galatians 1:24 (KJV)
And they glorified God in me.

The word glorified means 

  • To make visible 
  • Illuminate, and 
  • Lift up.

When the believers in Jerusalem heard that Paul[1] had gotten saved and he was no longer a threat, they glorified God.

  • They did not make a big deal that the threat was gone
  • They did not make a big deal of Paul

They made a big deal of God because of what He had done in Paul.

I am sure they were happy to have less oppression (though they had previously praised God, they were counted worthy to suffer for His name).[2]

I am confident they would be glad to hear Paul was now a Christian (though their first impression was to handle him with caution).[3]

But 

  • They did not lift up and make the world see that he no longer oppressed them
  • They did not lift up and make the world see that the one who had once persecuted was now a believer

They chose to lift up, and make the world see the One who had done these things in Paul.

The difference is subtle, but it’s the difference between faith and religion. It is God we must elevate, not our church, pastor, favorite politician, family, denomination, or the benefits we have received from them.

[1] I’ll use that name for consistency. I do know that at the time all of this transpired he was known as Saul of Tarsus.

[2] Acts 5:41 (KJV)
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

[3] Acts 9:26 (KJV)
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Galatians 1:24 Elevate God

2 Corinthians 11:2 To Love Another

2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Jealousy seems so wrong.

Paul understood how people felt. Though some of them were upset at him for it, he attempted to explain to them that his jealousy was godly. He fought to keep them faithful to just one husband, Christ.

Oh, the allure to love another

  • To love a movement
  • To love a fellowship
  • To love a denomination
  • To love a preacher
  • To love a college

Paul longed for them to simply love Jesus and what He loves.

  • People think it’s folly to love the Lord and not the world.
  • People think it’s foolish to believe Jesus uses little independent churches.
  • People think studying, preaching, and teaching only the Bible is foolish.

The Christian faith is simple, pure, and altogether lovely when we are faithful to Jesus, the Bible He gave us, and the local church He added us to.

Everything else is complicated, confrontational, confusing, and corrupted.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 11:2 To Love Another

2 Corinthians 10:17 Let It Be the Lord’s Work

2 Corinthians 10:17 (KJV)
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I have some preconceived ideas about this passage. Those notions cause me to think of the word “glorieth” as meaning something akin to rejoicing. If you are going to rejoice, rejoice in the Lord. 

Be happy in the Lord—something along those lines.

But the word glory has to do with being apparent, lifted up, manifest.

This definition complements the context perfectly. The Apostle is speaking of places of ministry and not interfering with another man’s work. He intended not to go where another man labored and build his ministry off their work.

In that context, what verse 17 means is, whatever you accomplish in your labor for the Lord, let it be by the measure of the Lord’s grace and not by taking away from the labors of others.

A work that is entirely the result of what God has done, and not a result of siphoning what God has done through someone else, makes much of the Lord and speaks highly of the laborer.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 10:17 Let It Be the Lord’s Work