Embrace Holy Living - Reflecting God - The WordAction of The Nazarene Publishing House at The Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 26 May 2017 "Stand Firm" by Paul Martinez with Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17
2 Thessalonians 2:9 When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned.
13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. 16 And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.-------
Parents remember clearly the first unstable steps of a young child and the anticipation of watching the child grow more and more steady on their feet. Paul, as a spiritual parent, was concerned for the believers in Thessalonica. He wrote to them so that he could provide counsel and direction. They were besieged by outside persecution and confused from within by false ideas concerning the day of the Lord.
The church of today can so easily be tempted to chase after the latest teaching or controversy simply because it is new. Our tendency is to focus on the temporal “here and now” rather than the eternal hope of heaven. Paul exhorted believers to stand firm on the foundation of Christ, to become recipients of the good news, and to “share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
There is nothing wrong with new expressions of faith and how we “do church” as long as we remember to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings” that ground us firmly in Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:15). May we trust Christ's teachings and always run to the Word that is our firm foundation.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned.
13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. 16 And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.-------
Parents remember clearly the first unstable steps of a young child and the anticipation of watching the child grow more and more steady on their feet. Paul, as a spiritual parent, was concerned for the believers in Thessalonica. He wrote to them so that he could provide counsel and direction. They were besieged by outside persecution and confused from within by false ideas concerning the day of the Lord.
The church of today can so easily be tempted to chase after the latest teaching or controversy simply because it is new. Our tendency is to focus on the temporal “here and now” rather than the eternal hope of heaven. Paul exhorted believers to stand firm on the foundation of Christ, to become recipients of the good news, and to “share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
There is nothing wrong with new expressions of faith and how we “do church” as long as we remember to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings” that ground us firmly in Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:15). May we trust Christ's teachings and always run to the Word that is our firm foundation.
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"The Messiah Is Made The Sure Foundation" from a Latin Hymn (seventh century), translated by John M. Neale
1. The Messiah is made the sure foundation,
Messiah, our head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious,
binding all the Church in one;
holy Zion's help forever,
and our confidence alone.
2. To this temple, where we call you,
come, O Lord of hosts, and stay;
come, with all your loving-kindness;
hear your people as they pray,
and your fullest benediction
shed within these walls today.
3. Here bestow on all your servants
what they seek from you to gain.
What they gain from you, forever
with the blessed to retain;
and hereafter in your glory
evermore with you to reign.
4. Praise and honor to the Father,
praise and honor to the Son,
praise and honor to the Spirit,
ever three and ever one:
one in might and one in glory
while unending ages run!
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For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah.[1 Corinthians 3:11}
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Please Pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Uruguay.
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1. The Messiah is made the sure foundation,
Messiah, our head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious,
binding all the Church in one;
holy Zion's help forever,
and our confidence alone.
2. To this temple, where we call you,
come, O Lord of hosts, and stay;
come, with all your loving-kindness;
hear your people as they pray,
and your fullest benediction
shed within these walls today.
3. Here bestow on all your servants
what they seek from you to gain.
What they gain from you, forever
with the blessed to retain;
and hereafter in your glory
evermore with you to reign.
4. Praise and honor to the Father,
praise and honor to the Son,
praise and honor to the Spirit,
ever three and ever one:
one in might and one in glory
while unending ages run!
-------
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah.[1 Corinthians 3:11}
-------
Please Pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Uruguay.
-------
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