Pursuing the Pinnacle: Recent Episodes
Andy Brenton
This podcast uses biblical principles and stories to help others pursue their own pinnacle. Climbing the summit to live at the highest level of purpose, convictions, and commitment.
1 Corinthians 15: 23-26, "But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Luke 23:33-34, When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Luke 14:26-27, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
1 Thessalonians 5:18, "...in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Matthew 16:9, "Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?"
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
Thanks for listening! Follow us on... Facebook- Apple Podcast - Spotify - Amazon - Audible
Isaiah 43:2. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-5, I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Ephesians 4:20-32 (NASB)But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Proverbs 19:11, "A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense."
John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
Proverbs 25:17, “Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, or he will become weary of you and hate you.”
John 4:27-30, And at this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What are You seeking?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?” So the woman left her waterpot and went into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is He?” They left the city and were coming to Him.
Galatians 3:22, "But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."
Luke 10:25-29, And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
1 Corinthians 13:4-5, "Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered"
Luke 12:16-21, And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night [a]your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
2 Timothy 2:14, "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers."
Philippians 3:10-11, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Ephesians 1:7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace"
Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Genesis 3:1-4, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Colossians 2:6-7, "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude."
Jeremiah 29:11-14, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you," says the LORD."
1 John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
James 4:14, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away."
Jeremiah 7:5-7, "For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever."
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"
Luke 9:20, And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
Psalm 51:1-2, Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"
Proverbs 25:21, “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
Matthew 7:2, "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."
Philippians 3:13-14, Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Luke 7:13, And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Ephesians 4:29-32, Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Matthew 18:1-4, At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
John 15: 12-15, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
It is the character of the righteous, whose prayers God will hear, they are of a broken heart and a contrite spirit (that is, humbled because of sin and emptied of self); they are low in their own eyes and have no confidence in their own merit and sufficiency, but in God only. Though God is high and dwells on high, he is near to those who, being of a contrite spirit, know how to value his favor, and will save them from sinking under their brokenness and their burdens.
Psalm 105:3, "Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!"
To worship the Lord and seek his kingdom and righteousness is the sure way to happiness, for there is no other. True seekers throw their hearts into the engagement, hence their hearts receive joy; according to the text they have a permit to rejoice and they have the promise that they shall do so.
Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Ask and it will be given to you: God promises an answer to the one who diligently seeks Him. Many of our passionless prayers are not answered for good reason, because it is almost as if we ask God to care about something we care little or nothing about.
Romans 12.2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Our Christian life must go beyond head knowledge, but it must absolutely include head knowledge and influence our whole manner of thinking. This is not just in the sense of knowing facts, but the ability to set our minds on the right things. This is so fundamental to the Christian life that Christian growth can even be described as the renewing of your mind.
Luke 10:16; “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
It is helpful for all servants of God to not hold either praise or rejection too tightly. If they truly represent their Master, the success or rejection of their work is more due to Him than to them. Their greatest concern should not be with success or rejection, but with properly representing Jesus their Master.
Philippians 2:5, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."
It is all too easy for us to read the following description of Jesus and admire it from a distance. God wants us to be awed by it, but also to see it as something that we must enter into and imitate. Let this mind means that it is something that we have a choice about.
Remember also that this mind is something granted to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says that we have the mind of Christ. But "let this mind" shows us that it is also something we must choose to walk in.
Philippians 2:5, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."
It is all too easy for us to read the following description of Jesus and admire it from a distance. God wants us to be awed by it, but also to see it as something that we must enter into and imitate. Let this mind means that it is something that we have a choice about.
Remember also that this mind is something granted to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says that we have the mind of Christ. But "let this mind" shows us that it is also something we must choose to walk in.
Philippians 3:13-14, "Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
We often let those things which are behind us distract us and affect our daily attitudes, whether they be good things or bad things. Looking at what is in the past often keeps us from what God has for us in the future.
It is a deception to live either in the past or in the future; God wants us to press on in the present because the present is where eternity touches us now. Paul knew that a race is won only in the present moment, not in the past or in the future.
Philippians 3:13-14, "Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
We often let those things which are behind us distract us and affect our daily attitudes, whether they be good things or bad things. Looking at what is in the past often keeps us from what God has for us in the future.
It is a deception to live either in the past or in the future; God wants us to press on in the present because the present is where eternity touches us now. Paul knew that a race is won only in the present moment, not in the past or in the future.
Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Much of the Christian life comes down to the mind. Romans 12:2 speaks of the essential place of being transformed by the renewing of your mind and 2 Corinthians 10:5 speaks of the importance of casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. What we choose to meditate on matters.
What Paul describes here is a practical way to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Philippians 2:5, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."
"Have this attitude..." or "Let this mind be in you..." It is all too easy for us to read the following description of Jesus and admire it from a distance. God wants us to be awed by it, but also to see it as something that we must enter into and imitate. Let this mind means that it is something that we have a choice about.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” -Isaiah 6:8
Here am I! Send me: Isaiah emphatically answered God's call. He did not hesitate. Isaiah wanted to be the answer to God's question.
What created this kind of heart in Isaiah? First, he had a heart that had been in the presence of God. He had a heart that knew its own sinfulness. He had a heart that knew the need among the people, the need for God's word. He had a heart that had been touched by God's cleansing fire. And he had a heart that heard God's heart to reach the nations.
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
To genuinely say, “Jesus died for me” you must also say, “I have no strength to save myself. I am ungodly. I am a sinner.” Jesus died to save and transform these. He values us. Do we value others likewise?
“You will say, ‘Oh, I am one of the worst in the world.’ Christ died for the worst in the world. ‘Oh, but I have no power to be better.’ Christ died for those that were without strength. ‘Oh, but my case condemns itself.’ Christ died for those that legally are condemned. ‘Ay, but my case is hopeless.’ Christ died for the hopeless. He is the hope of the hopeless. He is the Savior not of those partly lost, but of the wholly lost.” (Spurgeon)
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” -1 Corinthians 1:25Obedience requires humility and it’s not always easy. At times, doing things God’s way may not seem to make sense, but what matters is that obedience is God’s solution. Remember, God’s wisdom will often conflict with the wisdom of men. (1 Corinthians 1:27) God has the power to “flip the script” on situations in your life that don’t seem to have a solution. Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37) Naaman found this to be true once he decided to be obedient. Then Namman experienced healing from leprosy and a total reversal in his view of God.
Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
The Lord GOD invites His people to come reason with Him. What He offers us isn't just offered because He is "bigger" than us and has the right to dictate whatever terms please Him. God's direction for us is reasonable. It makes sense. It is the best way to live. And it is the best way to die, in the Lord.
“You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” — John Bunyan
Sometimes, the most important step you can take to become more generous is to spend more time thinking about what you already possess and less time thinking about what you don’t. Once you start intentionally thinking that way, you may be surprised just how good you already have it… and become more apt to share your life with others. Generosity rarely happens by chance. Instead, it is an intentional decision that we make in our lives.
What Is Your “Why”? Your “Why” is a statement of purpose, often driven by passion, that describes why you do. It has also been described as your calling or your conviction towards a certain endeavor in life.
As Christians, our purpose and passion should originate and be driven by what first glorifies God and fulfills the mission He has placed in our lives. Paul tells us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Col. 3:23) and "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Jesus said it best, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21).
Proverbs 19:11, "A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense."
It is not weakness or lack of courage that makes one slow to anger. It is wisdom, as it is described as discretion. A wise Christian knows that they have been forgiven much, and this shapes how they deal with others. They don’t act as if they must hold everyone accountable for every transgression but know when to overlook a transgression.
“The manlier any man is, the milder and readier to pass by an offense. This shows that he hath much of God in him (if he does it from a right principle), who bears with our evil manners, and forgives our trespasses, beseeching us to be reconciled.” (Trapp)
Matthew 22:14, "For many are called, but few are chosen."
To be chosen is to accept the invitation and do what is necessary to accept the invitation: giving up everything in this world. (Luke 9:23-24; Luke 14:26) That is, to say “Yes!” to the calling and then to follow it up with a faithful disciple's life. God calls us, but those who are chosen wholeheartedly accept the invitation and conditions.
To be chosen, you have to show that you really want a life with Christ with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You can’t hold a little back for the world, for relationships, for your self-seeking, etc. It’s 100% obedience to Jesus; 100% faithfulness.
Ephesians 5.15-16, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity..."
Although the statement, "Keep The End In Mind", applies to many different levels of life and faith, the most fundamental application of beginning with the end in mind is to begin today with the vision of the end as your frame of reference by which everything else is examined. Each part of your life - yesterday’s mistakes today’s decisions and tomorrow’s consequences - can be examined in the context of the whole of what really matters most to you. By keeping that end clear in your mind, you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not violate the defined plan God has for you.
If we have faith in Christ, this will influence the way we live. Our faith can guard us during trials in the same way a shield would during battle. In addition, our faith can protect us when we experience anxiety and fear. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” If we have faith in God’s promises, we do not need to fear. Taking up the shield of faith will protect us and allow us to fight back against these attacks.
Ephesians 6.16-18, "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints..."
2 Corinthians 4.18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Paul meant this, especially about his own life and ministry. In the world’s eyes, Paul’s life was an incredible failure. At the height of a career that would reach much higher, he left it all for a life of hardship, suffering, and persecution, with eventual martyrdom. Paul recognized that the world only sees the outward, not the unseen eternal things.
Philemon 1.15-16, "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord."
Romans 12:1-2, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Exodus 4:10-12, But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Romans 12:2; "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 John 2:15-17, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Hebrews 12:2, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Luke 22:54-62, Now they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. After they kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a slave woman, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and staring at him, said, “This man was with Him as well.” But he denied it, saying, “I do not know Him, woman!” And a little later, another person saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” And after about an hour had passed, some other man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he, too, is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap."
Hebrews 12:14-17, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done."
Romans 8:28-30: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
Philippians 2:1-4, NIV: "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Mark 10:18, NASB: "And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone."
Pure, moral, conscientious; meritorious, worthy, exemplary, upright. These are all synonyms for the word good. In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil, and is of high interest in the study of morality, ethics, philosophy, but especially religion. All things considered, Jesus asked the question, "Why do you call Me good?" Was He denying His deity as some would argue? Was He saying that, even He, is evil? In today's podcast we will reason from the text so to have an accurate understanding of what Jesus meant when asking, "Why do you call Me good?"
“Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18
Here is the big question: If you are a follower of Jesus, are you known for forgiveness and reconciliation? Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask to forgive you? You may say, “No one”, or “I’m all good, not bitter at anyone.” (By the way, bitter people rarely know they are bitter.)
If you say you are a Christian, is your life pointing to the grace of God, or preventing people from seeing the grace of God? Followers of Christ are called and empowered to be ambassadors – champions of grace in all relationships.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. -Jude 3 ESV
Let’s face it, people are discouraged. Perhaps a better word to describe it, based on my personal observation, is weary. Most of us are living waiting for the other shoe to drop. What else can go wrong? If it can go wrong, 2020 seems like the year for it to happen! Hit after hit has caused many to grow weary in their faith.
In our verse Jude reminds us, actually he appeals to us to “contend for the faith.” To contend is to fight strenuously, it stresses the need to stand for the truth of the Gospel continually and vigorously. It’s a compound verb from which we get our English word agonize.
Throughout the centuries, Christians have always dealt with resistance and spiritual challenges, this is nothing new. Remember, it’s a narrow road that we’re on, and one of the characteristics of this road is this, it’s hard Matthew 7:13-14. So how do we get through discouraging times? Where do we go when we feel weary and tired? Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, for though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Our battle is spiritual and so we must fight this in the spiritual realm. -AB
John 6:66-69 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”Do you also want to go away? What a scene! Scores of would-be followers of Jesus left Him, and He asked the twelve if they would also go. Jesus searched the motives of all that follow Him, including the twelve. Speaking for the twelve, Simon Peter gave a wonderful statement of faith.
- He recognized Jesus as Lord
- He recognized Jesus as the preferred alternative, despite the difficulties.
- He recognized the value of spiritual things, more than the material and earthly desires of those who walked away (the words of eternal life).
- He recognized Jesus as Messiah (the Christ) and God (Son of the living God)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
At the conclusion of Ecclesiastes chapter 4, the teacher concludes by pointing out that people are better companions than wealth. There is no joy in living alone because your bad life decisions. Solomon says to pity the person who falls down but has no one to lift them up. Two are better than one. We want to think that the good life is about being self-sufficient. But this is simply another lie fed to us by the world. Self-sufficiency is not the ultimate life goal. It is better to have companions, friends, and family and be dependent upon them. Life is better with more people. Do not isolate yourself by throwing yourself into work. Do not be a workaholic. Work what is necessary, enjoy quietness, and spend time enjoy life with others.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Peter describes the suffering of these Christians as a “fiery trial” or “fiery ordeal.” This is a word used of burning metal in a refining process. Don’t be surprised that we are being refined. Don’t be surprised that we go through difficulties and suffering. These hard times come upon us to test us. Friends, don’t be shocked when you go through bad times. These are important reminders because we live in a religious world that thinks and teaches that true Christians do not suffer and do not go through hardships. Christians, especially those who seeking to lead godly lives, must expect to face resistance and hostility from a sinful world. Don’t be blindsided when we are rejected. Don’t be thrown off when we are punished or treated unfairly though doing good, righteous acts.
When suffering, we are not to throw in the towel and we are not give up. Peter says that we need to rejoice. Rejoice in your decision because you are proving your faith and proving that you are a child of God. God has not left you. Instead you are blessed.
2 Corinthians 5:1-2 "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling"
When the clay jar is broken and when the tent is destroyed, we know we have something waiting for us. We know that we have something permanent to replace this temporary physical body. We have a building not made with hands, meaning, that it is not of this creation (Hebrews 9:11).
It is this eternal body from God that we desire (5:2). We groan for it. We long for it. Is this true for us or are we content staying here? Notice the picture Paul gives for Christians is that they have an intense longing for heaven. We groan for eternity. We are not satisfied with life here. We want life with God! We want to be with him! We want to shed this tent for the eternal building God has made for us to have. The mortal will now inherit life. This is what we groan for and long for!
Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Being loyal involves many qualities. This means being faithful and keeping promises. Being dependable through all situations. Putting aside selfish interest and valuing personal commitments.
The Bible makes clear that God looks for people who are loyal, who seek first His kingdom, willing to die to self, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus, committed to serve Him.This account in Ruth was a noble - even outstanding - friend-to-friend commitment. But Ruth's commitment to Naomi went even further: And your God, [will be] my God!
Psalm 20:7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.David put his trust in the person, the character of God. He didn't carry the name of the LORD as a magical incantation; rather the name speaks of the comprehensive character of God and is an expression of His faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. The character and faithfulness of God - was stronger to David and Israel than thousands of chariots or horses.
Do we have the same confidence in Almighty God as we face upsets and difficulties throughout our lives? Or do we find ourselves being more disappointed having put our trust in people or things that failed us, perhaps, yet again?
Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another: The new man seeks to show the same kindness, tender heartedness and forgiveness to others that God shows him. If we treat others as God treats us, we fulfill every thing Paul told us to do in this chapter.
Just as God in Christ forgave you: Our forgiveness to others is patterned after the forgiveness of Jesus towards us. When we think of the amazing way God forgives us, it is shameful for us to withhold forgiveness from those who have wronged us.
Forgiveness is something all men need. Man has had a problem with sin since the time of Adam and Eve. Each person will stand in judgment for their own sins, not the sins of others (Ezek. 18:20). Forgiveness that is offered by God is for all men who will obey God’s will. It is his desire for all men to be saved (I Tim. 2:4).
Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.The ancient Greek word translated neglect is amelesantes, meaning; "they made light of it". It is also used in Matthew 22:5 when it refers to those who disregarded the invitation to the wedding supper. It means to have the opportunity, but to ignore or disregard the opportunity. This is a word to believers, not to the unsaved. The danger described isn’t rejecting salvation (though the principle certainly applies there also), but the danger is neglecting salvation.
So great a salvation: When we consider something great, we will naturally pay attention to it and not neglect it. If we do not consider something great, we leave it to convenience rather than to commitment. Therefore, if we neglect something, we probably do not consider it great. Yet our salvation is great, because:
- We are saved by a great Savior.
- We are saved at a great cost.
- We are saved from a great penalty.
A reason many neglect their salvation is because they never see it as salvation. They see it merely as receiving something, not as being rescued from something.
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. - Proverbs 12:19
God looks after those who love the truth and speak the truth. Under His blessing, they will be established forever. It often seems that the lying tongue wins the day and is stronger than the truthful lip. However, the judgments of the God of truth will show how temporary the success of the lying tongue is. The lying tongue may continue to utter its falsehood for years by the calendars of men, but when you place those years by the side of the ages of God, they are as a moment, as the winking of the eye, as nothing. Whereas, truth stands for ever; because its foundation is indestructible and everlasting.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:1-2The gospel is characterized by power. Whether miraculous power, or power in preaching, it brings the explosive might of heaven to bear on the heart of man. This power, like dynamite, changes that which surrounds it. It crumbles our hardness of heart at the realization of our guiltiness and sin, and ignites in us a love for the One who reconciles us to the Father. Now, how do we respond to that power? How do we let it affect our lives, our families, our marriages? It begins by allowing it to change me from the inside out. To be transformed into the image of Christ.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. -Proverbs 10:9
Defined: Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions.
God desires His followers to live with integrity, though it will not be easy. Living with God-like character, being the same person in private and in public, and living out our faith — being true to biblical teaching — is hard and uncomfortable. Choosing to be real, honest, and standing with convictions will always be a challenge in a world that accepts (and sometimes) applauds the lack of it. Yet integrity impacts and influences those around us, especially our children. Only time will tell the impact our walking matching our talking will have on our children — and their children.
If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. -1 John 1:10
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ." - Philippians 3:18
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Romans 5:8But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 PETER 1:3
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence..."
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
EPHESIANS 4:32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
MATTHEW 6: 31-34So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
GENESIS 50:19-20But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
GALATIANS 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
LUKE 1:5-7In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
EPHESIANS 5:15-16Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
2 PETER 1:12-15So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
MATTHEW 17:19-20Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
1 SAMUEL 17:45-47Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
EPHESIANS 4:32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
JOHN 12:26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
1 TIMOTHY 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:8–10).
TITUS 2:14
"...who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."In these words we have two truths -- what Christ has done to make us His own, and what He expects of us. In the former we have a rich and beautiful summary of Christ's work for us: He gave Himself for us, He redeemed us from all iniquity, He cleansed us for Himself, He took us for a people, for His own possession. And all with the one object, that we should be a people zealous of good works.
John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:32And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 16:13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 17:17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
2 Timothy 2:15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
John 4:24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Ephesians 6:14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Proverbs 12:22Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Psalm 145:18The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
1 John 3:18Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Psalm 119:160The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Psalm 25:5
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
John 1:14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
MATTHEW 16:26
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Is to deny one self simply to forgo opportunities that we may have or may not have pursued? Or does it mean we deny sins we typically label as "bigger", but the smaller ones are acceptable? Perhaps it's to deny myself that meal or that trip or that purchase I've been wanting so badly. Maybe some or none of the above? It's a good thing God doesn't leave it up to us to define self-denial. The Lord plaining teaches on the subject and as to what it really means.
JOHN 11:41-44So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
MATTHEW 5:13-16“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
1 Samuel 16:7 "...the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
Do not judge by the outward appearance: Jesus never evaluated others based on things such as their race, wealth, or age. He always looked at who a person truly was. Even though we are imperfect, we can imitate Jesus by seeing people as He does.
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Psalm 4:4-5Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.... Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. -Colossians 3:17; 23-24
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. *-Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -Matthew 5:48
I think it’s easy enough to say that the simple quip “practice makes perfect” is scriptural. Men, like Ralph Waldo Emerson, have carried the same idea from Scripture... "That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased."
Practice unto perfection or maturity is a natural law of consciousness. It’s what Christian discipleship is all about. As we persist in repentance and obedience to His will we complete ourselves through His working in and through us.*
When we are out of line with Christian standards we have to ask ourselves, Am I a true Christian, or am I a counterfeit? Have I been born again, or am I only putting up a front? Those of us who are Christians ought to ask ourselves that occasionally. It is a good idea to examine yourself, especially if there is any kind of wrong behavior involved.
"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" -2 Corinthians 13:5
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. -1 John 4:15-19
"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands." -Malachi 1:10
Romans 18:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [i]in hope21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. - 2 Corinthians 5:12How often we play the justification game of comparing our sins to the sins of others. Do we find salvation from such? Of course not! Today's podcast serves as a reminder of how we deal with the sins of others and our own when it comes to comparisons.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. -1 Thess. 4:7
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? -James 4:11-12
For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. -Romans 7:19-25
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. -Romans 12:4-5
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” -Psalm 32:1–2
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe... Hebrews 12:28