Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Th 1:1) “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians…(2) We give thanks to God always for you all…”  The church are the saved people gathered together. We get so caught up in our own world of me and mine (our church) that we fail to realize there are such congregations all over the world. Give the Lord thanks for the true churches out there! They are also your brothers and sisters and need your prayers.

(2Th 1:3) “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”  Did you notice it was “meet”, or ,right to do? It is right to put our minds on others and thank the Lord when they grow in such a way as to give glory to God! Acknowledge, and thus encourage brothers and sisters when they display growth!

(Eph 1:5) “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”  The predestination here is not referring to the individual, but to the means “by Jesus Christ” as verses 3 & 4 attest. The Lord desires each of us to respond to His act of sacrifice and love to the suffering and death of His Son. He never makes a person love Him. Do you? Will you?

(2Ti 1:1) “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus”  That promise of life, eternal life, does not begin at death, but here in this life. Spiritual life is imparted the moment one turns from their sin and embraces Jesus as the means of their salvation. I remember that moment. Do you?

(Tit 1:1) “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth”  We are to acknowledge the truth of God’s Word in all things. This, though, is directly referring to the promise of salvation through the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. That…..is to be a public profession, “….for whosoever believeth in Him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10:11)

(Phm 1:2) “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: “ Notice where the church gathered – a house. It is not the beauty of the place or the place itself that the Lord truly seeks and desires of us. It is the heart of His children as they gather. He desires for each of us to have a heart of love for Him and for each other. May it be so in your church!

(Heb 1:1) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,…”  The times of God speaking in various ways has ended. He has spoken definitively through the Lord Jesus and continues to speak through His Word – the Holy Spirit the voice. Open the pages of your Bible and hear His voice.

(James 1:14) “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”  We live in a day when we blame everyone and everything for the problems of life. The truth is, we are the source of our problems. We choose how we will react – rightly or wrongly – to the situations of life. Own up to it, and bow to the truth. “God forgive me and help me to do better before You.”