Things “sent” of God

Prophets to rebuke Israel

2 Chronicles 24:19  

Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.

2 Chronicles 25:15  

The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people's gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”

Jeremiah 26:5  

And if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),

Jeremiah 29:1  

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

An evil Spirit

Judges 9:23  

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech.

Adam from the garden

Genesis 3:23  

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

Angels to destroy Sodom

Genesis 19:13  

Because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”

Joseph to preserve life

Genesis 45:7  

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Things Men Can Do

Death more than once

James 5:19-20  

19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Be in danger of damnation after they have been saved

2 Timothy 2:17-18  

17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Serve sin again

John 8:31-34  

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Whither like a branch and be cut off and burned

John 15:1-6

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Reasons to wait on God

Freedom from shame

Psalms 25:3  

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Integrity and uprightness

Psalms 25:21  

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

Preservation

Psalms 25:21  

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

Renewed strength and courage

Psalms 27:14  

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalms 31:24  

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Isaiah 40:31  

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Life

Psalms 33:19  

19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Help and protection

Psalms 33:20  

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Mercy

Psalms 33:22  

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Effects of the fall

Effects of the fall – Short lived. Life is compared to:

A Pilgrimage

Genesis 7:9 

There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

Water spilled on the ground

2 Samuel 14:14 

For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Wind

Job 7:7

 O remembers that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

A passing cloud

Job 7:9 

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

A weaver’s shuttle

Job 7:6 

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

A shadow

Job 14:2 

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Green herbs that wither

Psalms 37:2 

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Vanity

Psalms 144:4 

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Angels Named in Scripture

Gabriel

Daniel 8:16

And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”

Daniel 9:21

While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

Luke 1:19

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

Luke 1:26

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

Abraham or Apollyon

Revelation 9:11

They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

God’s Verse for God’s people…

Examination before communion

The Lord’s Supper is not for all men, but only for those who are able spiritually to discern the Lord’s body. It is not meant for the conversion of sinners, but for the edification of disciples. Hence we need of examination, lest we intrude ourselves where we have no right to be.

1 Corinthians 11:28  

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

Cleansing which comes of Godliness

2 Corinthians 7:1  

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

2 Corinthians 6:16  

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

It is God’s Power To

Nourish Spiritual Life

1 Peter 2:2 

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Cleanse the Church

Ephesians 5:26  

To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Search the Life

Hebrews 4:12  

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Make Partakers of Christ

Ephesians 3:6  

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Impart Immortality

2 Timothy 1:10

 But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Bring Peace

Romans 10:15  

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Give Protection

Ephesians 6:17  

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Give fullness of Blessings

Romans 15:29

 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Killing Time

Ephesians 5:15-16

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

A friend of mine was sitting on a park bench with his hands folded, staring into the distance. When I asked what he was doing, he replied, "Oh, just killing time."

What a cruel thing to do to something as valuable as time! Why kill it? Time is given to us to be cultivated, not murdered. Time should never be wasted but used to the best advantage.

Of course, there are times when we must relax and rest. Even Jesus said to His disciples, "Come aside . . . and rest a while" (Mk. 6:31). But that was not "killing time," it was using time for restoration. After they had rested, they would be able to use their time more fruitfully and profitably.

If a fraction of the time we waste could be used to pray, read the Bible, witness to others, visit a friend in distress, or comfort someone who is grieving, what a difference it would make! Today, when you have leisure time, ask yourself how you can best improve those extra moments. You may think I am being narrow-minded, but the Bible is clear—we are to be "wise, redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:16).

Today, see how much good you can do for God and others—not how little you can get by with. It is not true that we can "make up lost time." It is gone forever!

God’s people have so much to do in serving Christ today that they should use their precious time to share, to love, to pray.

Time—use it or lose it!

Teachings of Christ

Cleansing

John 15:3  

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Coin

Matthew 22:19-21  

19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,

20 and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar's,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.”

Coldness

Matthew 24:12  

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

Communication

Luke 24:17  

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

Compassion

Matthew 15:32  

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Luke 10:33  

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Praise

Give you fame and praise

Zephaniah 3:20  

At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

You have perfected praise

Matthew 21:16  

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”

Of men more than the praise

John 12:43  

For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Praise is not from men but..

Romans 2:29  

No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Then each one’s praise

1 Corinthians 4:5  

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

The brother whose praise

2 Corinthians 8:18  

And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

Should be to the praise

Ephesians 1:12

In order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

To the glory and praise

Philippians 1:11  

Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I will sing praise to you

Hebrews 2:12  

He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”

The sacrifice of praise

Hebrews 13:15  

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

And for the praise of those..

1 Peter 2:14  

Or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

Saying praise our God

Revelation 19:5  

Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

Duties of Citizens

Honor civil rulers

Exodus 22:28  

“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

Acts 23:5  

rs, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

1 Peter 2:13-17  

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,

14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, and honor the king.

Obey civil laws

Ezra 7:26  

Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Do not curse rulers

Ecclesiastes 10:20  

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Work for peace

Romans 12:18  

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Grace to the humble

Ezekiel 21:6

“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.

Ezekiel 17:21

All his fleeing troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.

Jeremiah 44:10

To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your fathers.

Jeremiah 13:18

Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns will fall from your heads.”

Isaiah 57:15

For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

Isaiah 2:11

The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

Psalms 89:16-17

16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.

17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.

Psalms 89:13

Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Psalms 75:10

I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

Job 36:22

“God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

2 Chronicles 36:12

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD.

Our duty towards the Holy Spirit

By Late Rev. Elisha James

Follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit

Acts 13:2  

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Be born of the Holy Spirit

John 3:5  

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 

Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18  

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God

Ephesians 4:30  

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire

1 Thessalonians 5:19  

Be guided by the Holy Spirit

John 6:13  

So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Bear the fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,