Author: David Worcester

Lead Pastor of Compass Church http://CompassChurchSD.com #Jesus, #Family #ChurchPlanting #CollegeMinistry. #Missions http://GospelAppointments.com @collegiatecoll

Start And Finish By Faith – Galatians 3

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From my reading in Galatians 3 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

We receive Christ by faith and are to continue living our entire Christian life by faith.

Unfortunately, many people receive Jesus through faith but then stop trusting him to help them grow. They now think it is up to them to grow based on their own human effort. Paul addressed this issue in the church in Galatia.

“Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Galatians 3:2–3

Let me ask you the same question…

After starting your Christian life by the Spirit’s power and by faith are you now trying to grow by your own effort?

Paul is telling us that not only should be receive Christ by faith but our entire Christian life is to be lived by faith! He is saying that we did not receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law, so why should we think that we can grow that way.

Keeping the law will never earn you favor with God.

“So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Galatians 3:11

It is only through faith that we can please God and grow in him.

I hope that this can be a reminder that as Christians our favor with God is not dependent on our effort but on our faith.

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“Dying To Live” – Die To Yourself & Trust Jesus To Lead You – Galatians 2

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From my reading in Galatians 2 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul shares one of the keys to living the Christian life.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

My old self has been crucified with Christ.

In this context, Paul is sharing that his old way of trying to be made right with God is no longer needed. When you receive Christ your old sinful way of life died with Jesus on the cross.  You don’t have to earn your way to God because His death allows you to have a relationship with him.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

One of the amazing truths of Christianity is that God lives inside of us!  If you have received Christ then you don’t have to go through life alone! He is always with you.

It is a challenge sometimes to remember his presence, but we must remind ourselves to rely on his strength and follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Then we will be able to live a life that pleases God.

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Christian life is all about trusting Jesus. We start our relationship with him by faith and we walk with Him by faith every step of the way. We can trust Jesus because he is trustworthy. We can be confident in his love because he demonstrated it by dying for us.

Letting Jesus lead us should be a daily thing. We don’t have to do anything alone. We can be sure that he will lead us down the paths that are best for us. Spiritual growth is the process of learning how to better follow Jesus and become more like him.

Have you been trusting Jesus to lead you? Or have you been doing your own thing?

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Whose Approval Are You Living For? Others or Jesus?- Galatians 1

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From my reading in Galatians 1 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

We all have been tempted to live for the approval of others at some point.

Paul shared his personal philosophy with the Galatians on this issue.

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10

You can’t serve God genuinely and live the approval of others.

You have to choose who you are going to live for, God or others. If you are living to serve God then it doesn’t matter how many people think you are great.

For me in ministry I am tempted to do things so that people will think that what I am doing is significant.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter what people think, it matters what God thinks!

There will be times where you will tempted to do things that do not honor God in order to please people. You must have courage do say no when those times come.

Knowing who you are serving is the first step toward freedom in this area. Many leaders have a tendency to try and tell people what they want to hear but ultimately they end up twisting scripture to say what they want it to say instead of what it actually says. They end up dishonoring God in order to make a name for themselves.

When you are living for the approval of others you are really serving yourself.

You are using others in order to gain status for yourself. On the other hand, when you are serving Jesus your motive is God’s glory and the benefit of others.

My prayer is that I would not get caught in the trap of trying to win the approval of others, but I would serve Jesus and not worry what others think.

Whose approval are you living for? God’s or others?

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4 Ways To Experience The Presence God – 2 Corinthians 13

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 13 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Paul gave the Corinthians four ways to experience the presence of God as his final instructions of the letter.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

Notice it says that if they did these things “then the God of love and peace will be with you.” The following instructions are ways to experience God’s presence.

1. Be joyful.

Joy is a natural byproduct of living in God’s presence. We are commanded to be joyful.  No matter how hard our situation we have a choice to rejoice. It is not possible to be happy all the time, but we can choose joy even in the darkest times through Christ’s power.

2. Grow to maturity.

The more you grow the more you will know Jesus. Growing in your faith will allow you to go into deeper fellowship with God. As you get to know Jesus you become more like him and you fellowship with him will become sweeter.

3. Encourage each other.

Through encouragement we can help each other experience God’s presence. God can speak to you through other people. Sometimes God’s comfort is most easily felt through the loving words of a fellow Christian.

4. Live in harmony and peace.

God’s presence dwells with those who are united in his name. There is spiritual power when a group comes together in harmony and peace. When there is fighting and disharmony it disrupts what God wants to do through a group.

Which of these four commands does your community need to work on today?

Which do you need to work on personally?

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There Is A Purpose For Your Pain – 2 Corinthians 12

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 12 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

God allows pain in your lives for a purpose.

The apostle Paul had a painful weakness in his life, and God used it to show his power through Paul.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8–10

You can ask, but sometimes God won’t take away your pain.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away…

God is not unaware of your pain.  He is allowing it to be in your life for a purpose. Pain is the time where you are often drawn closer to God.

God’s power is works best in your weakness.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

In your weakness we have you chance to see God’s mighty power working. When you experience pain, God’s comfort and power are more evident. You should boast in God’s healing power in your live.

You should see your suffering as an opportunity to show God’s strength.

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul said that he takes pleasure in his weaknesses and other troubles because it showed how strong God is.  When God sustains you in your weakness he is glorified. If there is no struggle, then there is no story of God coming through for you. Some of the most powerful testimonies of God’s grace have come out of the hardest situations.

God allows pain in your life in order to show you and the rest of the world his power to take care of it!

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Encouragement For Those Suffering – 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

We all go through hard times, but some people experience much more pain than others!

It order to defend his legitimacy apostle Paul share many of his trials with the Corinthians. Here’s the list of the trials Paul went through from 2 Corinthians 11.

  • Worked hard long days -23, 27
  • Put in prison -23
  • Whipped without number -23
  • Faced death again and again – 23
  • Received 39 lashes five times – 24
  • Beaten with rods three times – 25
  • Shipwrecked three times – 25
  • Spent a night and day drifting at sea – 25
  • Traveled many long journeys – 26
  • Faced danger from rivers -26
  • Faced danger from robbers -26
  • Faced danger from people, both Jews and Gentiles -26
  • Danger in the cities – 26
  • Danger in the deserts -26
  • Danger on the seas -26
  • Danger from false christians – 26
  • Endured sleepless nights -27
  • Been hungry – 27
  • Been thirsty – 27
  • Been cold – 27
  • Been without enough clothing to keep warm – 27
  • The daily burden of concern for all the churches – 28
  • Had to escape a city through a window in a basket – 32-22

It’s safe to say that 99% of those reading this article have not experienced as much pain as the Apostle Paul!

All of this pain never deterred him from his mission. Paul was so motivated that he was willing to endure all these things for the sake of the gospel! Paul experienced much suffering of the sake of Jesus. Paul said,

If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 2 Corinthians 11:30

I think the reason he boasted in his weakness is that it identified him with Jesus, “a man of suffering”.

It is in the middle Paul’s weakness and suffering that God used Paul to plant many churches. If you are in ministry and going through hard times, take heart, God still wants to use you and often uses us in the middle of our pain!

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Be Discerning About Which Preachers You Listen To! – 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

In a day where anyone with internet access can call themselves a “preacher” we must be discerning.

Paul warned the Corinthian church to not just believe everything they hear.

“You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” 2 Corinthians 11:4

If someone peaches a different Jesus, a different Holy Spirit, or a different good news, don’t believe them! We should not be content just to take 100% of what a preacher tells us.  We should test it with the truth.

Even good preachers make mistakes.

I like the phrase, “eat the meat, and spit out the bones!”  We should take the good things a preachers as long as the meat is right. The meat of God’s word is what is going to nourish you spiritually. But if someone is constantly only serving you bones then you need to find a new chef!

Paul warns about false teachers who disguise themselves as servants of God.

“These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

False teachers follow Satan’s example.

Satan pretends that he is an angel of light in order to deceive people.  I believe that some of the other religions and cults are a result of Satan doing this.

False teachers do the same thing. They disguise themselves as servants of God when in reality they are not!

Watch out for false teachers and make sure that they are telling the truth about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the gospel!

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The Foolishness Of Comparing Yourself To Others – 2 Corinthians 10

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 10 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

I pity the fool that compares!

Paul warns us of the folly of playing the comparison game.

“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

In the comparison game you always lose.

If you are better in that area, you will be tempted to be proud. 

If  you are worse in that area, you will be tempted to be discouraged. 

I have personally struggled with comparing my ministry results with others. If I see someone succeeding more than I have a tendency to compare their results to mine. I wonder why I’m not succeeding more and can get discouraged. If they have less apparent success then there is a temptation for me to get proud and look down on them.

Another problem with comparing yourself to other people is that they are not our standard!

We should not measure ourselves by other people, we should measure ourselves by God’s standards. According to God’s standard all of us fall short. But if you agree with God about out sin, turn from it and decided to follow Jesus then you will be forgiven.

As you serve him he will ask you to be faithful.

We are called to be faithful to God, not impress or keep up with others.

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing we are not doing enough because you see others doing more. Others are tempted to do less than they are supposed to because they are are comparing themselves to people who are lazy!

We should look to God for our direction and not compare ourselves to others!

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8 Benefits Of Generous Giving – 2 Corinthians 9

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 9 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

These are results that normally happen when we give generously. There are situations where God allows generous people to experience poverty in this life, but these principles are generally what will happen if we exhibit a lifestyle of generousity.

1. Your passion will motivate others to give.

For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. 2 Corinthians 9:2

2. You will receive blessing in proportion to what you give. (Not always monitory blessing.)

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 2 Corinthians 9:6

3. God is pleased when you give willingly and cheerfully, not because of pressure.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”2 Corinthians 9:7

4. God will meet the needs and give you plenty left over to share.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

5. Your generosity will be remembered by God.

As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:9

6. God will increase your resources partially to increase your giving.

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 2 Corinthians 9:10

7. You will be enriched in every way.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

8. You will bless others and they will praise God.

So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 2 Corinthians 9:12-13

Which of these results of generous giving inspires you most?

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10 Principles For Experiencing The Joy Of Generous Giving – 2 Corinthians 8

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From my reading in 2 Corinthians 8 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Giving is a gateway to joy!

In this passage we can learn several principles of how to experience the joy of generous giving. Note: most of these are not direct commands, but principles I pick up from the passage.

1. Poverty is not an excuse for being stingy.

“They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor…” 2 Cor 8:2a

2. Joy is a motivation for generous giving.

“But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” 2 Cor 8:2b

3. Give sacrificially and freely.

“For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.” 2 Cor 8:3

4. Give eagerly.

“They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.” 2 Cor 8:4

5. Give to the Lord first, then others.

“They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.” 2 Cor 8:5

6. Keep your giving commitments.

“So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.” 2 Cor 8:6

“Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.” 2 Cor 8:10-11a

7. You can excel at giving.

“Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” 2 Co 8:7

8. Give out of genuine love.

“I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.” 2 Cor 8:8

9. Jesus is our ultimate example of generosity.

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” 2 Cor 8:9

10. Give in proportion to what you have.

“Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.”  2 Cor 8:11b-14

Which of these giving principles do you need to work on?

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