1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20

Title:  Frequent illnesses

According to Paul the apostle, Timothy was frequently ill and he (Paul) had left Trophimus behind in Miletus because he (Trophimus) was sick.

These verses wouldn’t fit well with social gospel and full gospel proponents because they claim that healing is part of the good news of the Lord Jesus.  It is not arguable that healing really happens, but all in accordance with the sovereign will of God and not because of any promise of divine healing.  God will heal according to his plan, and there is a sickness that is unto death.

The complete gospel (as against the full gospel) tells of the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus for the salvation of his people from their sins, period; there is no prosperity clause or a promise of blessed health in the gospel.  All the gospel has is the remedy for sin and the resulting eternal life for those who would believe.

Yes, there would be complete healing and inconceivable riches awaiting the Christian, but that will not happen now; all the good things promised as inheritance to a joint heir with the Son of God await the revelation of the saints on the day the Lord Jesus returns to establish his eternal kingdom.  Amen. 

1 Corinthians 11:1

Title:  Be ye followers of me

What example did the apostle Paul follow in the Lord Jesus that he is encouraging us to pursue also?

The Lord Jesus during his tenure on earth did not seek his own profit but the benefit of many.  He lived and died for the sake of others, the very people who would lead him to the hill to be crucified.  In fact this was the exact reason why we were created in the first place, and why the church was established on the Rock who is the Lord Jesus, that we may be servants serving the Lord by serving his people.

What greater advantage is there in this life than receiving the gift of eternal life?  Nothing!  Therefore, since we have every resource we would need to live righteous lives, we seek the good of other people before our own so nothing in our testimonies would hinder them from hearing the gospel that they might be saved.

Mark 9:35

Title: Who was the greatest?

Christian service is not about achieving greatness or prominence.  If that were so, we should have known the identity of the good Samaritan long ago.  The kingdom the Lord will establish will have only one foremost and essential figure in its economy, the Son of God.  In the presence of the majesty and awesomeness of the power of the Lord Jesus, we dare not yearn for any other position but that of a servant.

Acts 6:4

Title:  Give our attention

A man of God who enters the political arena is clearly out of order.  He doesn’t comprehend the immensity of the spiritual task to which he has been called and the urgency of the times.

Drawing back from activities that would take his mind, heart, and soul away from prayer and the continual proclamation of the gospel, he is to attend assiduously all the exercises surrounding prayer and preaching, to persevere, never to leave the presence of, and thereby develop strength in them. 

That leaves him no time for the affairs of the world.

Note:  Christians should be encouraged to pursue a career in government, but a pastor who desires to get entangled in politics must first resign from his post.

2 Corinthians 6:17; James 4:4

Title:  Be separate

While the world is talking peace and unity, the church must draw the line and severe any ties it might have with humanistic philosophies, with what is evil in society that people now call good.

The body of the Lord Jesus must not remain silent when the truth of Scriptures is being attacked in schools, in government, in the media, even in the field of entertainment and sports; for unless the church, even the individual Christian, separates itself from the world, it cannot achieve the unity it desires. 

We must fight like soldiers for the truth of God.  We must raise our voices against the promotion of sodomy, same-sex (union) abomination, the murder of babies in the womb, the intrusion of government into church (spiritual) affairs.  If we fail to do this, we are, in effect, haters of God, and will receive the same plagues as would befall the enemies of God.

Ezekiel 34:20

Title:  I myself will judge

After the world had been harvested by angels and the wicked had been separated from the righteous, God himself will then judge between one sheep and another.  He will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

The fat sheep are those who took care only of themselves and had left the rest of the flock to fend for themselves; these are those who loved to be first in the congregation and who exerted power and influence to gain prominence and in many cases financial gain at the expense of poorer and weaker brethren.

We will be judged how we treated the brethren, for God doesn’t show partiality to the poor or favoritism for the great.

Genesis 22:8

Title: God himself will provide the lamb

With confidence in what God had promised that he would be the father of multitudes, Abraham brought his only legitimate son to the hill of sacrifice believing the Lord will intervene and spare the life of his son and provide a better offering, one that was without spot or blemish and with the proper value, while his son was a sinner like all men are and also in need of a Savior.

Jeremiah 29:11

Title: For I know the plans I have for you

For a people whom the Lord had chastened with exile and are about to be restored to their former habitat, the Lord had intentions of welfare, health, safety, prosperity, and continuity of their existence as a nation [in contrast to their former state of tragic banishment], while anchored on their continued dependence on God.  The national character of this prophecy was directed toward the integrity of the inhabitants of the land, and will result in the restoration of worship and fellowship with their Savior.

Matthew 9:37

Title: The workers are few

Preachers will always be few, and among them those who are idle and who love the title and the accolade outnumber those who truly work in the fields, nameless and not often appreciated.  Our prayer should be for day workers who will pray and preach the knowledge of the kingdom, who would not be masters nor reap where they have not sown, nor eat the day they would not work, men after God’s own heart, for only the Lord could call such as He would send.