Galatians 3: Are You Faithful?
Verse of the Day: (V9) “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
1. Foolish (V1-5)
V1 “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
Apostle Paul rebuked the Galatians as foolish because they had heard and some even witnessed the miracles of Christ, yet they doubted and rejected Christ and His works.
V5 “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
2. Faithful (V6-10)
V8 “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Paul mentioned faithful Abraham because Abraham believed in God even when it seemed humanly impossible, just like he had a child, Isaac, with his wife, Sara, even when it was humanly impossible for them to conceive at their old age. This was why God blessed Abraham and his descendants and called them Israel, a great nation, which shall show forth God’s love and grace to the unbelieving and sinful world, so that they shall also believe in the true and living God of Israel. However, the people of Israel failed to trust and obey God, and was eventually judged and punished for their unbelief. God then sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the perfect Saviour, to redeem mankind from their sins.
V9 “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
3. Faith (V11-29)
V11 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
Paul reminded the Galatians that no man could be justified and saved by God’s law unless they truly believed by faith in Christ. Christ came and ministered to the people yet the people hanged Him on the cruel cross because of their unbelief. However, it is the fulfilment of God’s prophecy because Christ had to die to redeem us from the curse of the law and the sins of the world. Whosoever believes in Christ shall escape fiery hell and inherit everlasting life with Him in heaven. Indeed, the just shall live by faith in Christ.
V13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be like faithful Abraham and live by faith in You.
Galatians 2: Are You Crucify With Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V20) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
1. Circumcision (V1-13)
V9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Apostle Paul rebuked Apostle Peter because Peter still distinguished himself as a circumcised Jewish Christian, and would not eat with the uncircumcised Gentiles Christians who were eating pork which the Jews would never eat. Paul explained to Peter and his fellow Jewish Christians that Christ had died and resurrected and they had direct access to the Almighty God and they no longer had to obey the Jewish ceremonial laws.
V11 “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
2. Christ (V14-19)
V14 “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
Indeed, Jesus Christ came and died for all our sins and whosoever, whether Jews or Gentiles, believes in Christ shall be forgiven of their sins, and freed from the Jewish laws. Jesus Christ is our ultimate and supreme sacrifice for our sins and all who believe in Him can now directly ask God for His forgiveness without offering sacrifices for their sins.
V15 “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,”
3. Crucified (V20-21)
V20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Let us be crucified with Christ or dead to self, yet live by faith in Christ and Christ alone. Let us thank our God for His amazing grace that saves wretched sinners like you and me!
V21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am crucified with You, yet I live by faith in You.
Galatians 1: Who Do You Please?
Verse of the Day: (V10) “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
1. Preach (V1-9)
V1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Apostle Paul affirmed himself as an apostle, not chosen by men, but God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Paul warned the Corinthian Christians to be careful of other gospels, other than the true gospel of Christ. Indeed, there is no compromise, as we either preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ or none at all, because only Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Almighty God shall judge and punish the men who preached the other gospels which were all from the devil that would surely send men to fiery hell.
V9 “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
2. Please (V10-17)
V10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Again Paul asserted himself as an apostle of God and not of men. Unlike the politics of the day where the religious Jewish leaders sought to please men by their vain preaching and much flattery to please men into supporting their leadership and religion, Paul preached nothing but repentance of sins and returning to the holy God. In fact Paul was once a religious Jewish leader and even persecuted Christians, but God called, saved and used him to preach the gospel of Christ. However, many still rejected the gospel of Christ because they were proud and chose to walk after their lusts than to trust the living God.
V13 “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”
3. Persecuted (V18-24)
V23 “But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”
Many Christians believed in Christ and glorified God, when they heard that Paul who was once the religious leader persecuting the Christians and destroying Christianity was now not only a Christian but an apostle of God faithfully preaching the gospel of Christ.
V24 “And they glorified God in me.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to please You and You alone.
2 Corinthians 13: Are You Perfect?
Verse of the Day: (V11) “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
1. Proof (V1-3)
V1 “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
The Corinthian church challenged the authority of Apostle Paul for the third time to produce proof and evidence that he was truly an apostle and preacher of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul proved to them that all that he preached and taught was all about the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and nothing about himself or his reputation or credential.
V3 “Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.”
2. Power (V4-10)
V4 “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.”
The Corinthian Christians accused Paul of being weak in his preaching and teaching. Paul then explain to them that he was like Christ. Though Christ seemed to be weak when He was mocked, beaten, and eventually crucified, yet He was mighty and strong as He rose again the third day. Similarly, Paul was seen to be weak, yet he was mighty and strong in his testimony for Christ. Paul challenged them to examine their own hearts whether Jesus was truly in their hearts and that they truly lived their lives according to God’s Word.
V5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
3. Perfect (V11-14)
V15 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Finally, Paul closed his letter to the Corinthian church encouraging them to be perfect, to be of good comfort, to live in peace, and be united in Christ. Indeed, let us strive for perfection as we daily pray and study God’s Word, share the gospel and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost to all.
V14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be perfect as You are perfect.
2 Corinthians 12: Is God’s Grace Sufficient For You?
Verse of the Day: (V9) “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
1. Glory (V1-8)
V1 “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.”
Beside Paul’s life experiences, God also transported him to heaven and revealed to him visions and revelations so that he could write more than half of the New Testament books, namely, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews. However God gave Paul a thorn in his flesh for life so that he would never glory in himself, but only in God.
V7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”
2. Grace (V9-10)
V9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Though Paul suffered much from the thorn in his flesh, yet he experienced God’s grace in his life and ministry. Never once did God’s grace fail him, as he went through life storms. Indeed, when we are weak then are we strong, as God’s amazing grace is sufficient for us.
V10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
3. God (V11-21)
V15 “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
Paul’s prayers was that the Corinthian church shall always be a Christ-centred church filled with God’s love and grace. Sadly he heard that they were anything but Christ-centred, and hence he admonished them to repent and return to God’s love and grace.
V21 “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your grace is sufficient as I go through life storms.
2 Corinthians 11: Are You Suffering For Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V25) “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;”
1. Simplicity (V1-4)
V3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, warned the Corinthian church that God’s preachers should simply preach God’s Word, the Bible. There were many false preachers, deceived by Satan, the devil, added to or subtracted from the Bible, making their own interpretations and religions. As a result, many people were deceived and misled to fiery hell, instead of glorious heaven to be with God. Let us preach nothing but only the truth!
V4 “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
2. Satan (V5-15)
V14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Indeed, Satan and his demons can transform themselves into angels of light, and deceived and misled many people to fiery hell. Let us be vigilant of Satan and his demons by staying close to God, and diligently studying the Bible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and fasting and praying and preaching the gospel that all may come to know Christ.
V15 “Therefore it is no great thing of his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
3. Suffered (V16-33)
V25 “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;”
Though Paul was God’s preacher of many churches, and he prayed for them daily, yet he suffered much for Christ’s sake. Many times he escaped death as the Romans were after his life for preaching the gospel of Christ. However, he knew that his suffering was nothing compared to the suffering of Christ. Indeed, let us endure suffering for Christ as we preach and share the gospel of Christ as we know that our labour is not in vain, and one day, we shall meet God and receive His rewards and above all be with Him for ever.
V28 “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to endure suffering for You and Your gospel.
2 Corinthians 10: Are You Gentle?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
1. Gentleness Of Christ (V1-2)
V1 “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, confessed to the Corinthian church that though he was bold and sharp in his writing warning them of their sins, yet in person he was meek and gentle like Christ, because there was some believers who strongly opposed him. Indeed, let us be meek and gentle as there shall always be strong opposition in our service to God even from within the church, because the devil seeks to divide and destroy God’s church.
V2 “But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.”
2. Obedience Of Christ (V3-13)
V4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Paul knew that he was in no authority and position to rebuke the sins and wickedness of the Corinthian Christians except by God’s authority and power, because only God could overcome the evil power of the devil that sought to destroy God’s plan and purpose, as well as God’s preachers and people. Let us therefore trust and obey God, and seek His wisdom and power, as only God and God alone can overcome the evil power of the devil.
V5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
3. Gospel of Christ (V14-18)
V14 “For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:”
Paul explained to the Corinthian church that he came to preach the gospel of Christ to them so that they would believe in Christ. He had no intention to seek his own glory, but to obey God in preaching the gospel of Christ that all might come to God’s saving grace.
V16 “To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be meek and gentle in sharing Your gospel.
2 Corinthians 9: Are You A Cheerful Giver?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
1. Giver (V1-7)
V6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, praised the Corinthian church before the Macedonian church for their generous giving to God. The Corinthian and the Macedonian churches understood the importance of the grace of giving, in other words, the more you give to God and His church, the more God shall bless you, your family, career and ministry. However, many fail to give generously and cheerfully because they fail to trust God, and to realise that everything they have including their precious lives and salvation, truly belong to God. Let us be generous and cheerful givers and see how our generous and cheerful God abundantly bless us, our family, career and ministry!
V7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2. Grace (V8-9)
V8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
Though God bless some with riches, He also loves and cares for the poor, and provides and sustains them. However, ultimately God desires that all, whether the rich or the poor, be saved. This is why God cheerfully gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, so that whosoever believes and receives Him, shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. Indeed, by grace are we saved through faith in Jesus.
V9 “(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.”
3. God (V10-15)
V14 “And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.”
Paul was very thankful and grateful to God and His amazing grace for providing for the material and spiritual needs of all the churches and saints. Indeed, let us be thankful and grateful to God for everything, especially our salvation, the greatest and unspeakable gift!
V15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be a generous and cheerful giver like You.
2 Corinthians 8: Will You Give?
Verse of the Day: (V5) “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
1. Gave (V1-5)
V1 “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;”
Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, cited the example of the generous giving of the churches of Macedonia in helping their fellow churches who were in poverty as a result of famine and persecution. Though these Macedonian churches were also experiencing poverty yet they could give generously because they had fully committed their lives to God. They truly believed that God’s grace was sufficient to sustain them now and forever.
V5 “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
2. Grace (V6-15)
V8 “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.”
Paul praised the Macedonian churches because they gave willingly from their hearts. Indeed, we have nothing to offer to God because everything we have is of God’s and from God. God’s greatest gift is His grace and love for us when He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Whosoever believes in Jesus shall never perish into fiery hell but shall inherit the everlasting life with Him in the riches in heaven.
V9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
3. Glory (V16-24)
V19 “And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:”
The glory of Christ is upon all His preachers and servants, the likes of Paul and Titus, when they willingly gave their lives for the Lord’s work and Word in ministering to and providing for both the material as well as the spiritual needs of God’s churches and saints.
V23 “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to give my life to You as You have given Yours to me.
2 Corinthians 7: Are You Comforted?
Verse of the Day: (V6) “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;”
1. Cleanse (V1-3)
V1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, pleaded with the Corinthian Christians, to flee from their sins and wickedness, and to strive to be holy and righteous in the fear of a holy God. Paul explained to them that he and his fellow preachers sharply rebuked their sins and wickedness, not to condemn or despise them, but because they truly loved them as their spiritual children, and they were always in their hearts whether in life or in death.
V3 “I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.”
2. Comforteth (V4-13)
V6 “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;”
Paul and his fellow preachers were suffering from intense persecution by the Romans and they feared for their lives. However when they heard from Titus, another preacher and Paul’s spiritual son, that the Corinthian Christians had truly repented of their sins and wrongdoings, and were now great examples of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus, they were filled with comfort and thanksgivings. Indeed, it is not enough to be sorrowful of our wrongdoings, but true repentance is when we confess our wrongdoings before the holy and righteous God, and choose to believe and receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our personal Saviour and Lord, and commit ourselves to live a holy and righteous life.
V10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
3. Confidence (V14-16)
V15 “And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.”
Paul was filled with confidence and comfort when he heard from Titus that the Corinthian Christians who were once carnal and worldly, had become spiritual and godly.
V16 “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please comfort me as I am going through trouble, trials and testing.
