Hebrews 1: Do You Believe In The Son Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V5) “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”
1. Son (V1-6)
V2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
God, the Father, spoke highly of His Son, Jesus Christ, because Jesus obeyed Him. Jesus willingly left the splendour of heaven to be a humble man, and to live and then die on the cruel cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. On the third day Jesus victoriously arose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God interceding and helping those who truly believes in Him to do the perfect will of God!
V3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
2. Spirits (V7-8)
V7 “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
The Son is far greater than the angels as He is God Himself. The angels are only God’s creatures created as ministering spirits to serve God and fulfil His perfect plan. The Son indeed shall reign with God forever, while the angels shall only minister to God forever!
V8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
3. Salvation (V9-14)
V9 “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
God compares His Son as One who chooses to love righteousness and hates sins to that of His archangel Lucifer and the angels who chose to sin and rebel against Him, and became His enemies - the devil and the demons - seeking to destroy His plan. However God’s plan shall never be destroyed, as He sent His Son to die on the cross and redeem mankind from their sins, and whoever believes in Him become joint-heirs of His perfect salvation!
V14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1: Will You Forgive And Receive Others?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.”
1. Receive (V1-17)
V1 “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,”
The epistle of Paul to Philemon was his personal letter to Philemon (his spiritual son and fellow worker) pleading on behalf of Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave. Onesimus escaped from Philemon, but he ended up in the same prison as Paul. In the prison, Paul shared the gospel of Christ to Onesimus, and Onesimus then repented his sins (especially his escape from Philemon), and believed and received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. When Paul heard that Onesimus’ master was Philemon, he knew that it was God’s will for him to write to Philemon. Indeed, there is no accident in God’s vocabulary, as everything, including bad things, that happens to us is according to God’s perfect will.
V10 “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:”
2. Repay (V18-19)
V18 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine own account;”
Paul truly loved Onesimus that he was willing to repay and compensate any loss of man-hours because of Onesimus’ escape from Philemon. Paul then reminded Philemon that he was the one who led him to the Lord and had taught him in God’s Word. Philemon’s heart must have been soften and touched by Paul’s love for him as well as Onesimus, as both were once strangers to Paul, yet he loved them because of God’s unconditional love.
V19 “I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.”
3. Refresh (V20-25)
V20 “Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.”
Paul pleaded with Philemon that his forgiveness of Onesimus would certainly refresh and encourage him to know that Philemon truly practiced what he had learned of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. In fact, Paul was confident that Philemon would not only forgive and receive Onesimus, but he would redeem the slavery of Onesimus, and treat him as his fellow brother, when he would return to him after his release from prison.
V21 “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to forgive and receive others as You have forgiven me.
Titus 3: Are You Ready For Good Works?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
1. Works (V1-3)
V2 “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Though we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not of our good works, yet after we are saved, we must be ready to perform good works as evidence of our salvation. The good works are namely to obey the law of the land, and to be loving, humble and gentle.
V3 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
2. Washing (V4-11)
V4 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
Indeed, God loved the world including you and me that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, from glorious heaven to this lowly earth so that He could live and subsequently died and shed His precious blood to wash away the sins of whoever believes in His name. Since we are washed by the precious blood of Christ, we should then live our lives in pursuit His holiness and righteousness, and in every good work.
V5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
3. Winter (V12-15)
V12 “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”
Paul instructed Titus to meet him at Nicopolis before winter (as it was dangerous to travel during winter time) so that Paul could hand over his ministry to him, while Titus would then hand over his own ministry to Artemas. Paul also instructed Titus to take care of the preachers of God, the likes of Zena the lawyer and Apollos, and even other preachers of the gospel. Paul knew that his life was at stake, and he had chosen Titus as well as Timothy to succeed him. Paul was indeed a man who truly excelled in good works!
V13 “Bring Zena the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be always ready for good works.
Titus 2: Are You Saved?
Verse of the Day: (V11) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
1. The Word Of God (V1-8)
V5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
How do you know a person truly believes and receives Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour? It is only when he hungers and thirsts for God’s Word, and trusts and obeys Him. This was why Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit kept reminding his spiritual son, Titus, to diligently study and accurately interpret God’s Word before he taught and preached to others. The church is not a church because it has excellent worship, program, etc., but the church is a church when the pastor accurately preaches God’s Word without favour or fear, and every member truly lives and practices the principles of God’s Word!
V7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”
2. The Doctrine Of God (V9-10)
V9 “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;”
A rose is called a rose, not just because of its name, but that it has certain unique characteristics different from other flowers, and therefore it is called a rose. Indeed, a Christian is not a Christian just because he says he is one and is saved by God’s grace, but he is a Christian when he truly lives and practices the principles of God’s Word.
V10 “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”
3. The Grace Of God (V11-15)
V13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Paul reminded Titus to thank God for His grace that saves whoever repents of his sins, and believes and receives Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord. Indeed, it is God’s grace that even when we are in the midst of our greatest suffering and deepest trial, we have that blessed hope of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us therefore demonstrate our faith in God through our good works done for His glory!
V14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am saved by Your grace through faith in Jesus.
Titus 1: How Is Your Bishop?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”
1. Wife (V1-8)
V4 “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Apostle Paul instructed his spiritual son, Titus, as to how he as a bishop or elder or pastor should organise the church which they had started at Crete. Paul would be leaving Crete, and he ordained Titus to be the pastor of the church. Paul taught Titus the requirements of a pastor, that he must be blameless, selfless, patient, hospitable, and have only one wife as well as faithful children. Indeed, behind a faithful pastor is a faithful wife and family!
V6 “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
2. Word (V9-14)
V9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
The pastor must in particular be well equipped with God’s Word, and be ready to pray, preach and even perish for Christ’s sake. Indeed, the pastor must be deeply rooted and grounded in God’s Word as there are false pastors, even during Paul’s time, who claim to love God and people, but sadly, they are only seeking for themselves fame and fortune.
V11 “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”
3. Works (V15-16)
V15 “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Paul revealed to Titus that the ways to detect false and deceitful churches and pastors were that they not only did not preach the whole counsel of God’s Word, but they disobeyed God, and they did not even help the poor and needy. Let us pray for all churches and pastors that they must not only fulfil the Great Commission of winning souls and discipleship, but also the Great Commandment of loving one another and even their enemies, and to demonstrate their love by their works in helping the poor and needy.
V16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help my bishop to preach the Word as well as do the works.
2 Timothy 4: Will You Preach The Word?
Verse of the Day: (V2) “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
1. Word (V1-4)
V1 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”
Apostle Paul commanded his successor, Timothy, to preach all the time, even times when he did not feel like preaching God’s holy Word. Indeed, the Christian life is all about God and God alone, and nothing about us. Let us always focus on God, and continue to love and share God’s Word, even at times when we are discouraged, and even disappointed with life. Paul also warned Timothy never to please man when preaching God’s Word, but to reprove and rebuke sins that man shall repent of their sins and turn to the holy God.
V3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
2. Work (V5-7)
V5 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to do the work of preaching God’s Word despite the persecution from the unbelieving Romans who were in control of the regions at that time. In fact, 2 Timothy was the last letter and the last words of Paul before he was beheaded by the Romans for preaching God’s Word. This was why Paul could boldly declared that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith in Christ.
V7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
3. World (V8-22)
V8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
While many, like Demas, had left the faith because of persecution from the Romans as well as the pleasures of this world, Paul kept his faith to the very end. Let us be like Paul that we keep our faith to the very end, and thereby receive God’s reward - the crown of righteousness - when we eventually meet our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ face to face!
V10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to share Your holy Word in good as well as bad times.
2 Timothy 3: Are You Perfect?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
1. Power (V1-9)
V1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
Paul warned Timothy that in the last days, and even during their time, many shall call themselves Christians, and had a form or outward appearance of godliness, but inwardly they were ungodly and did not possess God’s power and holiness. Many were selfish, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving, troublemakers, false accusers, violent, fierce, traitors and evil. Today there are many professing Christians who are also without God’s power and holiness because they have never truly believe and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord.
V5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
2. Persecution (V10-13)
V11 “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
What great joy to know that despite Paul’s sufferings and persecutions wherever and whenever he went because of his faith in God, yet God delivered him from not just some, but all his persecutions! Let us therefore take heart to keep enduring all our persecutions for our faith in God, because we know that not only all who live and love God shall suffer persecutions, but that one day, God shall delivered us from all our persecutions!
V12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
3. Perfect (V14-17)
V15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s last words inspired by God, to Timothy and all Christians, were that God’s Word or the Bible was the best instructions for man to be perfect before the perfect God. Indeed, the acronym of BIBLE is Best Instruction Before Leaving Earth, and let us keep studying and applying the principles of the Bible to our lives as we strive to be perfect before the perfect God, until He calls us home to be with Him in His perfect home in pearly heaven!
V16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be perfect by studying and applying Your Word.
2 Timothy 2: Are You Studying God’s Word?
Verse of the Day: (V15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
1. Be Strong (V1-2)
V1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus despite the strong opposition from the unbelieving Romans who were in control of the regions at that time. He also taught Timothy to train faithful Christians in God’s Word, and in turn, they too trained others, so that the gospel of Christ be spread to the regions beyond till the Lord’s return.
V2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
2. Be Studying (V3-18)
V16 “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
Paul reminded Timothy to avoid non-essential issues in the ministry, as they were unprofitable and ungodly, and distracted him from preaching God’s Word to the regions beyond. He also warned Timothy of false preachers like Hymenaeus and Philetus who led many to condemnation because of their false doctrines. Let us be diligently studying God’s Word, so that we can detect false teaching, and by God’s power and grace, save many souls from fiery hell and direct them to glorious heaven to be with God forever.
V17 “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;”
3. Be Sanctified (V19-26)
V19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
What a comfort and consolation to know that God not only knows all who truly believe and receive Him as their personal Saviour, but He also knows all their sorrows and sufferings because of their faith in Him. Indeed, it is necessary for God to sanctify and purify our faith in Him through sorrows and sufferings as well as through His holy Word, so that eventually we shall come forth as gold, and ready to be with Christ for all eternity!
V21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to keep studying Your Word and be sanctified by it.
2 Timothy 1: Do You Have God’s Power?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
1. Promise (V1-2)
V1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,”
God called Paul to be His apostle to preach on the promise of everlasting life to all who would believe and receive Jesus as their personal Saviour. Paul was careful to discern that it was God’s will for Timothy, his spiritual son, to be the preacher of God’s Word.
V2 “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. Power (V3-11)
V5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”
Though Timothy had great faith in God, as he was raised by his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, both women of God, yet Paul encouraged Timothy to claim God’s power, love and a strong mind. This was because Timothy would be facing great persecution from the unbelieving Romans who was in power at that time. In fact, at the time of writing, Paul was in prison waiting to be executed because of his faith in God.
V8 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
3. Persuasion (V12-18)
V12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Paul was fully persuaded that God shall keep His promise that when he died, he would wake up in glorious heaven, and see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face! Before Paul was executed, he prayed to God to grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, as Onesiphorus had diligently sought him, and found him in prison, and ministered and encouraged him.
V16 “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please grant me Your power, love and a strong mind to serve You.
1 Timothy 6: Do You Love Money?
Verse of the Day: (V10) “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
1. Masters (V1-2)
V1 “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
God loves His people to submit to Him as this demonstrates their obedience. God through Paul commanded His people to submit to their masters who paid them to do their jobs, and it was only fair for them to get their jobs done. However, how blessed it is when both the employers and the employees are God’s children, and they both faithfully and diligently work together, and praise God when the jobs are done for His glory and honour!
V2 “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.”
2. Money (V3-12)
V6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
God loves His people to be contented as this demonstrates their thankfulness. Those who are unthankful will never be contented no matter how much they have. Indeed, godliness with contentment is great gain, because the love of money will cause many to slide down the slippery slope of discontentment, and ended up in misery, sorrows, and even in death.
V9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
3. Man (V13-21)
V15 “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”
God loves His people to humble themselves, and know that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and no man can come to Him, except through Jesus Christ. Indeed, we shall all be changed from mortality to immortality, and are righteous before the righteous God because Jesus Christ had died and shed His precious blood for our sins.
V16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to use my money for Your glory, and never to love it.
