522 – Reviewing of Paul's Writings pt 3 Steve Reads Ephesians
The More Abundant Life
God 522 – Reviewing of Paul's Writings pt 3 Steve Reads Ephesians While Paul was in prison, he wrote three Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. All around 62 A.D. As I was putting together the teaching, I was looking for spiritual connections as I did before in the review of Paul's writings. The only thing I thought of doing was to read the whole chapter, pointing out a few things. Ephesians 1:1 – 23 “ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our...
info_outline
521 – Reviewing of Paul's Writings pt 2
The More Abundant Life
God 521 – Reviewing of Paul's Writings pt 2 Can you imagine living in the first century Church? And you were at a fellowship, and someone came in with a letter from Paul. And read it to the group. That must have been an exciting time. Paul's letters, or Epistles, were circulated, meaning they were passed around to all the churches. Would it matter the order in which you read them? No, I don't think so. You would just have to use scripture buildup to add to each Epistle to get a more complete understanding of the subject. Like, today we're going to look at the spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16...
info_outline
520 – Reviewing Paul's Writings
The More Abundant Life
God 520 – Reviewing of Paul's Writings We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is “Reviewing of Paul's Writings.” Chronological order of when Paul's letters were written. Before going to Jerusalem. First and Second Thessalonians: 51 and 52 A.D First and Second Corinthians: 53 - 55 A.D. Romans 55 - 57 A.D. Galatians: 50 - 60 A.D. After going to Jerusalem, and while Paul was in prison. Ephesians: 62 A.D. Philippians 62 A.D. Colossians: 62 A.D. First and Second Timothy: 64 and 65 2 Timothy 4:11 – 13 “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and...
info_outline
519 – Paul Gets to Jerusalem
The More Abundant Life
God 519 – Paul Gets to Jerusalem We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is “Paul Gets to Jerusalem.” Acts 21:14 – 21 “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with...
info_outline
518 – Paul on His Way to Jerusalem
The More Abundant Life
God 518 – Paul on His Way to Jerusalem We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is “Paul on His Way to Jerusalem.” Acts 19:21 & 22 “ After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.” Paul purposed in his soul life, in his thinking, in his mind. Not by the Spirit, which we will...
info_outline
517 - Paul's Second Itinerary pt 2
The More Abundant Life
God 517 – Paul's Second Itinerary pt 2 We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is “Paul's Second Itinerary part two.” Acts 17:16 – 23 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He...
info_outline
516 – Paul's Second Itinerary
The More Abundant Life
God 516 – Paul's Second Itinerary We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is “Paul's Second Itinerary.” Acts 16:1 – 4 “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a...
info_outline
515 – Don't Frustrate The Grace of God, pt 2
The More Abundant Life
God 515 – Don't Frustrate The Grace of God, pt 2 We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's podcast is part two of the last weeks podcast "Don't Frustrate The Grace of God. Acts 15:30 – 41 “So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let...
info_outline
514 – Don't Frustrate The Grace of God
The More Abundant Life
God 514 – Don't Frustrate The Grace of God We're continuing along in our series on "Paul of the Bible." This week's teaching is entitled "Don't Frustrate The Grace of God. We need and have the grace of God in our lives. We know that others who are born again have the grace of God in their lives. We need to think of it that way. We all live in Grace. Acts 14:26 – 28 “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done...
info_outline
513 – When did the Shepherds and the Wise Men Meet?
The More Abundant Life
God 513 – When did the Shepherds and the Wise Men Meet? God is perfect. Jesus Christ is perfect. So God's Word must be perfect. God cannot contradict himself. When reading the Bible, we need to use all the keys required to let the word of God interpret itself. We need to be like detectives following the clues. Two things, amongst others, that I watch for are tradition versus truth, and I never trust pictures. We need to look at the words closely. The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1 – 21 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world...
info_outline
God
497 – Thinking and The Renewed Mind
Righteousness is part of our renewed mind thinking. Life is lived in our minds. What we think, what we feel, all our emotions, all our aspirations, all our thoughts are all in our minds.
That's how we live in our minds, everybody, man, woman, and child, no matter how old. We need to work on our thoughts. That's the reason for this teaching series on thinking and the renewed mind.
Romans 12:1 – 3 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
The first thing I want to get into is 'by the mercies of God.' Let's look at a man who was so human that there are lessons for us to learn here.
Genesis 19:15 & 16 “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”
Lot's thinking wasn't so good. You might be able to say he was not in his right mind. In these verses, we see the word mercy used, and this is the first time that the word is used in Scripture, making it a good example of mercy.
2 Peter 2:6 – 8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
The Scripture here tells us that Lot was righteous. God took his sin away as far as the East is from the West, even into the deepest sea. Even being righteous, he could not keep his mind right; it was vexed.
Genesis 19:17 – 22 “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.”
Lot was a man with half a brain. He couldn't think. God, at times, is willing to change His mind to help people, but when He does, the best you can get is only second best. This is an example of God's mercy to a man with an unrenewed mind.
Genesis 19:37 & 38 “And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”
God gave both the Moabites and the Amorites an inheritance, but later they wanted to kill the Israelites. God had to save the Israelites.
Give thanks for his mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 136:1 – 25 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: 20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: 21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
In our thinking, in our minds, when things get challenging and uncomfortable, we usually revert to our habits. In the renewed mind, we need to train our minds, our thinking, to think things from the written Word.
How deserving was Israel? What about our thinking do we deserve anything from God? But by God's grace and mercy and because of what Jesus Christ and God accomplished for us, and because God says so, we deserve it.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Our reasonable service means we make ourselves available to God so that God can direct our path. It is not our job to fix anybody. Our job is to be available, listen to God's Word, and share what it says with others. God doesn't make us responsible to believe for others, but to simply give them God's Word and give them a chance to believe for themselves. That's it.
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Now we need to renew our minds to The Word. Everything happens in our brains, our minds. Once again, life is lived in our minds, in what we think. We need to watch what we think and maintain what we think according to The Word of God.
Until we meet again, may God bless you abundantly.
Agape,
The Teacher: Rev. Steve Jaynes
If you would like to study the Bible further, consider reviewing the Online Classes and Teachings page and the podcast page of the website https://stevejaynes.com. They are all offered free of charge to assist in your spiritual growth and confidence in God.
The Third Edition
The Third Edition of the book "How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power" is now available. The website will provide information about the new book and how to purchase it.
Credits
Intro and Outro Music: Larry LoVerme's version of “Be Thou My Vision.”
Information
You can visit our website to stay informed about all the activities we're undertaking here with our podcast. Here's the link: https://stevejaynes.com/
Zoom-dial-in
Podcast listeners, you are invited to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 AM EST. To participate, click on the website (https://stevejaynes.com/zoom-dial-in) and join the meeting. We use this link for all our fellowships.
Listener-supported podcast.
Thank you to all who help support The More Abundant Life podcast. We are a listener-supported podcast. I want to thank those who generously give to keep the podcast available. The podcast is heard worldwide by those who want to understand the Bible accurately when they read it. Your support helps maintain the accuracy of the Word available worldwide, as listeners can freely access these podcasts wherever they receive their podcasts. Once again, thank you for supporting me.
We believe the Bible is the revealed Word and will of God. The Bible means what it says and says what it means. We allow the Word of God to speak for itself by applying key principles to interpret the Bible. As a 100% listener-supported podcast, we do not sell any advertising or sponsorships. The podcast is for only those who favor letting the Word of God speak for itself. If you'd like to support the podcast, please visit stevejaynes.com. At the top of every page, you'll find a donate button.
Don’t forget to rate the show and leave a positive review. An excellent rating could make the show more accessible to a broader audience.
Contact Information
Feel free to email or text Steve to get in touch, ask questions, or share something. If you would like to have a conversation, let’s set up an appointment. Please text me the best time—morning, afternoon, or evening—and which day or days work for you. I would need to know the time zone. I will get back to you with the day and time.
I would love to hear from you and talk with you.
steve@stevejaynes.com, 207-595-1577 (Please start with a text first so that we both will have the time to communicate fully.)