Titus 1:2 Past - A Promise
1John 5:13 Present - A Possession
Rom 6:22 Future - A Prospect

Ps 22:1-3 Upward Look
Ps 22:4-6 Backward Look
Ps 22:7-8 Outward Look
Ps 22:14-17 Inward Look
Ps 22:18 Downward Look
Ps 22:22 Onward Look
Ps 22:27 Millennial Look

Heb 2:9 Suffering of Death
Heb 2:9 Taste of Death
Heb 2:14 Medium of Death
Heb 2:14 Power of Death
Heb 2:15 Fear of Death

The fear of death was ours.  The power of death was Satan's.  The taste and suffering of death were Christ's.  Through the medium of death, Christ destroyed not only death itself, but also him who had power of death.

Read the Sentence of Death.

"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Rom 5:15

The Gratuitousness - the free gift
The Gloom - many be dead
The Greatness - much more
The Giver - grace of God
The Ground - gift by grace
The Gift - Jesus Christ
The Glory - abounded unto many

1Thess 5:12 Know them - Their recognition
1Thess 5:13 Esteem them - Their regard
Heb 13:7 Remember them - Their report
Heb 13:17 Obey them - Their responsibility
Heb 13:24 Salute them - Their respect

Rev 2:13 Satan's Seat - His political dominion
Rev 2:24 Satan's Depth - His philosophical deception
Rev 3:9 Satan's Synagogue - His priestly design

Satan's Seat - Roaring Lion (1Pet 5:8)
Satan's Depth - Subtle Serpent (2Cor 11:3)
Satan's Synagogue - Angel of Light (2Cor 11:14)

 John 3: Conversion of Nicodemus
- Won for Christ in the city during midnight

John 7: Confession of Nicodemus
- Witness for Christ in the council during daylight

John 19: Consecration of Nicodemus
- Worship for Christ at the cross during twilight

Read Nicodemus.

Acts 13:1-4 Commendation of the Servants
Acts 13:5-12 Confrontation with the Sorcerer
Acts 13:13-15 Coming to a Synagogue
Acts 13:16-41 Communication from the Scriptures
Acts 13:42-52 Consequences of the Sermon

Eze 1-3 Preparation of the Prophet

Eze 4-24 Portrayal of Apostate Judah
Disobedient nation (4-7)
Departed glory (8-11)
Disciplined nation (12-24)

Eze 25-32 Prophecy of Gentile Nations
Judgment on Ammon (25:1-7)
Judgment on Moab (25:8-11)
Judgment on Edom (25:12-14)
Judgment on Philistia (25:15-17)
Judgment on Tyre (26:1-28:19)
Judgment on Sidon (28:20-26)
Judgment on Egypt (29:1-32:32)

Eze 33-39 Prophecy of Israel
Caution of the Watchman Prophet (33)
Carelessness of the Shepherd Leaders (34)
Cruelty of Israel's brother Edom (35)
Conversion, New heart and spirit (36)
Comeback of the nation (37)
Conflict with Gog and Magog (38-39)

Eze 40-48 Promises of Restoration
New Temple (40-46)
New Territory (47-48)

Acts 10:34-35 Common Ground of Acceptance
Acts 10:36-37 Commencement of the Gospel
Acts 10:38 Consecrated Life of Christ
Acts 10:39 Cruel Death of Christ
Acts 10:40 Confirmed Resurrection of Christ
Acts 10:41 Chosen Witnesses
Acts 10:42 Coming Judgment
Acts 10:43 Complete Salvation
Acts 10:44 Converted Company
Acts 10:45-46 Confounded Jews
Acts 10:47-48 Compulsory Baptism

Luke 15:6 - The Joy of the Saviour
Luke 10:20 - The Joy of the Saint
Phil 4:10 - The Joy of the Servant

A widely held view has been that God did it because He was concerned for the health and hygiene of His people. In those far-off primitive days, so the argument goes, when people had no scientific understanding of germs and viruses, and no refrigeration to stop meat going bad, God forbade the eating of certain animals, birds, and fish, to protect His people from the poison that those creatures could easily carry.

Why did God originally forbid Israel certain foods?  The answer is: to teach them certain lessons by introducing the categories of ceremonial cleanness and uncleanness.

Leave aside for the moment these food laws. Israel as a nation was separated out from the other nations to enjoy a special relationship with God and to carry a special role among the nations. As Balaam put it, “I see people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations” (Num. 23:9). As God explained to them at Sinai: “...out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5-6). In accordance with this special role, therefore, they were commanded naturally enough to keep themselves pure from the moral and spiritual uncleanness that so polluted the Gentile nations. Listing and prohibiting the sexual immoralities, the religious idolatries, the commercial dishonesties, the infanticide, demonism, and incest prevalent among the Canaanite nations, God explained:

Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants...And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you (Lev. 18:24-28).

These, then, were moral and spiritual prohibitions. But to reinforce them, God added laws providing for ceremonial cleanness:

You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those which I have set apart as unclean for you. You are to be holy to Me [or, to be My holy ones] because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own (Lev. 20:25-26).

These ceremonial and ritual laws would have both a positive and a negative effect. Positively, they reinforced in Israel’s thinking that as a nation they were separated to the Lord; specially set apart for Him. However morally and spiritually clean the members of another nation might have been, they did not have the role that Israel as a nation had. Israel’s role, as a kingdom of priests, was special, indeed unique. The ceremonial separation from certain kinds of food which other nations ate reinforced and underlined the fact that they were in a special sense separated to the Lord, especially “holy” in a ritualistic way.

Negatively, these food laws had an immediate practical effect: they made social mixing with Gentile nations difficult, since Israelites could not eat Gentile food. This would not only reinforce the fact that Israel was a special nation, but also act as a constant reminder that Israel was to avoid the moral and spiritual uncleanness of the Gentiles.

Now of course not all Gentiles were as corrupt and filthy as the Canaanites. But here too was a problem: many Gentiles were guilty of corrupt habits. How could Israel therefore be protected from their influence? The way God used was to build a wall between Israel and all Gentiles. Just as a parent will do with a child: not all men are child-molesters, but enough of them are to make it a wise and sensible thing for parents to do, to forbid their young children to take candy or money or car-rides from any man they don’t know.

And the analogy holds good for a further point. Parents may forbid their early-teenage daughter from going to certain sleazy parts of a city. They do so, not because they think their daughter is essentially better than other girls, but rather because they know that their daughter is essentially no better than others. She has the same human nature as others. She too could be corrupted as others have been. A good apple put among bad ones does not improve the bad ones: they corrupt it.

Israel under the law, says Paul, was like a child (Gal. 4:1-3); and God treated them appropriately. He put a wall of ceremonial food laws around them to remind them that they were a people separated to God, and to protect them as far as possible from Gentile pollution. The need for, and the importance of, that wall can be seen from their history: when they disregarded the wall, they generally became as corrupt as the other nations.

Taken from the book True to the Faith, by David Gooding

A. Paul writes of and to the Church of God
B. Peter in his epistles feeds the Flock of God
C. John carefully instructs the Family of God
D. James comforts and warns Israel, the People of God
E. Jude addresses himself to the Saints of God

A. Members - Move together
B. Sheep - Feed together
C. Children - Grow together
D. Brethren - Live together
E. Saints - Strive together

Riches of Goodness, Forbearance & Longsuffering (Rom 2:4)
Riches of Wisdom & Knowledge (Rom 11:33)
Riches of Grace (Eph 1:7)
Riches of Mercy (Eph 2:4)
Riches of Christ (Eph 3:8)
Riches of Assurance & Understanding (Col 2:2)
Riches of Glory (Phil 4:19)

1Tim 2:2 Peace of Godliness
1Tim 2:10 Profession of Godliness
1Tim 3:16 Person of Godliness
1Tim 4:7 Practice of Godliness
1Tim 4:8 Profit of Godliness
1Tim 6:3 Precept of Godliness
1Tim 6:5 Perversion of Godliness
1Tim 6:6 Perfection of Godliness
1Tim 6:11 Pursuit of Godliness
2Tim 3:5 Pretension of Godliness
Titus 1:1 Piety of Godliness

Our Father, the Living God (1Tim 6:17) 
Our Foundation, Christ, the Living Stone (1Peter 2:4)
Our Food, Christ, the Living Bread (John 6:51)
Our Fullness, the Holy Spirit, the Living Water (John 4:11)
Our Faith, the Living Way (Heb 10:20)
Our Finish, the Living Hope (1Peter 1:3)
Our Fervor, a Living Sacrifice (Rom 12:1)

Read Things Living.

Christian Development - Live in the Spirit (Gal 5:25)
Christian Dependence - Walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16)
Christian Devotion - Pray in the Spirit (Eph 6:18)
Christian Dedication - Worship in the Spirit (Phil 3:3)
Christian Disposition - Love in the Spirit (Col 1:8)

Kingdom of God (John 3:3)
Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 3:2)
Kingdom of their Father (Matt 13:43)
Kingdom of Christ (Eph 5:5)
Kingdom of His Dear Son (Col 1:13)
Kingdom of our father David (Mark 11:10)

Heavenly Kingdom (2Tim 4:18)
Everlasting Kingdom (2Pet 1:11)

The Sleep of Unripe Confession (Luke 9:32)
The Sleep of Unfaithful Conviction (Mark 14:37)
The Sleep of Unquestioning Confidence (Acts 12:6)

A  Sufferer and Saviour (Heb 2:9)
B   Great High Priest (Heb 4:14)
C    Forerunner (Heb 6:20)
X     Surety of Better Covenant (Heb 7:22)
X'    Entrance into the Holiest (Heb 10:19)
C'   Author and Finisher (Heb 12:2)
B'  Mediator of New Covenant (Heb 12:24)
A' Sanctifier and Sufferer (Heb 13:12)

Titus 1 - Oversight of the Church (outline)
Titus 2 - Occupation in view of Christ (outline)
Titus 3 - Obedience of the Christians (outline)

Believers
Rev 3:12 No more service
Rev 7:16 No more suffering

Demonic
Rev 12:8 No more dominance
Rev 20:3 No more deception

Eternal State
Rev 21:1 No more discord
Rev 21:4 No more death
Rev 22:3 No more damnation

Acts 12:1-2 Death of James
Acts 12:3-6 Detention of Peter
Acts 12:7-11 Deliverance by the Angel
Acts 12:12-17 Dwelling of Mary
Acts 12:18-19 Discovery of Peter's Escape
Acts 12:20-23 Doom of Herod
Acts 12:24-25 Development of the Word

The expression "but the Lord" occurs seven times in the Psalms.

Ps 9:7 Reckoning
Ps 18:18 Repose
Ps 34:19 Rescue
Ps 37:17 Righteousness
Ps 94:22 Refuge
Ps 96:5 Renown
Ps 118:13 Resource

The expression "it is good" occurs five times in Psalms.

Ps 52:9 - Strength of the Lord, wait upon Him
Ps 54:9 - Sacrifice of the Lord, praise Him
Ps 73:28 - Sanctuary of the Lord, draw near unto Him
Ps 119:71 - Statutes of the Lord, learn them
Ps 147:1 - Singing unto our God, praise Him

Book I (Ps 1-41) Israel's Redeemer & Remnant
Book II (Ps 42-72) Israel's Ruin and Redemption
Book III (Ps 73-89) Israel's Return and Restoration
Book IV (Ps 90-106) Israel's Relapse and Recovery
Book V (Ps 107-150) Israel's Regathering and Retrospect

Arthur G. Clarke

Ps 29:1-2 Direction to the Heavenly Throng
Praise before the Storm - Glory and Grace

Ps 29:3-9 Description of the Heavy Thunderstorm
Power in the Storm - Greatness

Ps 29:10-11 Declaration of the Happy Theme
Peace after the Storm - Government and Goodness

The vision of the Glorified Christ provides
- Strength for Suffering (Stephen)
- Strength for Service (Paul)
- Strength for Solitude (John)

At 8: He reigned in the kingdom (2 Chron 34:1).
At 16: He recognized God (2 Chron 34:3).
At 20: He renounced the idols (2 Chron 34:3-7).
At 26: He repaired the House of God (2 Chron 34:8).
He responded to the law (2 Chron 34:19).
He re-read the law (2 Chron 34:30).
He re-established the covenant (2 Chron 34:31-32).
He reinstated the feast (2 Chron 35:1, 17).
He revived the service (2 Chron 35:2, 10).
He restored the worship (2 Chron 35:16).
13 years later:
He resisted God's word (2 Chron 35:20-22).

Overseers - Spiritual Authority (accountability)
Elders - Spiritual Maturity (responsibility)
Shepherds - Spiritual Capacity (activity)

Overseers - Work (manner of labour)
Elders - Worth (maturity of life)
Shepherds - Watch (motive of love)
Guides - Walk (methods of leading)
Leaders - Wisdom (means of learning)

Preventing Foe
Providing Food
Encouraging Fruit
Leading the Flock
Looking to the Future

Rom 1:13 - Desire for Spiritual Fruits
Rom 11:25 - Dispensation of Israel's Blindness
1 Cor 10:1 - Dangers of Falling
1 Cor 12:1 - Diversities of Gifts
2 Cor 1:8 - Difficulties in Missions
2 Cor 2:11 - Devices of Satan
1 Thess 4:13 - Dead in Christ
2 Pet 3:8 - Duration to Christ's Return

Litotes is a figure of speech in which one generally makes an understatement to express the affirmative by negating its opposite, or uses a double negation to affirm the positive.

Attack on Christian History (Past)
2 Peter 1:16 "cunningly devised fables"

Attack on Christian Holiness (Present)
2 Peter 2:1 "damnable heresies"
2 Peter 2:2 "pernicious ways"
2 Peter 2:3 "covetous merchandise"

Attack on Christian Hope (Future)
2 Peter 3:4 "Where is the promise of His coming?"

Acts 8:25 Preaching of the Gospel
Acts 14:7-10 Power of the Gospel
Acts 14:19-21 Persecution of the Gospel
Acts 15:7 Predicament of Preaching
Acts 16:10 Propagation of the Gospel
Acts 20:24 Persistence in Preaching

Deut 1-4 Reviewing the Past
Deut 5-11 Realising the Purpose
Deut 12-18 Recognising the Place
Deut 19-26 Reflecting the Principles
Deut 27-34 Renewing the Pledge

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Lev 1-7 Laws of the Offerings (Sacrifice)
Lev 8-10 Laws of the Priesthood (Service)
Lev 11-22 Laws of Purity (Separation)
Lev 23-27 Laws of Festivals (Sanctification)

Acts 11:17 Gift of the Holy Spirit
Acts 15:11 Grace of God
Acts 15:26 Greatness of His Name
Acts 16:31 Gospel of Salvation
Acts 20:21 Goodness unto Repentance
Acts 28:31 Glory of His Person

Acts 9:3-5 Paul's Salvation
Acts 9:12 Paul's Sight
Acts 16:9 Paul's Service
Acts 18:9 Paul's Stay in Corinth
Acts 22:17-18 Paul's Safety
Acts 23:11 Paul's Support in Suffering
Acts 27:23 Paul's Sailing to Rome
2Cor 12:2-4 Paul's Scenes of Glory

Read Part 1, Part 2.

Ἐν ἀρχῇ
 ἦν
  ὁ λόγος καὶ
   ὁ λόγος
    ἦν πρὸς
     τὸν θεόν
     καὶ θεὸς
    ἦν
   ὁ λόγος
  οὗτος
 ἦν
ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν

The Contention at Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-18)
Acts 11:1-3 Accusation
Acts 11:4-17 Answer
Acts 11:18 Acquittal

The Company at Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)
Acts 11:19-21 Commencement
Acts 11:22-26 Confirmation
Acts 11:27-30 Charity

Acts 11:26 Students of Christ
Acts 26:28 Soul-winners for Christ
1Peter 4:16 Sufferers for Christ

W H Griffith Thomas noted three elements in the name Christian:
1. It contains Jewish thought, as the equivalent of Messiah, the Anointed.
2. It shows the Greek language in the substantive－ 'Christ.'
3. It also includes the Latin language in the adjectival ending ‘ians’ (Latin, iani).
This universality is a reminder of the language of the title on the Cross.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;" 1 Timothy 2:1

Supplications - God is Sufficient, Grace of God 
Prayers - God is Sacred, Glory of God 
Intercessions - God is Sovereign, Greatness of God 
Thanksgivings - God that Satisfies, Goodness of God

Faith - 1 Cor 16:13
Freedom - Gal 5:1
Fellowship - Phil 1:27
Family - Phil 4:1
Fortitude - 1 Thess 3:8
Foundation - 2 Thess 2:15

Neh 2:4 The "so" of Prayer
Neh 2:6 The "so" of Providence
Neh 2:11 The "so" of Purpose
Neh 4:6, 10, 18, 21, 23 The "so" of Plod
Neh 6:3 The "so" of Perseverance
Neh 6:15 The "so" of Perfection
Neh 5:15 The "so" of Personality
Neh 8:8 The "so" of Perception
Neh 8:11  The "so" of Power
Neh 12:40 The "so" of Praise

Ps 139:1-6 God’s Omniscient Care
Ps 139:7-12 God’s Omnipresent Care
Ps 139:13-16 God’s Omnipotent Care
Ps 139:17-18 Occupation of God's Thoughts
Ps 139:19-24 Opposition of God's Name

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Ps 23:6 - Life in Pleasure
Ps 27:4 - Lifelong Pursuit
Ps 92:13 - Living Position
Ps 118:26 - Longing Praise
Ps 122:1,9 - Legacy of the Place
Ps 134:1 - Loyalty to its Preservation
Ps 135:2 - Liberty to Participate

Ps 2:1-3 Raging of the Nations
Ps 2:4-6 Reaction of God
Ps 2:7-9 Response from the Son
Ps 2:10-12 Recommendation of the Holy Spirit

Ps 1 - Humanity of Christ - His moral glory
Ps 2 - Deity of Christ - His millennial glory

Read The Voices in Psalm 2.

Begins with "blessed" and ends with "perish"

Prosperity of the Godly
Ps 1:1 Separate from the World
Ps 1:2 Saturated with the Word
Ps 1:3 Situated by the Water (Holy Spirit)

Perishing of the Ungodly
Ps 1:4 No rest in the present
Ps 1:5 No righteousness in the future
Ps 1:6 No reward in perpetuity

verse 1, 2, 3 - discernment, delight, dependence
verse 4, 5, 6 - castaway, condemned, consumed

The name Stephen means “a crown,” and he won the crown of life because he was faithful unto death (Rev 2:10)

Arrest, Accusation, Address, Assault

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Serve
1. "honest report" good man
2. "full of the Spirit" godly man
3. "wisdom" gifted man

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Speak
1. Debating truth (Acts 6:9-15)
2. Defending truth (Acts 7:1-50)
3. Declaring truth (Acts 7:51-54)

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Suffer
1. He suffered voluntarily (Acts 7:55-56)
2. He suffered victoriously (Acts 7:57-60)

Look out for similarities between Stephen and his Lord.

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:5

I am - Deity
Jesus - Humanity
Whom thou persecutest - Audacity
it is hard for thee - Difficulty
To kick against the pricks - Futility

Acts 10:1-8 Vision of Cornelius
Acts 10:9-12 Vision of Peter
Acts 10:13-16 Voice from Heaven
Acts 10:17-22 Visit of the Messengers
Acts 10:23-33 Visit of Peter & the brethren
Acts 10:34-43 Verity of the Gospel
Acts 10:44-48 Vitality of the Holy Spirit

John 3:1-2 His Desire for the Lord
John 7:50-51 His Defense for the Lord
John 19:39-40 His Devotion for the Lord

Acts 9:1-9 Conversion of Saul
Acts 9:10-16 Concern of Ananias
Acts 9:17-22 Confession of Faith
Acts 9:23-26 Counsel of the Jews
Acts 9:27-30 Confidence of Barnabas
Acts 9:31 Comfort of the Holy Spirit - Churches in Peace
Acts 9:32-35 Command to AEneas
Acts 9:36-43 Crisis of Dorcas

"And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus" Acts 4:36

Joses - Generous, Good and Gifted

Barnabas - Ability of the Man
Son of Consolation - Affirmation of His Manners
Levite - Attestation by His Ministry
Country of Cyprus - Area of His Mission

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 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;" 2 Peter 2:4-6

Their Cases
Angels that Sinned - Contravention (Spiritual Sin)
Old World - Cruelty (Physical Sin)
Sodom and Gomorrha - Corruption (Moral Sin)

Their Condemnation
Angels that Sinned - Confinement
Old World - Cataclysm
Sodom and Gomorrha - Cineration

See also Three Descriptions of Apostasy.

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10.

I am
the Way - to be saved
the Truth - to be sure
the Life - to be satisfied

Read Part 1, Part 2.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

Pledge - Verily, verily,
Person - I say unto you,
Privilege - he that heareth My Word,
Pattern - and believeth on Him that sent Me,
Possession - hath everlasting life,
Promise - and shall not come into condemnation;
Passage - but is passed from death unto life.

An outline preached by Roland Pickering

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Dignity - For the Son of man
Descent -  is come
Desire - to seek
Deliverance - and to save
Despair - that which was lost

Adapted from an outline preached by Roland Pickering

"For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 6:38

Direction - For I came down
Distance - from heaven
Deference - not to do Mine own will
Devotion - but the will of Him that sent Me

An outline preached by Roland Pickering

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.  He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38

Access - if any man
Anxiety - thirst
Appeal - let him come
Answer - unto Me
Act - and drink
Acceptance - he that believeth on Me
Assurance - as the Scripture hath said
Abundance - out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

Adapted from an outline preached by Roland Pickering

Isa 5:8 Woe unto them - Selfish and Covetous
Isa 5:11 Woe unto them - Self-indulgent
Isa 5:18 Woe unto them - Scoffers
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them - Subverters of Truth
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them - Self-complacent
Isa 5:22-23 Woe unto them - Scandalous Judges
Isa 6:5 Woe unto me - Sullied Prophet

Adapted from A. J. Higgins' Monday Meditation

James 1 - Stand with Confidence
James 2 - Serve with Compassion
James 3 - Speak with Care
James 4 - Submit with Contrition
James 5 - Share with Concern

Read Part 1, Part 2.

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

A Our Father which art in heaven,
B  Hallowed be Thy Name.
C   Thy kingdom come.
D    Thy Will be done in earth,
E     As it is in heaven.
F      Give us this day our daily bread.
X        And forgive us our debts,
F'      As we forgive our debtors.
E'     And lead us not into temptation,
D'    But deliver us from evil:
C'   For Thine is the kingdom,
B'  And the power,
A' And glory forever, Amen

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isa 40:31

In times of
- Tragedy and Disaster - walk 
- Turbulence and Difficulty - run 
- Tranquility and Delights - mount up

Read Part 1.

The Risen Christ
- In the garden : Comforter
- In the way : Companion
- In the upper room : Centre
- In the mountain : Commissioner
- In the sea side : Consolidator

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." Mark 12:30

Decree - thou shalt love 
Dignity - the Lord 
Deity - thy God 
Decisions - with all thy heart
Desires - with all thy soul
Deliberations - with all thy mind
Doings - with all thy strength
Distinction - this is the first commandment

A Grace to you  (Philemon 1-3)
B  Prayers and Communication (Philemon 4-6)
C   Refreshment and Joy (Philemon 7)
D    Request by Paul the Aged, a prisoner (Philemon 8-9)
E     Onesimus, Begotten in my bonds (Philemon 10)
F      Unprofitable Servant in time past  (Philemon 11)
G       Sent again, receive him (Philemon 12)
H        Not retained with Paul (Philemon 13)
X          Divine Goodness flowing from a Willing Mind (Philemon 14)
H'        Departed from Philemon (Philemon 15)
G'       Receive him forever (Philemon 15)
F'      Above a Servant now (Philemon 16)
E'     Onesimus, Beloved as a brother (Philemon 16)
D'    Repayment on Account of Paul, a partner (Philemon 17-19)
C'   Refreshment and Joy (Philemon 20)
B'  Confidence & Prayers (Philemon 21-22)
A' Grace with your spirit (Philemon 23-25)

The Order and the Occasion - Christ, Man and God
A But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man;
B  And the head of Christ is God.
C   Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
D    But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head:
E      For that is even all one as if she were shaven.
X        For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn:
E'      But if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven,
D'    Let her be covered.
C'   For a man indeed ought not to cover his head,
B'  Forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God:
A' But the woman is the glory of the man.

The Origins and the Obligation - Man, Woman and Angels
A For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
B  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
X    For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
B'  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
A' For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

The Observation and the Objection - Nature and the Churches
A Judge in yourselves:
B  Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
C   Doth not even nature itself teach you, that,
X     If a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
X     But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:
C'   For her hair is given her for a covering.
B'  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom,
A' Neither the churches of God.

For a detailed exegesis on the head covering practice in the local assembly, please read this page.

Scorned Seeker
- His condition (Deut 23:1)
- His consolation (Isa 56:3-5)
- His consecration (Acts 8:27)

Seeking Sinner
- The Word he read (Acts 8:28)
- The Work he relied on (Acts 8:32-33)

Satisfied Saint
- The Wish he recorded (Acts 8:36)
- The Way he rejoiced in (Acts 8:39)

A  Persecution of Saul - Believers scattered (Acts 8:1-4)
B   Preaching of Philip (Christ) - Samaritans Saved & Baptized (Acts 8:5,12)
C    Power of the Signs - Great Joy (Acts 8:6-8)
D     Profession of Simon - Great One, Great Power (Acts 8:9-11,13)
E      Prayer of Peter & John - Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17)
X       Perversion of Simon - Baptized but not Saved (Acts 8:18-19)
E'     Perception of Peter - Gall of Bitterness (Acts 8:20-25)
D'    Problem of the Eunuch - Great Authority (Acts 8:26-31)
C'   Place of the Scripture - Great Sorrow (Acts 8:32-34)
B'  Preaching of Philip (Jesus) - Eunuch Saved & Baptized (Acts 8:35-39)
A' Propagation of the Gospel - Word spread (Acts 8:40)

Acts 8:1-4 Persecution of the Church
Acts 8:5-8 Preaching in Samaria
Acts 8:9-13 Profession of Faith
Acts 8:14-17 Proof of Peter and John
Acts 8:18-25 Perversion of Simon
Acts 8:26-40 Pilgrimage of the Eunuch

Two Saviours - Joseph, Moses, Acts 7:9,20
Two Spaces - Egypt, Wilderness, Acts 7:34,36
Two Stops - Canaan, Babylon, Acts 7:43,45
Two Sovereigns - David, Solomon, Acts 7:45,47
Two Sanctuaries - Tabernacle, Temple, Acts 7:46-48
Two States - Stiffnecked, Uncircumcised, Acts 7:51
Two Sins - Betrayal, Murder, Acts 7:52
Two Supplications - "receive my spirit" Acts 7:59, "lay not this sin to their charge" Acts 7:60 

Acts 7:2-8 Revelation to Abraham
- Call of Abraham (v2-4)
- Covenant of Circumcision (v5-8)

Acts 7:9-19 Rule of Joseph
- Promotion of Joseph (v9-10)
- Provision for the Famine (v11-13)
- Passage to Egypt  (v14-16)
- Persecution by Pharaoh (v17-19)

Acts 7:20-36 Record of Moses
- 1st 40 years: Moses was raised (v20-22)
- 2nd 40 years: Moses was rejected (v23-29)
- 3rd 40 years: Moses was ready (v30-36)

Acts 7:37-43 Rebellion against God
- Revelation of the Prophet (v37)
- Reception of the Lively Oracles (v38)
- Rejection of Moses (v39)
- Return to Egypt (v40-41)
- Relegation to Babylon (v42-43)

Acts 7:44-50 Residence of God
- Joshua brought in the Tabernacle (v44-45)
- David beget the Thought (v46)
- Solomon built the Temple (v47)
- God's being on His Throne (v48-50)

Acts 7:51-53 Resisting the Holy Spirit
- Defiance to the Holy Spirit (v51)
- Disdain of the Just One (v52)
- Disobedience to the Law (v53)

Acts 6:9-15 - The Slander of the Libertines (defamation and malice)
Acts 7:1-53 - The Sermon of Stephen (defense and message)
Acts 7:54-60 - The Stoning of Stephen (death and  martyrdom)

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9

Sovereign - I am
Singularity - the Door
Secret - by Me
Scope - if any man
Simplicity - enter in
Security - he shall be saved
Strength - shall go in and out
Satisfaction - find pasture

Adapted from an outline preached by Roland Pickering

Acts 6:1 - The Complaint of the Greeks (Family Difficulties)
Acts 6:2-4 - The Conference of the Twelve (Fruitful Decision)
Acts 6:5-8 - The Choice of the Seven (Faithful Deacons)

Luke 2:7 - The scene of humility

A Whoever is born of God
B    doth not commit sin
X     for His Seed remaineth in him
B'   and he cannot sin
A' because he is born of God

This is the 500th post of this blog.  Thanks be to God for His faithfulness and His enabling.

1John 4:1-6 Denial of Jesus Christ
1John 4:7-10 Demonstration of God's Love
1John 4:11-16 Dwelling in God's Love
1John 4:17-19 Dependence on God's Love
1John 4:20-21 Demand of God's Love

1John 3:1-3 Triumph of Love
1John 3:4-11 Test of Righteousness
1John 3:12-15 Tyranny of Cain
1John 3:16-18 Test of Love
1John 3:19-24 Trust toward God

1John 2:1-2 Advocate with the Father
1John 2:3-11 Abiding in the Light
1John 2:12-17 Adversaries of the Family
1John 2:18-23 Antichrists of the Last Time
1John 2:24-29 Anointing from the Father

The Leaven of the Pharisees (Acts 5:1-10)
Opposition Within - Discipline
- Desire for Credit (Acts 5:1-2)
- Detection of Cheating (Acts 5:3-4)
- Death of the Culprits (Acts 5:5-10)

Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth (Acts 5:11-16)
Outreach Widened - Dynamism

The Leaven of the Sadducees (Acts 5:17-42)
Opposition Without - Deliverance
- Detention of the Apostles (Acts 5:17-18)
- Deliverance by the Angel (Acts 5:19-21)
- Discovery of the Officers (Acts 5:22-26)
- Demand of the Council (Acts 5:27-28)
- Defense of the Apostles (Acts 5:29-33)
- Deliberation of the Council (Acts 5:34-40)
- Delights of the Apostles (Acts 5:41-42)

Arrest Adjudication Address Acquittal Appeal Ability Abundance Accord

Acts 4:1-4 Incarceration of the Apostles 
- Infuriation of the Sadducees
- Increase of Converts

Acts 4:5-12 Interrogation by the High Priest
- Important Meeting
- Irrefutable Miracle
- Irrepressible Men

Acts 4:13-22 Intimidation by the Council 
- Deadly Fear
- Definite Faith
- Delightful Fervor
- Unlearned Men
- Undeniable Miracle
- Unstoppable Message

Acts 4:23-31 Intercession of the Believer
- Apostles Reporting
- Assembly Resolving
- Almighty Responding

Acts 4:32-37 Invigoration of the Church
- Saintly Believers
- Sacred Benediction
- Spontaneous Benevolence
- Sincere Barnabas

Acts 3:1-11 Power : Peter's Exploits outside the Temple
- Brothers
- Beautiful
- Beggar
- Bewilderment

Acts 3:12-26 Preaching : Peter's Explanation within the Temple
- indictment of their crime
- ignorance of the Christ
- invitation to be converted
- injunction of Moses
- instruction of the Prophets

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life" 1John 1:1

Sayings of Christ - we have heard
Signs of Christ - we have seen with our eyes
Splendor of Christ - we have looked upon
Substance of Christ - our hands have handled

1John 1:1-2 The Certainties of the Word of Life
1John 1:3-4 The Communion with the Father and the Son
1John 1:5-7 The Condition for the Walk in Light
1John 1:8-10 The Confession and Forgiveness of our Sins

1. Reflect the Light
2. Reproduce the Love Divine
3. Rejoice in the Life

So that more of God's creatures will become His children

1John 1:1 Word of Life (revelation)
1John 2:1 Advocate with the Father (remission)
1John 2:1 Jesus Christ the Righteous (restoration)
1John 2:2 He is the Propitiation (reconciliation)
1John 3:8 Son of God (release, rescue)
1John 4:9 Only Begotten Son (recover, reclaim)
1John 4:14 Saviour of the World (redemption)

- Light vs Darkness (1John 1)
- Love his brother vs hate his brother (1John 2)
- Love of the Father vs Love of the World (1John 2)
- Truth vs Lie (1John 2)
- Christ vs Anti-Christ (1John 2)
- Do righteousness vs do sin (1John 3)
- Righteous vs Evil (1John 3)
- Children of God vs Children of Devil (1John 3)
- Life vs Death (1John 3)
- Spirit of Truth vs Spirit of Error (1John 4)
- Boldness vs Fear (1John 4)
- True God vs idols (1John 5)

Traits of an Evangelist
- Prompt as to the Spirit (Acts 8:29)
- Proficient as to the Scriptures (Acts 8:35)
- Passionate as to the Saviour (Acts 8:5,12,35)
- Perceptive as to the Sinner (Acts 8:30)

Acts 6: His Fidelity (Person)
- Personal Character - "full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom"
- Public Commendation - "of honest report"

Acts 8: His Function (Preacher)
- Message, "Jesus Christ is the Son of God"
- Ministry, performed miracles, signs and baptism
- Movements, circumstantial providence, angelic prescription and divine prompting.
- Methods, public, personal and peripatetic

Acts 21: His Family (Parent)
- Hospitality, "tarried there many days"
- Heritage, "four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy"

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." Ruth 1:16-17

Request - Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee
Road - whither thou goest, I will go
Residence - where thou lodgest, I will lodge
Relations - thy people shall be my people
Religion - and thy God my God
Release - where thou diest, will I die
Rest - and there will I be buried
Resolution - the LORD do so to me, and more also
Recourse -  if ought but death part thee and me.

Heroic Work - Contending (Jude 3)
Healthy Work - Building  (Jude  20)
Holy Work - Praying  (Jude  20)
Happy Work - Keeping  (Jude  21)
Habitual Work - Looking  (Jude  21)
Hard and Heart Work - Pulling  (Jude  23)
Honest Work - Hating  (Jude 23)

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy," Jude 20-24

Ministry Meeting - Building up yourselves
Prayer Meeting - Praying
Missionary Meeting - Some have compassion
Gospel Meeting - Others save with fear
Morning Meeting - Keep yourselves in the Love of God
Meeting in the Air - Looking for ... Lord Jesus Christ
Eternal Meeting - Present you faultless

"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." Jude 8
"These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Jude 16
"How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." Jude 18

Dreamers - carnal
Murmurers - captious
Complainers - censorious
Mockers - contemptuous, condescending

"But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ... These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." Jude 10, 12-13

They are shameless about their conditions.
Brute beasts - No sense
Spots - No succor
Clouds - No shower
Trees - No sustenance
Raging Waves - No stability
Wandering Stars - No steadfastness

"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." Jude 8

defile the flesh - Sodom and Gomorrha (Jude 7)
despise dominion - Fallen angels (Jude 6)
speak evil of dignities - Unbelieving Israelites (Jude 5)

Perversion - defile the flesh
Pride - despise dominion
Presumption - speak evil of dignities

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." Jude 11

Three Practices of Three Personages

Way of Cain
- Spiritual apostasy
- Opposed to Christ the Way
- Worshipper without Wisdom

Error of Balaam
- Moral apostasy
- Opposed to Christ the Truth
- Prophet without Power

Gainsaying of Core
- Ecclesiastical apostasy
- Opposed to Christ the Life
- Levite without License

Cain rebelled against God's authority in salvation, for he refused to bring a blood sacrifice as God had commanded.

Balaam rebelled against God's authority in separation, for he prostituted his gifts for money and led Israel to mix with the other nations.

Core rebelled against God's authority in service, denying that Moses was God's appointed servant and attempting to usurp his authority

Three Parties
Jude 5 Destruction of unbelievers (Idolatry)
Jude 6 Downfall of angels (Iniquity)
Jude 7 Damnation of Sodom & Gomorrha (Immorality)

Jude 5 Judgment Past (destroyed them)
Jude 6 Judgment Present (hath reserved in everlasting chains)
Jude 7 Judgment Perpetuity (vengeance of eternal fire)


Men Falling - Lost Privilege
Angels Falling - Lost Purity
Cities Falling - Lost Position

"For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Col 2:9

Personally - In Him
Permanently - dwelleth
Pre-eminently  - all the fullness
Perfectly - of the Godhead
Physically - bodily

J J Stubbs

Acts 2:1-13 The Miracle of Pentecost
Acts 2:14-40 The Message of Peter
Acts 2:41-47 The Multitude of Penitents

Acts 1:1-3 Account of Luke
Acts 1:4-8 Arrival of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:9-14 Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1:15-26 Address of Peter

Acts 1:3 Person of the Kingdom
Acts 8:12 Proclamation and Power of the Kingdom
Acts 14:22 Patience in the Kingdom
Acts 19:8 Persuasion of the Kingdom
Acts 20:25 Propagation of the Kingdom
Acts 28:23 Proof of the Kingdom
Acts 28:31 Preaching of the Kingdom

Acts 1-12 Operation Holy Land
- The Greater Jerusalem Crusade
- Headed up by Peter
- Assisted by John, Stephen and Philip

Acts 13-28 Operation Whole Earth
- The Global Crusade
- Headed up by Paul
- Assisted by Barnabas, Silas, Mark, Timothy and Luke

"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 9

His Dignity - Yet Michael the archangel,
His Deliberation - when contending with the devil he disputed
His Duty - about the body of Moses
His Deference - durst not bring against him a railing accusation
His Defense - but said, The Lord rebuke thee

"To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 25

Glory - sum attributes of God
Majesty - sovereign ascription of Lordship
Dominion - strong action of rule
Power - supreme authority to reign

Ungodly Denial (Jude 4)
Ungodly Disposition (Jude 15)
Ungodly Deeds (Jude 15)
Ungodly Determination (Jude 15)
Ungodly Defiance (Jude 15)
Ungodly Desire (Jude 18)

A Commencement and Benediction (Jude 1-2)
B  Purpose to contend for the faith (Jude 3)
C   Threefold accusation concerning men crept in unawares (Jude 4)
D    Reminder of three parties from the Holy Scriptures (Jude 5-7)
D    (unbelieving Israelites, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrha)
E      Renewed Accusation in triple form (Jude 8)
F       Picture of Michael – Satan was rebuked (Jude 9)
G        Condemnation described in the Past – Three Practices of Three Persons (Jude 11)
G        (way of Cain, error of Balaam, gainsaying of Core) 
X           Woe unto them (Jude 11)
G'       Condemnation described in Pictures – Six Portrayals (Jude 10, 12-13)
G'       (brute beasts, spots, clouds without water, trees twice dead, raging waves, wandering stars)
F'       Prophecy of Enoch – Sinners will be recompensed (Jude 14-15)
E'      Renewed Accusation in triple form (Jude 16)
D'    Reminder of three parties by the Holy Apostles (Jude 16-18)
D'    (murmurers, complainers and mockers)
C'   Threefold accusation concerning the apostates (Jude 19)
B'  Purpose to build up the faith (Jude 20-23)
A' Conclusion and Doxology (Jude 24-25)

Jude 1-3 Diligence of Jude
Jude 4-7 Discernment of Apostasy
Jude 8-10 Denouncement of Apostasy
Jude 11-15 Doom of the Apostates
Jude 16-23 Deterrent to Apostasy
Jude 24-25 Doxology

Five persons referred the Lord Jesus as "my Lord"

• David (Ps 110:1)
• Elizabeth (Luke 1:43)
• Mary Magdalene (John 20:13)
• Thomas (John 20:28)
• Paul (Phil 3:8)

Morning Bible Readings
Christ the Son - More Excellent than Prophets and Angels (PA)
Christ the Man - More Powerful than Angels (RM)
Christ the Apostle And High Priest - More Worthy than Moses (DV)
Christ the Great High Priest - More Honorable than Aaron (WB)
Christ's Melchisedec Priesthood – More Greatness than the Levitical Priesthood (RM)
Christ's Mediatory Ministry - More Excellent than The Old (PA)
Christ's Atoning Blood - More Efficacious than Blood of Animals (WB)
Christ's Sacrifice - More Enduring Than Bulls and Goats (DV)
Christ the Son Trodden - More Sore Punishment than under Law (RM)

Afternoon Sessions
Hebrews 6 - Let Us Go On To Maturity (WB)
Hebrews 11 - Without Faith Impossible (PA)
Hebrews 12 - Let Us Run With Patience (DV)
Hebrews 13 - Let Brotherly Love Continue (RM)

Evening Ministries 
Genesis 22 - Christ Our Provision Seen In A Submissive Son (PA)
Exodus 12 - Christ Our Passover Seen In a Slaughtered Lamb (DV)
Leviticus 16 - Christ Our Propitiation Seen In A Solemn Day (RM)
Numbers 19 - Christ Our Purification Seen In A Slain Red Heifer (WB)
Deuteronomy 18 - Christ Our Prophet Seen In A Superior Title (PA)

Speakers
PA - Paul Andrews
RM - Robert McKeown
DV - David Vallance
WB - William Banks

Recordings can be downloaded from here.