Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, in his prophetic vision, has seen the coming of a beast that blasphemes God and makes war on the saints.  A second beast comes that makes the earth worship the first beast…

Revelation 13:13 “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people.”

Observation: For Christians, I do not believe that the work of our enemy is easily confused with the work of God.  However, this sign reminds me of Elijah (2 Kings 1 and 18), David, (1 Chronicles 21) and Solomon (2 Chronicles 7) calling down fire from heaven.  Our enemy has power.  We cannot assume that a miraculous sign signifies the work of God.

Application: Father, give me Your eyes to see the power of the enemy and how he deceives my family, my community and me.

Are you being misled by our enemy’s power?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  John has been caught up into heaven, he sees around the throne of God four living creatures who sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  He also sees 24 elders who “fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne,” saying:

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

Observations: Worthy = (axios) Meaning: of weight, of worth, worthy, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much, befitting.

Application: I want to verbalize more often that God is WORTHY.  He is deserving of all glory, honor and power.  “Revelation Song” is on my mind.  I want to sing this song throughout the day.

When was the last time you told God how much He is worth?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  Jesus is giving His words to the seven churches in Asia.  The first word is to the church in Ephesus.  “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not grown weary…”

Revelation 2:4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Observation: Jesus implies that they love Him, but have abandoned that love.  We don’t know if it is from distractions, specific sins, persecution, etc.  To fix it He says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”

Application: “Lord, show me the areas of my life where I have abandoned my first love.  I want to be driven by a love for You.  I want to remember where I have fallen from, repent, and do the works I did at first.”

Have you abandoned your first love?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Peter writes: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God…”

1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Observations:  When we suffer it is easy to get self-focused.  Paul challenges us to entrust ourselves to God (God-focused) and do good.

Application: “Lord, keep me from feeling sorry for myself and focusing on my trials.  Give me the strength to serve others as I focus on You.”

Are you doing good while suffering?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we walk through the New Testament.

Context: Peter challenges Christians to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.”

1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Observations:  We are to honor (timao – to treat with respect or value) everyone.  Peter specifies that this honor must also include the emperor.  The emperor when Peter writes was evil and murdered Christians.

Application: As our country focuses on electing a president, I am reminded that I am called to honor (treat with respect and value) whoever serves in office.

Are you honoring and ready to honor our president?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Peter has explained that Jesus has “caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”  He goes on to say that this salvation is something “into which angels long to look.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Observation: Since we stand in the grace of Christ, we are to “prepare our minds for action.”  Grace motivates, not mandates, action.

Application: I want to meditate on the grace of Christ today.  I need to consciously prepare my mind for action.  “Lord, use me today.  Let Your grace motivate my actions.”

Are you preparing your mind for action?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul has instructed Titus to appoint elders in Crete.  He warns that there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers…”

Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Observation:  Paul says that people that live in disobedience are “unfit for any good work.”  Clearly, we are not saved through our obedience (Ephesians 2:8-9), but our works in some way evidence the faith we need to lead in the Kingdom of God (Titus 1:5-9).  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to walk the talk.

Application: “Lord, give me the strength to acknowledge You by my works.  May the soil of my life give Your seed the opportunity to bear fruit (Matthew 13).”

Do your works deny Christ or support your profession?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul has just instructed Timothy to “cleanse himself from what is dishonorable” and to “flee youthful passions.”

2 Timothy 2:23 “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”

Observations: Controversies in this context arise when we swerve from the truth (v. 18).  God desires for His people to be unified (John 17:20-26).  He will go on to say, “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (vv. 25-26).

Application: I must not breed quarrels.  I should “(d)o (my) best to present (myself) to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (v. 15).  I must focus on truth.  When controversies arise, I should not quarrel but correct my opponents with gentleness.

Do you breed quarrels?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Earlier Paul addressed specific groups in the church and will now show how the gospel relates to them.  The key word will be honor (vv. 3, 17, and 6:1).

1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

Observations: We should treat people like family members (the context would indicate specifically those in the church).

Application: I want to keep this at the front of my mind today.  As I relate to those around me, I want to use this as my relational checkpoint.  Am I honoring people in this way?  This should encourage love, respect and purity.  “Lord, through Your Spirit, give me strength to live this out.”

Are you treating older men like fathers, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers and younger women as sisters?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul has just said, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…”

1 Timothy 2:2 “…for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Observations: We should pray for all “all people” (v.1) and specifically those in high positions.  Though we don’t have a king in our country, we do have a president.  Paul says we should pray that they would “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Application: I am challenged to begin this morning praying for those who are leading in my church, my office, my community, and my country.  During the presidential debate today, I want to pray that our current and future president will “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Will you pray with me for our leaders?