1 Thess. 1-5; 2 Thess. 1-3; 1 Timothy 1-3 ]NIV Dramatized Audio]

Paul advocated thoroughly vetting prospective leaders in the early church. He held Timothy responsible to make s ure prospective leaders conformed to requirements as clarified in chapter three. These standards applied to elders and deacons who would serve the saints of God in local churches. Since the Lord’s reputation is at stake in the conduct of leaders, it’s wise for churches to observe these standards.

1 Thess. 4 [NIV Dramatized Audio

THIS is what we have to look forward to:

 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thess. 2,3 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

A testimony;

Patty strongly urged me to go up and be prayed for this last Sunday morning at the end of the service. Great service! Pastor Mark anointed me and and prayed for my healing. The very next morning I had my 14th bone marrow biopsy performed ($13k) at Northside Hospital. That afternoon I had my yearly wellness check with Dr. Railey. Great doctor! He said I looked the best he’s seen for some time. Anyway, I am feeling BETTER and trusting to keep improving.

I will be 76 on August 31st. I enjoy my life and live to pray and serve my family and others. As long as I’m HERE, I will be posting this devotion every morning and lifting you up in prayer.

If you have prayer needs, contact me. dean.paul.demos@gmail.com 404-392-3384

You pray for me. I’ll pray for you. That’s how it SHOULD BE!

1 Thessalonians 1 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Paul says Christ Jesus will have saved us from “the coming wrath.” We read about the end in other passages in God’s Word, but we know that the fate and doom of those who reject Christ will not be pretty.

Hence, we don’t live in fear but in hope. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord (we know the terror of what’s coming) , we persuade men. [2 Cor. 5:11]

Col. 1-3 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Forgiving others is a mark of spiritual maturity and reflects God’s love in action. Who do YOU need to forgive?

Those of us who are married probably have the most occasion to forgive our spouse. It would be so easy yet so destructive to keep tally of offenses against our mate. Instant forgiveness and instantly forgetting offenses is evidence of God’s love in a marriage. Remember, love suffers long and does not hold a grudge. Bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [1 Cor. 13]

Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us.

Colossians 1 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

In chapter one, Paul clarifies that Christ Jesus is Who we see is God to us. Because he stated that the Father is invisible to us, Christ is God that we can see. In Christ dwelt the Fullness of the Godhead in a body.

My intent is not to do a theological exposition on Who the Savior is. We can simply and profoundly look at this chapter to give scriptural foundation to what we believe about Christ. The Word explains THE WORD.

Phil. 4 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Paul declared that he had learned the secret of contentment. Whether he was abased or abounding, he achieved contentment. He called this a valuable secret.

Let’s face it, if God wanted to He could lavish upon us untold riches so that we would be in luxury. Or, He could wipe out everything and leave us destitute. He knows that in Heaven we will be blessed beyond anything we know here on earth. He just wants us to learn valuable lessons in trust.

You can’ really be content unless you trust Him.

Phil. 3:21 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

The aches and pains of an aging body make verse 21 very appealing. It’s a good thing that Christ will give us a glorious body like His because I certainly don’ want to spend eternity dealing with the shortcomings of the body I now have. My wife also has her share of the discomforts of arthritis etc. We have decent days and then …. other days.

Let’s face it. Our body is merely the vehicle for our soul and spirit. It’s not the real “us.” Gratefully, in Heaven we will be transformed and can all be olympic gold medal winners

.

Phil. 2 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Paul commended Timothy to the Philippian church and stated that the young man showed genuine concern for their welfare. Paul knew that Timothy’s love and care were like Christ.

It’s been said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”