“Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119.104, ESV)¹

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¹Are you struggling to overcome sin in your life? The Bible tells us many ways we can put a stop to sin. One way is by learning to hate it! In fact, as evident in our text, it is through God’s word that we learn to hate every false way.

We encourage all to read their bibles and internalize the scriptures. Let them dwell in your heart. Learn from Christ how to hate the sin in your life. Only then can you truly overcome sin.

We want to help you! E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905 for more info!

“And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.’” (Acts 24.25, ESV)¹

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¹While imprisoned, Paul worked his way through the ranks in government until he was able to meet with multiple government officials with the goal to preach the gospel to each one of them. It was within this setting that we read, “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24.24, ESV).

Notice that he wanted to hear Paul speak about “faith in Christ Jesus” (24) and yet in our text Luke records that Paul spoke to him “about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (25). Therefore, faith in Christ Jesus involves at least these three things coupled with the facts about Jesus himself (that is, His life, death and resurrection).

Let’s briefly examine each point to determine what Paul taught Felix:

• Righteousness: to be justified before God, through forgiveness of sins and obedience to His commandments.
• Self-control: to control or master the evil desires (lust) of the body.
• Judgment: a time when God will judge everyone according to the life they’ve lived while on earth.

These are the things that must be taught to each sinner who wants to hear the gospel. Unless we are justified before God and practice restraint against sin then we will fear the coming judgment. This is one reason why Felix was alarmed - he did not want to obey! On the other hand, when we do these things because we have faith in Christ, we have nothing to fear concerning the judgment!

If you’d like to hear more about the gospel, contact Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905 to set up a study at your convenience!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3.16, ESV)¹

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¹Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7.21-23, ESV). Since we are to “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4.23, ESV) and “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23.7, ESV), it would do us well to protect and guard our hearts from sin entering in.

Peter wrote, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy…” (1 Peter 3.15). As we weed out the impurities in our life through repentance and abstinence of sin, we allow Christ and His word to have full reign in our hearts.

Brethren, is this something we are ever improving on? If you’re interested in learning about ways to allow God’s word and thankfulness for Him to dwell in your heart instead of the cares and pleasures of the world e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905. We will study with you anytime!

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4.28, ESV)¹

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¹God has always been against theft. In fact, one of the ten commandments given by God was “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20.15, ESV). One of the reasons God hates stealing is because when we develop an evil desire for something earthly we replace God with that person or thing. Hence Jesus taught, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7.21-23, ESV). Notice that theft begins in the heart; ultimately taking the place of where God’s love and word is to reside.

Further, stealing is a result of covetousness; that is, “having or showing a great desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else”. When Satan knows that we desire possessions beyond what God has blessed us with, he will tempt us in many ways to gain those possessions. This is why God calls us to be content with what we have (1 Tim. 6.8) and to lay our treasures in heaven and not on earth where, interestingly, thieves break in and steal (Matt. 6.19-20)!

Finally, when we steal we do not love our neighbor (Rom. 13.9). Instead, God calls us to love our neighbor and to share with anyone in need.

There were Christians in Bible times who stole, though many repented (Rom. 2.21; Eph. 4.28; 1 Cor. 6.9-11), and unfortunately there will be Christians who steal today. Let us heed the warnings of Scripture because “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5.2). We must always be prepared for the return of our Lord!

If you’re interested in learning more about God’s will and if you need help overcoming covetousness and the love of possessions and money so you can stop the sin of stealing, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2.24, ESV)¹

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¹We often talk about why Jesus came to earth, that is, to seek and save the lost (see Luke 19.10).

In seeking and saving the lost, Christ died on the cross for our sins. He was our sacrifice for sin since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23, ESV).

But, what is our responsibility now that Christ has offered Himself? First, to hear the gospel (Rom. 10.17), and second, to obey Jesus in all that He says. The only way we can say “By his wounds [sacrifice] you have been healed [spiritually]” is when we have chosen to put to death the sin in our lives and live righteously with the time we have left on this earth.

Paul said it this way: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2.11-14, ESV)

Christ is our sacrifice. How are you living in accordance to that fact? E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905 if you have any questions about how to live a godly life!