Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches

 Recelation 3:1-22

To the Church in Sardis

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Why?

God is love, the Lord gives a chance to everyone to repent from their sins, and purify them, remind them of hope, that they may return to the way of the Lord.

The load knows everyone what he did and what sins. Repent to the Lord and confess our weakness, for God is love.

How?

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Follow the standard of the Lord, rather than my own interests or what I thought was right, and prefer to do it.

Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

 Revlation 1,2

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,   and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”;   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Why?

The Lord showed John and let John write down what he saw and what he heard, and sent this message to all churches.

From the beginning to the end of the world, God is on top forever. John showed us one day the Lord will come to us again, it will be soon.

How?

Remember, God will come again in his time from heaven to this world.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire

 Jude 

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

How?

This is our action to save lives from death and sins.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth

3 John 1:1-15

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. 

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Why?

All information had been delivered to John, so John knew who was faithful to the Lord and who honored the Holy name of the Lord.

During the first century, many travelers had no place to stay, so brothers would often show their love to unknown people, demonstrating the love of the Lord.

How?

Even now, we may love someone who comes to church for the first time and welcome their presence, just as I welcome guests who come to my office.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands

 2 John 1-13

The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Why?

John reminded us to be aware that someone teaching a message other than the truth is false talk; they are antichrist. 

Grace, mercy, and peace from God are our characters in daily life.

How?

Obey the command of the Lord, love others.

Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

 1 John 5:1-21

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Why?

We know that we are children of God, so we are under the protection of the Lord, because Jesus has conquered the world. Testimony with the Spirit, the water, and the blood; these three are in agreement.

Do not be afraid, for Jesus has overcome the world. But the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Be careful, do not drop into this world. Even though we have a physical body, we need physical food to sustain our lives. Actually, the Lord will support us in God's way. And we do our best, for we are men.

How?

Keep our faith in God, love each other, and live with hope every day!

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us

 1 John 4:1-21

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Why?

John told us how to identify the truth and false talks, and identify the Holy Spirit.

If we love each others, people will know we are in God and the Lord is in us.

Love is the symbol of a Christian.

How?

May my heart fill with love and faith and wisdom to work with others.

God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything

 1 John 3:1-24

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

Why?

God is love, so we should love each other, especially love brothers and sisters in need.

The Lord knows our hearts, our minds, and our ways. But the Lord gives us chances and times to repent, and return to the Lord with faith,

How?

Keep walking on the way of love, righteousness, and faith. For the Lord loves us first, so we should love others like the Lord.

What you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father

 1 John 2:1-29

But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. 

Reason for writing these letters:

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

because you have overcome the evil one.

because you know the Father,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

 Why?

What Jesus has done for us, sacrifice our sins through his blood, for He loves us.

The symbol of a Christian is to love others and brothers, sisters.

How?

Be strong and trust in the Lord, and walk in the way of the Lord taught us. Looking forwrd to the way to eternal life.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousnes

1 John 1:1-10

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Why?

God is light; only by trusting in Jesus Christ can we follow Him and be purified, for God is faithful and will forgive us our sins.

Confess my sins and come to Jesus, with God's love and power, through our faith in Jesus Christ our sins will be forgiven.

How?

Great is the Lord, I proclaim the gospel because I have experienced the love, power, and forgiveness from the Lord. 

For “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them

 2 Peter 2:1-22

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 

 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

Why?

There are many men like peter mentioned who listen to the Gospel, but their hearts were sold to the sins and false teaching and their sins. They would rather not receive the Gospel, for their situation will be worse than before.

Paul reminds us of the consequences of falling into sin.

Be aware, don't be bound by the sis, sins are more attractive to our fleshly life.

How?

Keep going on the way of the Lord taught us. Aware the false teaching.

Make every effort to confirm your calling and election

 2 Peter 1:1-21

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Not because you must, but because you are willing

 1 Peter 5:1-14

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.

Standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Why?

Suffering is difficult, but the Lord wants us to accept these sufferings. After suffering, we may be revived from the dead and receive a new life from the Lord.

After suffering, we may learn the treasure of life in the Holy Spirit.

How?

May my life could be used by the Lord and witness the glory of the Lord from my behavior.

Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 1 Peter 4:1-19

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.  But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 

Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why?

To be a Christian, we may suffer in this world like Jesus Christ. Peter encouraged us not to be ashamed of the Spirit of glory and of God's rest on us.

Bear the name of Jesus Christ is a holy mission, do not be ashamed but praise God that we may have this mission to bear it.

How?

Do my best to walk with Jesus Christ and love others, for God is love.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult

 1 peter 3:1-22

Wife, your beauty should not come from outward adornment, rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.

Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 

Why?

Learn from Jesus, Jesus suffered the unfair judgment and shed blood on the cross, all because Jesus loves us. Through the blood of Jesus and faith in Jesus, we may be sons of the Lord.

Respect those who suffer for the Gospel and preach the message of the Good News in the world. They are the Missionary.

How?

Keep my tongue carefully, may my words encourage others.

The stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message.

1 Peter 2:1-25

The Living Stone and chosen people. 

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.

The stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.

Be holy, because I am holy

 1 Peter 1:1-25

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Why?

Peter described the truth of our Gospel and the meaning to all who are reborn from Jesus in faith.

Because the Lord is Holy, I should do everything to be Holy too. 

Only God's word endures forever. So be strong in faith and pray that the Lord help us walk with the Holy Spirit.

How?

The actions are to love one another deeply from the heart. 

Do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned

 James 5:1-20

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise, you will be condemned.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Why?

Be patient until the Lord's coming and don't grumble against one another, the judge is standing at the door! The Lord knows what we said.

Don't worry, perseverance comes. such as Job suffered, for the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Action to us: trouble, len them pray. Happy sing songs of praise, sick: call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord/ confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed.

How?

Continue to pray for my family, for brothers and sisters in my church. Keep myself a righteous person, so my prayer may be powerful and effective.

More important is our motivation

 James 4:1-16

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

 “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

Why?

People can speak much more than they really can do. So submit myself to God and resist the devil.

Everyone desires a better life and enjoys a comfortable life. We like to choose to be friends with the world. But James reminds us that it is dangerous and could become an enemy of the Lord.

More important is our motivation. What did I want? For us? For the Lord? Or for someone else?

How?

May the Lord clean my heart, clean my way, clean my mind, and help me walk on the way of the Lord.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts

 James 3:1-17

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Why?

No human being can tame the tongue, because of the inner sins that invoke it.

Even now, don't be a teacher, for there are so many people who look themself more important than any others.

Tongues are a small part of the body, but they make great boasts. Troubles are usually caused by our tongue.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is all pure. 

How?

Pray to the Lord, may my wisdom lead me pure heart, peace-loving and condiderate submission, full of mercy.

Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

 James 1:1-27

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 

Why?

Wisdom, Humble, Tempted by evil desire, quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger are our behaviors as Christians.

Keeping a tight rein on our own tongues is needed for everyone.

Don't just listen to a good speech or message, but do it as we listened.

How?

I have much work to do and listen, and practise it to be a good servant of the Lord.

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

 Heberews 13:1-25

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 

Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Why?

Do our work in the world, have confidence in my leaders, and submit to their authority. Do this so that my work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to me.

Love each other, show hospitality to others, and respect our marriage. All these are to honor the Lord, for God loves us.

Go to the Lord outside the camp, for here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come, in heaven.

How?

Do my best to honor the Lord and give thanks to Jesus for all.

“once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain

 Heberews 12:1-29

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Why?

Out jubs and duties: Let us 1) throw off everything that hinders and the sin, 2) run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 3) fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

In the Old Testament, there was Mount Zion, it is a Holy Mountain but terrible. Now, Jesus the mediator gives us a new covenant, and sprinkled blood that is better than the blood of Abel.

All of the created things will be removed one day, but only those chosen by the Lord cannot be shaken may remain.

How?

What is the foundation of my faith and love, hope? It is the word of the Lord and the blood of Jesus Christ, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

 Hebrews 11:1-19

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Why?
Paul showed that many people died with faith, even though they did not see it, and it has come true. It is proven that the word our Lord promised or said will never fail.

All this history and so many events in the Bible are good witnesses to us.

The Lord had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Only the Lord can make perfect. Don't worry!

How?

How about my faith in the Lord? in the mission in my work? And my daily life, what am I living for?