1-- Last Day Challenges-- Etrs

Last Day Challenges (formatted by Bill Stevenson) http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbill Directions: Following are 3 very important Bible studies that I did. Read them very slowly and carefully. Try to figure out why the verses were put where they were, indented, underlined, bolded, and italicized. You might want to copy the verses that really “hit you directly” on 3 x 5 cards. Write an essay about what you think the best verses in this collection are. How would you teach them? Then write an essay about the responsibilities of Christians because they love God. This assignment is worth 3 units, so write at least 4 quality pages. Direct and Implied Commandments to True Christians Found in Contexts Mentioning Christ’s Second Coming Note: I did this study in of May 1981 after a close friend and fellow staffer in a Christian curriculum development ministry flipped out due to personal stress. In September 1987 and in February 1998, I retyped it and slightly altered it. Try to see the links between the verses and determine the reasons why they are in the order they are in. Also try to determine the reasons why each line is indented in the position it is. Look for relationships of coordinate and subordinate ideas. Finally, there are reasons why some words/phrases are in bold print and some words/phrases are underlined. You could use this study for a spiritual inventory of your lifestyle. 1.) “Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him or her." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [Hebrews 10:38 & 39] 2.) “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope— the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” [Titus 2:11-14] 3.) “Nevertheless, in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new Heaven and a new Earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.” [2 Peter 3:13 &14]

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4.) “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” [1 Thessalonians 5:8] 5.) “Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day (of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) will not come until the rebellion (falling away) occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3] 6.) “The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment, while continuing their punishment.” [2 Peter 2:9] 7.) “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” [1 Thessalonians 2:12 & 13] 8.) “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” [1 Thessalonians 5:14 & 15] 9.) “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray 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; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” [Jude 20-23] 10.) “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Holy Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-22] Warnings and Assurances For Those Living On Earth During the “Last Days” 2

Note: On January 30, 1994, I heard an excellent expounding on 2 Thessalonians 2. Thus, I felt like doing the following. This is a relationship showing format. Try to determine why I indented phrases the way I did. I also underlined for emphasis. Try to determine why. Take notice of the pronouns starting with capital letters. Why are they done so? 2 Thessalonians 1:11-3:5 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name [character] of our LORD Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him according to the grace of our God and the LORD Jesus Christ. See Ephesians 1.] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by the spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the LORD is at hand. [See Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 1, and 2 Peter 1.] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what withholds that He might be revealed in His time. for the mystery of iniquity does already work: only He Who now lets will let, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of Hs mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even Him, Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and [See Job 1.] 3

signs and wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, [See John 3:18-20.] because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [See Jude and 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [See Romans 1.] But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. [See Ephesians 1-3 and 1 Corinthians 15] Now our LORD Jesus Christ Himself and God, even our Father, Who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. [See 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.] Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. [See Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:58.] Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all men have not faith. But the LORD is faithful, Who shall [See Hebrews 12:3.] stablish you, and keep you from evil. [See Philippians 4:4-8 and John 17.] And we have confidence in the LORD touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you. And the LORD direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. [See Psalm 37 and 2 Peter 3.]

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Conclusions by the AOG preacher: True Christians need to love truth and righteousness much more and hate deception and sin much more. There is already too much emphasis of signs and wonders, new prophecy speculations, theories of “who” is the anti-Christ, and denominational distinctives/theories/judging. The emphasis should be on sound Bible teaching, discipleship, and outreach ministries. Important Choices for Each True Christian for New Testament Living Note: This is an unusual Bible verses/relationships study for personal revival. Try to determine the reasons for the below formatting of the chosen Scripture. 2 Corinthians 1: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [Something to meditate in relation to the above 3 verses: What a ministry for true Christians!!] 2 Corinthians 2: 14 Now thanks be to God, Who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are to God a fragrance of Christ, among them who are saved, and among them who perish: 16 To the one, we are the aroma of death leading to death; and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. [Something to meditate in relation to the above 3 verses: Our words and actions can encourage or discourage, be God-pleasing or God-grieving.] 2 Corinthians 3: 3 Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but by the Holy Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

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Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Holy Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Holy Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadily behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away, 8 how will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness [or boldness] of speech: 13 And not as Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away; 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament; because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is spirit; and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Holy Spirit of the Lord. [Something to meditate in relation to the above passage: reread Galatians and Romans 8-12.] 2 Corinthians 4: 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

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But even if our Gospel be veiled, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also might be made manifest in our body. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. [Something to meditate in relation to the above passage: reread Hebrews 10-12.] 2 Corinthians 5: 9 Therefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his [or her] body, according to that he [or she] has done, whether it be good or bad. [Something to meditate in relation to the above 3 verses: reread 1 Corinthians 1-5.] 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

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Therefore if any man [or woman] be in Christ, he [or she] is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, Who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [Something to meditate in relation to the above 6 verses: reread John 14-17.]

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