General & Personal General & Personal LettersLetters

IntroductionIntroduction

Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of : "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper God is living and active. Sharper than any double‑edged sword, it than any double‑edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." attitudes of the heart."

"A real Christian is an odd number "A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks whom he has never seen, talks intimately every day to Someone he intimately every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, andweakest, richest when he is poorest, and

happiest when he feels the worst. He happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which surpasses knowledge knows that which surpasses knowledge . . . .The man who has met God is not . . . .The man who has met God is not looking for something – he has found looking for something – he has found it. . . he is an original new creation from it. . . he is an original new creation from the hand of the Holy Spirit." the hand of the Holy Spirit."

- - A. W. TozerA. W. Tozer

Chronology of BooksChronology of Books 1 Thessalonians1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians

GalatiansGalatians

EphesiansEphesians

PhilippiansPhilippians

ColossiansColossians

PhilemonPhilemon

JamesJames

1 Peter1 Peter

1 Timothy1 Timothy

TitusTitus

2 Peter2 Peter

2 Timothy2 Timothy

JudeJude

Covering a Period of 52 A.D. to 75 A.D.Covering a Period of 52 A.D. to 75 A.D.

The Law says, “The Law says, “dodo”. Grace says, ”. Grace says, ““donedone!”!”

““We are We are savedsaved, , keptkept and finally and finally redeemedredeemed by graceby grace without works of the without works of the

law. “law. “

Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1: “Stand firm and do not let yourselves : “Stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:4Galatians 5:4: “You who are trying to be justified : “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” fallen away from grace.”

HHungryungry

AAngryngry

LLonelyonely

TTiredired

Ephesians 3:12Ephesians 3:12: “In him and : “In him and through him [Jesus] we may through him [Jesus] we may approach God with freedom approach God with freedom and confidence.” and confidence.”

GoodGood: “God is FOR us”: “God is FOR us”

BetterBetter: “God is WITH us”: “God is WITH us”

BestBest: “God is IN us”: “God is IN us”

A Prepositional ProgressionA Prepositional Progression

Philippians 4:19Philippians 4:19: “And my God : “And my God will meet all your needs will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no : “See to it that no one takes you captive through one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather principles of this world rather than in Christ.” than in Christ.”

1) We have been reached, are we reaching 1) We have been reached, are we reaching others? others? 2) We have been fed, are we feeding others? 2) We have been fed, are we feeding others? 3) We've been instructed in righteousness, is it 3) We've been instructed in righteousness, is it producing fruit producing fruit others can see? others can see? 4) We've been encouraged in faith, are we 4) We've been encouraged in faith, are we encouraging others? encouraging others?

Living in order to please God (1 Thess. 4:1), the Second Living in order to please God (1 Thess. 4:1), the Second Coming of Jesus, and the Day of the Lord Coming of Jesus, and the Day of the Lord

2 Thessalonians 3:32 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful, : “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” the evil one.”

1 Thessalonians 5:211 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test everything. Hold on to the : “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

2 Thessalonians 2:102 Thessalonians 2:10: ” . . . every sort of evil : ” . . . every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.” and so be saved.”

2 Timothy 1:72 Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit : “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”self-discipline.”

1 Timothy 6:201 Timothy 6:20: “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted : “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.” the faith.”

Timothy needed Paul’s guidanceTimothy needed Paul’s guidance

Titus needed Paul’s CounselTitus needed Paul’s Counsel

Philemon needed Paul’s reminder of forgivenessPhilemon needed Paul’s reminder of forgiveness

Are we practicing true religion? Are we practicing true religion?

Are we in control of our tongue? Are we in control of our tongue?

Is our faith demonstrated in what we do? Is our faith demonstrated in what we do?

Are we submissive to God or guilty of pride? Are we submissive to God or guilty of pride?

Are we praying for people? Are we praying for people?

Are we intercessors? Are we intercessors?

Are we what we say we are??? Are we what we say we are???

““The Christian life is like a good The Christian life is like a good watch – an open face, busy watch – an open face, busy hands, pure gold, well regulated, hands, pure gold, well regulated, and filled with good works.”and filled with good works.”

- - J. Vernon McGeeJ. Vernon McGee

To show the sinner the way to GodTo show the sinner the way to God

To show the saint how to walk with GodTo show the saint how to walk with God

Counseled in the grace…..Counseled in the grace…..1)1) to go on (especially in times of persecution) to go on (especially in times of persecution) 2) to stand firm (especially against false 2) to stand firm (especially against false teachings) and teachings) and 3) to rejoice in the hope of the Lord's return. 3) to rejoice in the hope of the Lord's return.

HHeed what you already eed what you already knowknow

OOpen your eyes and earspen your eyes and ears

PPursue a godly lifeursue a godly life

EExpect Christ’s returnxpect Christ’s return

Hebrews 12:1Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since : “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” the race marked out for us.”

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The full text of this lecture can be found tomorrow at The full text of this lecture can be found tomorrow at

dictationsfromthespirit.comdictationsfromthespirit.com Click on the dropdown menu arrow and choose “POW Bible Studies”Click on the dropdown menu arrow and choose “POW Bible Studies”

General & Personal LettersGeneral & Personal Letters““Introduction”Introduction”