Man views himself good compared to his surroundings

“Man views himself good compared to his surroundings” –Pastor Patrick Ringler

(2 Corinthians 10:12)

Lord, make me salt and light to a world that is tasteless and blind.

Lord, make me salt and light to a world that is tasteless and blind.

(Read: Matthew 5:13-16)

Flowing in the Spirit does not mean flowing in emotion.

Flowing in the Spirit does not mean flowing in emotion.

(Romans 8:1-7)

Let God know your Needs

In ages past, men and women of Faith used to let God alone know the their needs. There are amazing stories from George Mueller and Hudson Taylor and others doing this. When in the middle of a crisis and the destruction of their ministries—they simply cried out in prayer and did not tell others their needs. They Trusted God alone to provide as He promised he would for our needs (Matthew 6). Today, many ministries run on fundraising and marketing campaigns to generate revenue. You may not be involved in one of those ministries, but even you, a single person or family can apply the principle: tell God your needs and trust Him to stand by His Word. (Side note: do not think that asking God to pay the debts for a bunch of stuff that you run up on a credit card or a dream home mortgage to be a need—Matthew 6 will clarify what your needs are.)

Be Diligent

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29

Debt

 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?  Proverbs 22:26-27

Who your Friends are is Powerful

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. Proverbs 22:24-25

Circumstances should not be allowed to crowd out a quiet life of learning from the Lord.

Circumstances should not be allowed to crowd out a quiet life of learning from the Lord.

(1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 5:16-18, Romans 15:13, Genesis 16)

Are we to worry or live by faith?

Are we to worry or live by faith?

(Matthew 6:25-34, Colossians 3:15, Romans 14:23, Hebrews 11:6, Mark 11:22)

My God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

My God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

(1 Corinthians 14:33, Colossians 3:15)

You can ask God questions.

You can ask God questions.

(Matthew 7:7-11, James 1:5, 1 John 5:14-15)

1 Timothy Lesson 4

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

 

   Paul was committed to the Gospel. He was entrusted by God to carry the gospel to governors, kings, and the gentiles—remember that God revealed this to Ananias before Paul became a Christian.

    I have been reading a book in college, Dedication and Leadership by Douglas Hyde who was a communist turned catholic who talks about communism’s Biblical practices of “discipleship.” One of the core principles in that book is that Communists are dedicated. They are so committed that they are daily involved in sharing their ideals. Whether it be leaving a communist newspaper behind on their bus seat or moving around to new groups of co-workers at lunch and skillfully working communisms agenda into the discussion, they are actively seeking to spread their ideals. Their dedication is convicting when we look at the Church (all Believers) in America’s efforts of personal evangelism.

 

      In the book of Acts, the Church was built because Christians were actively involved in sharing Christ’s message of redemption everywhere. Paul ministered in the marketplace primarily. In addition, he provided for his own needs and his traveling buddies through his trade of tentmaking. He worked long, hard hours and preached and taught and evangelized by sharing the Gospel whenever he had a chance. Peter stood up and preached to those gathered outside the upper room and 3,000 were added to the Church. Daily, Believers met in Jerusalem studying the Scriptures and listening to the Apostles preaching—both in the Temple courts and other public places. The Church was made of dedicated followers who were committed to sharing Christ! We need to be dedicated to our Faith!

 

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

 

       Thank the Lord Jesus Christ for what He has called you to do. Paul did. We are commanded by Jesus to go into all the world and preach the Gospel AND TEACH everything that Christ taught (the Great commission). Don’t be on the extreme and only preach salvation—people must be taught (discipled) as well.

       Who hath enabled….CHRIST is the one who enables us! The Holy Spirit has come to give us power—to empower us to be Christ’s witnesses and to serve others. It is not in our strength, but in HIS. Christ is strong and our greatest strength is weakness.

        That he counted me faithful….Faithfulness is something that is very rare in our society. You may think of faithfulness best in terms of marriage—don’t commit adultery, but remain true to your spouse. It is the same in our lives: we must remain faithful to Christ, our Faith, and our Calling.

     Putting me into the ministry….God is the one that puts us into the ministry. We are not to “build a name for ourselves” through selfish ambition. Sadly, that is happening in our country. In times past, God called men to His service and they endured hardship because of the call. Today, we have lights and technology and marketing strategies that make it easy to get distracted from the Call of God. We must remain faithful to the Lord.

     You guys have been put into ministry. Each week you are ministering to these boys. God has put you in a position of authority. You need to set an example through the life you live—both in front of these boys and in your personal lives at home (because that is who you really are). Maintain a personal walk with Lord and remember that it is His strength which will empower you to fulfill what he has called you to do.

Remember:

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  Psalms 127:1 (KJV)

1 Timothy Lesson 3

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

 

The end of the Law is:

 

·         Charity out of a pure heart. Charity is better understood by us as love today. But in times past people spoke of Christian charity, not love; therefore, you can understand why a lot of organizations are called “charities.”

Jesus took the letter of law and raise it to the spirit which means that no longer was the physical act of adultery the only wrong thing; but likewise lust (the motive, the heart attitude, the posture of the heart, the dwelling place of thoughts) was just as wrong and sinful as the actual, physical act.

“out of a pure heart.” David was a man after God’s own heart, he maintained his purity by repenting and walking humbly before God. Likewise, we need to a pure heart that is right with the Lord.

·         Of a good conscience: the Holy Spirit convicts, primarily through our conscience, or as we might say today, “the Holy Spirit convicted my heart about ____” Is your conscience clear before God? Have you gotten right with God and the people you need to? We cannot be saved and carry unforgiveness in our hearts (Matt. 6)….where are you? I’m not saying that we don’t every have to deal with offense and not wanting to forgive, but we have to have a heart that forgives and works through the process with the Lord. We cannot let bitterness and unforgiveness become entrenched in our lives.

·         Of faith unfeigned: Think of unfeigned as undefiled. We are to a pure, sincere faith that is not polluted or contaminated.

 

The end of the commandment (the Law) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned. Remember that Jesus did not come to destroy or do away with the Law of God, He actually fulfilled it and raised the standard to the spirit—the heart attitude, the motive.

 

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

 

People that swerve from charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned turn aside to vain jangling. It is sad, but you must understand this reality for you will come into contact with those who have turned aside to false teachers and false prophets (some are pastors and “christian leaders”) who say whatever their itching ears want to hear.

 

And here, perhaps, are some of the vain janglings they turn aside to:

 

 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

 

They don’t understand the law. In other Words, they want to teach the Word, but don’t understand what they are saying, they don’t understand the Word, and they do not realize what they are implying as they teach (affirming).

 

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

 

The Law has a purpose. The book of Romans is a great example of how to use the Law rightly: to bring people to a conviction of sin and knowledge of Jesus Christ the Savior of all. Almost all the Scriptures that you will hear or see used to lead someone to Christ come from the Book of Romans. In fact, the book of Romans is pretty much a book on how to use the Law of God properly.

 

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,

 

The Law wasn’t made for “good” people (only God is good in reality…), but for the sinner. This is largely disregarded and thrown out today. You will hear many Christians say that we just need to love sinners and not tell them that they are sinners. A whole philosophy of “Christian ministry” is that we just need to get people in the doors and “love on them.” You can’t truly love someone if you don’t tell them the Truth! Without Christ, people are going to Hell. Sin is sin and the Law of God should be proclaimed. If you don’t believe me just look at what Paul says next:

 

The Law is for

 

 but for the lawless and disobedient,

for the ungodly and for sinners,

for unholy and profane,

for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,

for manslayers (murderers),

 10 For whoremongers (men who use prostitutes),

for them that defile themselves with mankind (homosexuals)

, for menstealers,

for liars,

for perjured (stolen, or theft) persons,

and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

My last point is sound doctrine. Again as a I mentioned before, Paul’s written ministry was primarily one of dealing with false doctrines and pointing people back to what the Word, the whole counsel of God, really taught. Paul didn’t teach extremist doctrines like legalism (it all depends on me) or extreme “cheap” grace (God is just gonna change me). One example is what the Bible says about holiness. Our holiness is from Christ, but God also says Be Holy as I am Holy. The legalists take the be holy part and take it way to far, denying Christ’s provision. Extreme gracer’s take it to other extreme and say in Christ we are holy so we don’t have to do anything. Neither is correct. The balance is that we acknowledge that our holiness is provide my Christ; not our own effort, yet we have to choose to come out and be separate—to live a life that is different from the world.

Question in class:
Let us live up to what we have already attained (Phil. 3:16 and context). –you are responsible for how much you know of the Word of God and how far you have grown.

1 Timothy Lesson 2

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia,

 

We don’t know exactly what time Paul left Timothy behind, but we do know from the Scriptures that God directed Paul away from Asia to Macedonia (the area of Greece) in a vision. It could have been at this time that he told Timothy to abide—stay, remain—at Ephesus. . . . most likely to minister.

 

 

 that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

 

The Apostle Paul’s letter ministry was almost solely for the purpose of getting people back to sound, solid, Biblical doctrine and away from extremes and conforming lives. Paul sends Timothy to do the same thing—to deal with those that were in the wrong and charge them—command them, hold them accountable—to teach no other doctrine but the truth.

 

 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,

 

You know what a fable is—it is a cleaver story. Well we as Christians can get to caught up in “clever stories” and “illustrations” and walk down a path that is unscriptural. And endless genealogies—think of the list of Jesus ancestry in Luke and Matthew. There are some people that reject the Christian Faith because of a one name difference in those two genealogies! From study, I am fairly sure that the reason for the difference is because one of the lineages is Mary’s side and the other Joseph’s. But the main point is that we shouldn’t get caught up on such a minor issue as genealogies and knit pick.

 

 which minister questions,

 

Fables, genealogies and whatever only create questions (doubts) so as Paul told Timothy, I tell you “don’t give heed to them!” Don’t entangled and caught up in foolish controversies. Preach the Word in season and out of season, and trust the Lord to build the house (Church).

 

 rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Instead, focus on godly things—edifying (encouraging, building up) which is in the faith. Paul built people up in the Faith—reminding them of the basics—reminding them of the centrality of the message Christ: his life, his death, his resurrection, ascension, and REDEMPTION! You, young man, do the same. Remind people about Jesus and what He did for them—DO THIS! Don’t get caught up in fables and genealogies (whatever your “fables” and “genealogies” might be.

Remember your Father

Pray for your Father today.

Fathers, love on your kids.

If Jesus died for us then why can’t we pridefully live our lives? Because He demands surrender.

If Jesus died for us then why can’t we pridefully live our lives? Because He demands surrender.

(James 4:1-12, Jeremiah 10:23)

When we bear witness, we are testifying.

When we bear witness, we are testifying.

(Psalm 66:16, Acts 2:22,32, 5:31-32)

The Spirit of God knows which way to go, will you trust Him?

The Spirit of God knows which way to go, will you trust Him?

(Isaiah 48:17, 30:21)

Pray first (before you act on an idea).

Pray first (before you act on an idea).

(Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, James 5:13, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18,  Isaiah 65:24)

The Timothy Commission--1 Timothy 1:1-2

I have been teaching two young men that I mentor a 5-7 minute lesson on Timothy every week. Today, I have included the first lesson for you and, Lord willing, hope to continue posting these lessons from time to time.

 

 

1 Timothy

Chapter 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ

 

        An Apostle in the early church meant someone who had been commissioned by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel. The Lord revealed to Ananias, before Paul ever began ministry, that Paul would take the Gospel to the Gentiles, and testify before Kings and Governors.

 

        Today, some call themselves apostles, but these are to be discounted—they are prideful and often, if not always, false prophets seeking to build a name for themselves; not Christ. However, the gifting of Apostleship still exists, it primarily is seen in those who plant churches or are on the mission field. The Apostle establishes believers in the Faith and spreads the Gospel. Paul is the best model of this.

 

 by the commandment of God

 

         Paul was commissioned—commanded—by God to be an Apostle.

 

our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

 

         Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He gives us hope. Our hope is in our salvation, not in living by a bunch of rules or being “good Christian people.”

 

2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:

 

          Timothy was Paul’s Spiritual son, he was discpiled by Paul and had been with Paul on his missionary journeys. Now, though very young, Paul had sent Timothy to pastor the church at Ephesus. And even though he was very young, Paul gave him what we call, and I exhort you to live as well, The Timothy Commission: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 (KJV)

  

 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

            Paul has an interesting greeting here. In ministry school, I learned that Paul has combined Greek (Gentile) common greetings with the Jewish. The Greek would say to the effect of “grace be to you” when you met them. The Jew would greet with “mercy and peace be to you.” In addition, the Jews would talk about God as their Father. The Greeks (Gentiles) about Christ being their LORD. The unbelieving society understood what a Lord was and thus they related to Christ as not just their Savior, but as their Master (lord). The Jews, would remember God being their Father—taking care of them: providing and protecting them.

              In Christ, Paul shows the balance and unity of the two viewpoints of those who were once without Christ, but are now one with Him. Grace and Mercy and Peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

“When a man chops his own wood; it warms him twice.”

“When a man chops his own wood; it warms him twice.”—anonymous

(Prov. 12:27)

Thankfulness is ultimately a heart issue.

Thankfulness is ultimately a heart issue.

(Colossians 3:15-17, Psalm 95:1-6, Matt. 12: 34)

What you feed yourself is what will be reproduced in your life.

    For the next several summer months, I will be posting short principles for you to meditate upon. Dwell on the principles and may the Holy Spirit guide you in the coming days.

What you feed yourself is what will be reproduced in your life.

(Phil. 4:8-9, Gal. 5:13-26, 1 Pet. 2:1-12, Rom. 8:5-9)

Sanctification--our next Devo Blast issue

True obedience to the Lord is not contrary to His Word

True obedience to the Lord is not contrary to His Word:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15 (KJV)

Contemplate this powerful Scripture on truth, wisdom, instruction (learning), and understanding

Contemplate this powerful Scripture on truth, wisdom, instruction (learning), and understanding

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Prov 23:23 (KJV)

Contemplate this verse about the Holy Spirit

Contemplate this verse about the Holy Spirit

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 John 2:26-27 (KJV)

Called out to be separate--not conformed

Called out to be separate—not conformed

     We have been called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted, dedicated—to the Lord.

      One aspect of holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view, listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or detriment. We must choose to feed ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want? Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)

Called out to be separate--not conformed

Called out to be separate—not conformed

     We have been called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted, dedicated—to the Lord.

      One aspect of holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view, listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or detriment. We must choose to feed ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want? Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)

Called out to be separate--not conformed

Called out to be separate—not conformed

     We have been called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted, dedicated—to the Lord.

      One aspect of holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view, listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or detriment. We must choose to feed ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want? Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)