by Steve McCranie | Apr 24, 2016
In closing his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul said the following to one of his “fellow laborers” in the faith, a man named Archippus.
Colossians 4:17 – And say to (who) Archippus, “Take heed (or, consider, discern, to see with the eye, to watch carefully) to the ministry (or, service) which you have received (how) in the Lord, (why) that you may fulfill (or, to render full, to complete, to bring to effect) it.”
Archippus probably struggled, much like Timothy, with insecurity, timidity, and a lack of boldness. Paul reminded him that his ministry was from the Lord and his calling and purpose in life was to fulfill what God had created him to do. And nothing more.
Do you ever struggle with the same thing? Do you ever wonder why you have such a hard time getting beyond your past and present failures? Do you sometimes feel God had a plan for your life but now, because of your disobedience, He has passed on by never wanting to use you again? If it was possible to move beyond that crippling thought, would you be interested in finding out how?
If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:16-18.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 15, 2016
One of the most convicting statements about prayer is found in the last chapter of Colossians. Here the Lord, in Colossians 4:2, says:
Continue (or, to persevere and not faint, to endure, to wait or tarry, to be in constant readiness) earnestly (or, to adhere to one, to be devoted to one, to be steadfastly attentive) in prayer, (how) being vigilant (or, to arise, arouse, to watch, to refrain from sleep, to remain fully awake) in it (in prayer) with thanksgiving (or, thankfulness, gratefulness, profound gratitude).
Which raises a few questions:
How is your prayer life? Do you continue earnestly in prayer? Are you devoted to prayer? Vigilant in prayer? Does your prayer life show you are “redeeming the time” given you by the Lord? Or does it show just the opposite? And, if so, what are you prepared to do about it?
Want to know more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:2-6.
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by Steve McCranie | Feb 21, 2016
Some of the most wonderful yet confusing verses in the entire New Testament are found in the last chapter of the book of James. Do you know what these verses mean:
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much – James 5:13-16
Are you suffering? Do you know those who are sick? Do you know what the prayer of faith is and what is involved in calling for the elders and having them anoint you with oil? Are these verses somewhat confusing to you?
If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on James 5:13-16.
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by Steve McCranie | Jan 27, 2016
During His last week with His disciples, Jesus said the following regarding a fig tree that He cursed:
“Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing (or, to have faith in, to think it’s true, to place confidence in, to entrust), you will receive” – Matthew 21:21-22.
Do you believe what Jesus said? Do you take His words at face value or have you reduced them to some type of parable or story not to be believed literally? And what does Jesus mean by “believing”? How does faith impact our prayers?
Keep listening, for the answer to these and other questions may astound you.
The following is a study on Persistent, Overcoming Prayer.
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by Steve McCranie | Jan 25, 2016
In Colossians 3 we see the commands to put off, put on, and put to death various aspects of our life. Consider the following:
“put to death your members” – 3:5
“you yourself are to put off all these” – 3:8
“put off the old man with his deeds” – 3:9
“put on the new man who is renewed” – 3:10
“put on tender mercies” – 3:12
“above all these things put on love” – 3:14
You would do well to carefully examine what about you is to be put to death (or, to mortify, kill, make dead, to deprive of force and vigor, to render powerless, impotent) and what we are to put on (or, to sink into, to clothe oneself, to be enveloped) and to put off (or, renounce, throw off, lay aside or down, to cast away).
Want to know more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 3:12-17
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by Steve McCranie | Dec 7, 2015
Sometimes, life throws us a curveball. Scripture tells us to expect “trials and tribulations” (James 1:2) and even “persecutions” (2 Tim. 3:12)— but what seems to knock us down the hardest are the things we don’t see coming, just the bad stuff that happens to fallen people living in a fallen world.
All people, both good and bad, sometimes get cancer, lose their jobs, or suffer from broken relationships. No one is promised an easy road this side of heaven. Which, if you think about it, should make heaven more appealing. But often it doesn’t. Instead, we get overwhelmed and depressed by daily life.
Did you ever wonder why? And have you ever wondered why your prayer life gets overwhelmed by the problems of life when it should be the other way around? If so, this message is for you. To find out more, keep listening.
The following is a study on Prayer and Luke 18:1-8.
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