Month: November 2014

The Church’s Sanctification | Ephesians Study

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Ephesians 5:25-26
(25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Sanctify – (NT:37 hagiazo ) from NT:40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:
Cleanse – (NT:2511 katharizo) from NT:2513; to cleanse (literally or figuratively):
Washing – (NT:3067 loutron) from NT:3068; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), immersion, baptism:
Word – (NT:4487 rhema) from NT:4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically); by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:
The sanctifying and cleansing process came not just by Christ giving Himself for us. That was merely the beginning. Now that Christ has us because of His loving gift of salvation, He is working in us to sanctify and wash us. How? Not by physical baptism, but by spiritual baptism – total immersion in God’s Word. We will not be cleansed and sanctified just by trying to live uprightly; we will not even be cleansed and sanctified by praying only. Biblically, sanctification comes through Christ -and more specifically, by means of His Word.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”(John 17:17)
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
Does a believer wish to be sanctified? Let them submerge themselves in God’s Word.
Ephesians 5:27
(27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The purpose of sanctification and cleansing: not merely so that we could live “moral, upright lives,” but so that Jesus Christ Himself could present us – His bride, His church – as holy and without blemish. Only the washing of water by the Word can make sinful humans in a holy, pure, spotless church!
God faithfully gave us His Son, the means by which we can even begin sanctification, and then He faithfully gave us His Word, the means by which we can continue sanctification until Christ returns for His bride.

Ephesians 5:28-30

(28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
(29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
(30)  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Christ is the head of the body (Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”) by whom all the joints have nourishment and are increased (Colossians 2:19, “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”). As believers, we are members of Him. This means that no longer should we do like we want, but rather, like He would have us to (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”).

Ephesians 5:32

(32)  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Even though we are given human comparison, we still can never fully understand the mystery of Christ and His church.

Word Wednesday #30

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
The grace of God gives us His sufficiency to grow up in Him for His glory.

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 
 

Bow the Knee (Tero Family video)

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Here is another video we took at the Bible conference. My sister, Elizabeth, is singing “Bow the Knee.” The words are amazing – if you have a few minutes, please listen!

By way of testimony, this past Sunday, our family was blessed to sing at Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. We had an amazing time with this church! Such a sweet, sweet spirit! We sang about eight songs and then Pastor Mike brought a message from Philippians 2. We had already been asked to sing a song for invitation and had decided upon “Bow the Knee.” As I sat there, listening to Bro. Mike reading through and expounding on Philippians 2, I was again amazed at how God worked. Before we knew what the message was, He laid it on our hearts to have a song which so beautifully fit in with the message. I’ll never stop being amazed at how God works!

~*~
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
 Philippians 4:9-12

Commands for Wives | Ephesians Study

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
The parallel passage is Colossians 3:18, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” As these passages indicate, a woman must first be submitted to Christ before she can submit to her husband. Until a woman accepts that man is her head (1 Corinthians 11:3, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”)  and submits herself to God’s ordinance, she will be unable to submit.
There is no exceptions in submitting. In fact, 1 Peter 3:1-2 seems to cover the ground of a godly woman to an ungodly man, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” The woman has a powerful influence over her husband (Jezebel over Ahab, Sarah over Abraham). By her chaste (proper, clean, innocent, modest) behavior (note: this doesn’t sound like Jezebel!), she can influence her husband towards the Word of God. This applies to unbelieving husbands as well as believing husbands who may not be following God’s Word. There is no persuasion mentioned here, no nagging; but simple conversation (behavior) – the way she lives her life.
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Here is a further explanation of why the wife should submit: her husband is her head. He is placed over her as protector and provider. Think of all that Christ does for the church; this is what the husband is to be to his wife and she must reverence him as such.
Ephesians 5:24
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

For a Bible-operating church, there is no question as to who leads: Christ is the leader. With this concept, the wives should have no question as to who is their head. In every thing, they are to submit to their husbands.

A Story to Share or Truth to Teach?

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
I challenge you to read the title of this article again and think about it for ten seconds.
As a Christian writer, what is your goal in writing? Do you simply want to share good stories? or do you want to impart to your readers truth?
Many young Christian writers admit that they do not just want to write the moral stories they find themselves churning out, but they want to share God’s truth. But many of them are clueless in how to do this. And they surely do not want to sound like those stiff books in which all of the characters are well-behaved, memorizing hundreds of verses a day, mourning over an ounce of sin, and living an impossibly perfect life (okay, so perhaps that is an exaggeration).
As I pondered this situation, I realized something: how can we write good, solid Christian books if we are not striving to live a good, solid Christian life? How can we impart to our readers truths from God’s Word if we do not even know what these truths are?
So often, we get so wrapped up in the writing process that we neglect our writing purpose. To write Christian stories, we must be grounded in God’s Word. This does not mean to merely look up a few verses if your character is learning about forgiveness. What does your daily devotion life looks like? Are you actively reading, memorizing, studying, and learning from God’s Word?
In writing, does your plot detract from the message? Is there an element in the story that pulls your reader’s attention away from Christ and places it on something that is but to fade away? Is your message clear? or will your writer come away with, “Well … she quoted a lot of Bible verses…”? You do not have to strive for some big, theological truth. What lessons has God taught you? Those are important lessons too that you can share with others.
As you ponder these questions, I encourage you to pray for God’s direction in your writing. What truths would He have you to teach? Which Scriptures would He have you to use? May He lead you as you seek Him and may all of your writing bring glory to His Name!

Extra: Many novels are written today under the name “Christian,” but if God is only mentioned once or twice and prayed to only during troubles, can it really qualify for a “Christian” book?

Submission | Ephesians Study

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Submitting – NT:5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as’-so); from NT:5259 and NT:5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:
A quick search for the words used from the Greek word hupotasso shows us:
– Servants are to submit to their masters
“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;”(Titus 2:9)
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (1 Peter 2:18)
– Civilians are to submit to political government (note: if it does not violate God’s Word)
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”(Romans 13:1-2)
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,” (Titus 3:1)
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
– Wives are to submit to their husbands
” Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” (1 Corinthians 14:34)
“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”(Ephesians 5:23)
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18)
“To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:5)
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; . . . For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:” (1 Peter 3:1, 5)
– The church is to submit to Christ
“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”(Ephesians 5:23)
– Believers are to submit to godly leaders in the church
“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submityourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” (1 Corinthians 16:15-16)
– Believers are to submit to God
“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjectionunto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
– Younger are to submit to elders
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
– Believers are to submit one to another
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21)
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
No one is exempt from submission. If you read all of the commands to submit, we all have someone to whom we are to submit – all should submit to God, and all should submit “one to another” and all should submit to civil authority and all should submit to Godly authority. James 4 and 1 Peter 5 indicates the attitude of submission: humility.
James 4:6-7
“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7)
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Our pride automatically says, “I am not under anyone.” But humility realizes that we areunder authority – God given authority. If we refuse to place ourselves under the authority that God has given to us, how do we expect we will place ourselves under God’s authority? To refuse to place ourselves under God-given authority is simply to rebel against God and disobey His commands.

Word Wednesday #29

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
Fervent charity. Even when others speak evil of us (verse 4). Even when others judge us (verses 5-6).

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 
 

People Need the Lord

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

This past week, my family and I had an extremely blessed time at our local Bible Conference. We worked up a few new songs for the week. Here is one of them: ever hear “People Need the Lord” with banjo? It actually works! 😉

Vocalists: Amanda (tenor), Elizabeth (soprano), Joanna (alto)
Instrumentalists: Samuel (bajo), Timothy (bass guitar), Rebecca (classical guitar)

A New Song | Ephesians Study

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Ephesians 5:15-20
(15)  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(17)  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(18)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19)  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” is related to “be filled with the Spirit.” The parallel passage is Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
We are not only to speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, but also to use them to teach and admonish one another. This hints that the songs we sing should be grounded in the Word of God – for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If a song is not doctrinally sound, should it be on our lips? Should we use it to sing to others?
The songs are to be in our heart – unto the Lord. What song is in our heart? The songs of the world? or a “new song?”
“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”(Psalm 33:3)
“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” (Psalms 40:3)
“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” (Psalms 96:1)
“O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.” (Psalms 98:1)
“I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” (Psalms 144:9)
“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.” (Psalms 149:1)

Besides singing, we are to give thanks unto God. For all things. In the name of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 makes it clear that this isn’t just a suggestion, but a command,“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”