Tag: ready

Romans 1:15 – Listening and Ready

Posted on by Will

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

Truth to Learn

Paul was ready to risk his life to obey God’s call in his life.

 

Behind the Words

The expression “I am ready” is translated from prothumos, which is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before or forward” and thumos, which refers to “a temperament, passion, or mindset.” This word means “predisposed, willing, or ready” to do what is expected.

“Preach the gospel” is from the Greek word euangelidzō. This is another compound word which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and angellō, meaning “to announce, proclaim, or tell.” Hence, euangelidzō refers to “proclaiming or telling the good news” that Christ has paid our sin debt for us by His death on the cross.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul continues on with the idea that was started in the previous verse. He is compelled to preach the Gospel to the Greeks and the barbarians, and now he is saying that he is also ready to preach the good news to the people in Rome. Paul was completely submitted to God and committed to whatever God wanted him to do! Keep in mind that this was written during the reign of Nero who hated Christians. Yet Paul was willing to risk his life to proclaim the gospel message.

In yesterday’s verse I asked you if you knew what God has called you to do and whether or not you feel compelled to do it. I’m sure that some of you responded with the question, “How do I know what God has called me to do?” That’s a question that many Christians wrestle with today.

The only way to know what God has called you to do (or what God is calling you to do) is to be in constant communication with Him. Now, I can already hear some of you saying, “But I pray to Him constantly!” and I’m sure some of you do. But you will notice that I said “communicate with” not “talk to.” Communication requires a two way conversation. Sometimes we Christians get so busy talking to God that He can’t get a word in edgewise and even if He did, we wouldn’t hear it because we are so busy talking.

“OK,” you say, “what do I need to do to hear God’s message for me?” The first thing you need to do is to be quiet. Then you need to listen. Note that “listen” is an active verb not a passive verb. Listening is something that we do intentionally and it takes effort. We need to listen to God speaking to us when we hear a sermon. We need to listen to God when we read and study our Bible. We need to listen to God when we are praying. Sometimes, the best way to listen to God is to get away from all the distractions of life and just listen. It could be in a quiet, out of the way place outside somewhere, or it could be while you are sitting in the bathtub or standing in the shower preparing for the day ahead.

 

Application

Remember the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)? Martha was so busy she didn’t have time to listen to the Lord. Mary, on the other hand, sat at His feet and listened.

Are you busy, or are you listening?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 4:5 – Divine Vengeance

Posted on by Will

They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Truth to Learn

When we are slandered by others for doing what God wants, we need to remember that He will judge them some day.

 

Behind the Words

The words “will give” are translated from the verb apodidōmi, which is made up of apo, meaning “away” or “from” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines this word as, “To give or to do something necessary in fulfillment of an obligation or expectation.” The word is used here in the future tense, active voice, and indicative mood. This implies future action that will (not might) take place.

“Ready” is translated from etoimos, which is an adverb indicating “readiness, having made all the necessary preparations.”

 

Meaning Explained

Those with whom you used to charge headlong into sin, those who are now railing on you for leaving such practices, will have to give account of themselves to the Great Judge some day. Peter is reiterating the fact that there is but one righteous judge, and as he previously said of Christ:

who, being reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, He did not threaten, but committing Himself to Him who judges righteously; (1 Peter 2:23)

Likewise, we need to be prepared to receive such slanderous accusations at the hands of others from whom we have separated ourselves.

If we are being obedient to God, there will be times when we are asked to cease doing things that are glorifying man instead of God (for this truly is idolatry). Those from whom we separate will not understand why we have done such a thing. They may very well slander us and our Lord, whether we’re aware of it or not, and we are to expect it. We are to suffer patiently for having done the right thing, knowing that it is they who will have to give account of such slander to the Righteous One who will judge all mankind one day. And, that judge will be none other than Jesus Christ Himself:

And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify fully that it is He [Jesus of Nazareth] who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2Timothy 4:1)

So let us suffer patiently and humble ourselves before the One who has said:

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Hebrews 10:30)

 

Application

Can you think of a time when you were obedient to God and then suffered due to the words of others who felt injured by your obedience? If so, then you have suffered for righteousness sake and you are blessed, as Peter told us in 1Peter 3:14.

You are pleasing to God.

Well done, you good and faithful servant!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 1:5 – Guardian of Salvation

Posted on by Will

who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

Truth to Learn

God is guarding our salvation and will not allow it to be lost.

 

Behind the Words

“Kept” is translated from the Greek word phroureō, which is a compound of pro, meaning “in front of or before” and horao, meaning “to stare at or to attend to.” Hence, this word means “to be a watcher in front of,” that is “to guard something” like a soldier keeps guard as a protector. This verb is expressed in the present tense, active voice, and indicative mood, which indicates current, ongoing action.

The word translated “power” is dunamis, from which we get our English word dynamite. It refers to “the ability to do something,” or “power.”

“Ready” is from the Greek word hetoimos, which refers to “a state of readiness or preparedness.”

Apokaluptō is the word translated “revealed.” It is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and kaluptō, meaning “to cover.” Thus, apokaluptō, literally means “to remove a covering” or “to reveal what was hidden,”

The word “last” is translated from eschatos, meaning “the farthest, most remote, or final.” This is a reference to the end of time as we know it when eternity will be ushered in.

 

Meaning Explained

The first thing we have to do with this verse is determine who Peter is talking about. The “who” of this verse is a reference to the ones identified in verse three where he said:

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Thus, we see that the “who” refers to we who are saved and “begotten” of God. This verse is an extension of the previous verse and serves to corroborate and reinforce what was said there. What Peter is telling us is that through our faith, God guards us with the end result being our salvation which will be revealed at the end of time. Since there is no one stronger than God, he will not lose us. Even we are not able to escape his guardianship ourselves. We could not walk away even if we wanted to because He is guarding us (we cannot lose or give-up this salvation which He has given us and which He is guarding.)

Compare this with what is said in the following verses:

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6)

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:12)

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (2 Timothy 4:18)

So we see that the first 5 verses of 1 Peter are a strong treatise on the doctrines of election and eternal security. It seems amazing to me that there are so many Christians who refuse to believe the message God has clearly given us regarding these two doctrines. We want to believe in eternal security though we don’t feel like we deserve it because we’re so sinful; and we don’t want to believe in election because we feel like it isn’t fair! The truth of the matter is that it isn’t fair and we don’t deserve it. We deserve eternal punishment in Hell. But, as Paul teaches us in the book of Ephesians:

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

 

Application

Instead of getting hung-up about the doctrines of election and eternal security, we simply need to accept these teachings by faith and humbly praise God continually for His mercy and grace!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 1:15 – Listening and Ready

Posted on by admin

Romans 1:15

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

Truth to Learn

Paul was ready to risk his life to obey God’s call in his life.

Behind the Words

The expression “I am ready” is translated from prothumos, which is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before or forward” and thumos, which refers to “a temperament, passion, or mindset.” This word means “predisposed, willing, or ready” to do what is expected.

“Preach the gospel” is from the Greek word euangelidzō. This is another compound word which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and angellō, meaning “to announce, proclaim, or tell.” Hence, euangelidzō refers to “proclaiming or telling the good news” that Christ has paid our sin debt for us by His death on the cross.

Meaning Explained

Paul continues on with the idea that was started in the previous verse. He is compelled to preach the Gospel to the Greeks and the barbarians, and now he is saying that he is also ready to preach the good news to the people in Rome. Paul was completely submitted to God and committed to whatever God wanted him to do! Keep in mind that this was written during the reign of Nero who hated Christians. Yet Paul was willing to risk his life to proclaim the gospel message.

In yesterday’s verse I asked you if you knew what God has called you to do and whether or not you feel compelled to do it. I’m sure that some of you responded with the question, “How do I know what God has called me to do?” That’s a question that many Christians wrestle with today.

The only way to know what God has called you to do (or what God is calling you to do) is to be in constant communication with Him. Now, I can already hear some of you saying, “But I pray to Him constantly!” and I’m sure some of you do. But you will notice that I said “communicate with” not “talk to.” Communication requires a two way conversation. Sometimes we Christians get so busy talking to God that He can’t get a word in edgewise and even if He did, we wouldn’t hear it because we are so busy talking.

“OK,” you say, “what do I need to do to hear God’s message for me?” The first thing you need to do is to be quiet. Then you need to listen. Note that “listen” is an active verb not a passive verb. Listening is something that we do intentionally and it takes effort. We need to listen to God speaking to us when we hear a sermon. We need to listen to God when we read and study our Bible. We need to listen to God when we are praying. Sometimes, the best way to listen to God is to get away from all the distractions of life and just listen. It could be in a quiet, out of the way place outside somewhere, or it could be while you are sitting in the bathtub or standing in the shower preparing for the day ahead.

Application

Remember the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)? Martha was so busy she didn’t have time to listen to the Lord. Mary, on the other hand, sat at His feet and listened.

Are you busy, or are you listening?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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