PAUL’s LETTER to the COLOSSIANS Chapter Two

Overview: Colossians- ( The Bible Project )

https://youtu.be/pXTXlDxQsvc

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 

22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

 

PAUL’s LETTER to the COLOSSIANS. Chapter One

Overview: Colossians- ( The Bible Project )

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made

known to us your love in the Spirit.9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or

dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

 

OCTOBER READINGS

 

PSALM 118

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 

Let Israel say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

3 

Let the house of Aaron say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

4 

Let those who fear the Lord say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

    the Lord answered me and set me free.

6 

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

    What can man do to me?

7 

The Lord is on my side as my helper;

    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in man.

9 

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in princes.

10 

All nations surrounded me;

    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

11 

They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

12 

They surrounded me like bees;

    they went out like a fire among thorns;

    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

13 

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

    but the Lord helped me.

14 

The Lord is my strength and my song;

    he has become my salvation.

15 

Glad songs of salvation

    are in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

16 

    the right hand of the Lord exalts,

    the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 

I shall not die, but I shall live,

    and recount the deeds of the Lord.

18 

The Lord has disciplined me severely,

    but he has not given me over to death.

19 

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

    that I may enter through them

    and give thanks to the Lord.

20 

This is the gate of the Lord;

    the righteous shall enter through it.

21 

I thank you that you have answered me

    and have become my salvation.

22 

The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone.

23 

This is the Lord's doing;

    it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 

This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 

Save us, we pray, O Lord!

    O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 

The Lord is God,

    and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

    up to the horns of the altar!

28 

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

    you are my God; I will extol you.

29 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    for his steadfast love endures forever!

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Psalm 118 sung in Hebrew - א֭וֹדְךָ - תְּהִלִּים קיח [NEW HALLEL TUNE]

https://youtu.be/4X4L9yTP7bc

Psalm 118 (Shane and Shane) https://youtu.be/XiDn8w70TPU

Psalm 118: The Lord Is My Strength - Ian WHITE 

https://youtu.be/j0ewZYvVWPU

For the Lord is Good - Ron Kenoly

PSALMS 116 and 117

1 

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

    he heard my cry for mercy.

2 

Because he turned his ear to me,

    I will call on him as long as I live.

3 

The cords of death entangled me,

    the anguish of the grave came over me;

    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “Lord, save me!”

5 

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

    our God is full of compassion.

6 

The Lord protects the unwary;

    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 

Return to your rest, my soul,

    for the Lord has been good to you.

8 

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling,

9 

that I may walk before the Lord

    in the land of the living.

10 

I trusted in the Lord when I said,

    “I am greatly afflicted”;

11 

in my alarm I said,

    “Everyone is a liar.”

12 

What shall I return to the Lord

    for all his goodness to me?

13 

I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord.

14 

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

15 

Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his faithful servants.

16 

Truly I am your servant, Lord;

    I serve you just as my mother did;

    you have freed me from my chains.

17 

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

    and call on the name of the Lord.

18 

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

19 

in the courts of the house of the Lord—

    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

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Psalm 116:1-8, 12-15 Song (NKJV) "Deliver My Soul" (Esther Mui)

https://youtu.be/RJtwmLNxiT0

I Love the Lord Psalm 116 (feat. Leann Albrecht)

https://youtu.be/rfvS66mtGjc

For As Long For As Long As I Live (Psalm 116) Ian WHITE

https://youtu.be/pNilvz5keOY

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 Praise the Lord, all you nations;

    extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

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Psalm 117-Ian WHITE

https://youtu.be/ujdlmIs_FUI

Psalm 117 Song Jason Silver. 

 

The Second Letter of PAUL to TIMOTHY Chapter Four

Chapter Four

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come,

bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

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2 Timothy - overview by The Bible Project. https://youtu.be/urlvnxCaL00

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2 Timothy - overview by The Bible Project. https://youtu.be/urlvnxCaL00

The Second Letter of PAUL to TIMOTHY Chapter Three

 

Chapter Three

Godlessness in the Last Days

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 

7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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2 Timothy - overview by The Bible Project. https://youtu.be/urlvnxCaL00