OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS OUR KING AND PRIEST

The book of Zachariah chapter 6 verses 9 - 15 records a Messianic prophecy that the prophet Zacharia received.  Zacharia was told to take an offering from the Israelites who had been in in bondage and now had returned back to the promised land.

Immediately, Zacharia was to take the silver and gold he recieved and he was to make an elaborate (or an ornate) crown. This crown was then to be set upon the head of Joshua      ( the priest who had been given clean garments ) and while doing this, Zachariah was to say that Joshua was the Man named the 'BRANCH' and that He would build the temple of the LORD and the glory of God would be upon Him an he would be a priest but would be a king ruling from His throne.

9 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 10 “Receive the gift from the captives—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:

“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!

From His place He shall  branch out,

And He shall build the temple of the Lord;

13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.

He shall bear the glory,

And shall sit and rule on His throne;

So He shall be a priest on His throne,

And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’

14 “Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

This enactment of the placement of an ornate crown upon the head of a priest represented the coming Messiah who would be the high priest representing the people to God interceding for us and He would also be our King representing God and His will to the people.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SPIRIT IS GIVEN REST WHEN HIS SERVANTS ARE EAGER TO PATROL THE TERRITORIES

The book of Zachariah chapter 6 verses 1 - 8 records another vision that Zachariah saw as he talked to the Angel of the Lord.

1 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

Zachariah saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains with each chariot harnessed to horses of distinct colors (red, black, white, dappled). These chariots were being driven by the four spirits of heaven.

5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.” 7 Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. 8 And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.”

The configuration of the chariots was as follows

• Chariot 1     Red horses            
• Chariot 2     Black Horses        North Country
• Chariot 3     White Horses       North Country
• Chariot 4     Dappled Horses   South Country

The Angel of the Lord said to Zachariah that the chariots that had gone North (Black and White) were the ones who had given rest to His Spirit in the North country. The four chariots were eager to patrol the earth and they were granted this wish and they travelled back and forth across the territories.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO REVEALS MYSTERIES TO HIS PROPHETS

The book of Zachariah chapter 5 verses  5 - 11 continues with another vision that the prophet Zachariah saw. 

The Angel of the Lord told Zachariah to lift his eyes and look at what was appearing. Zacharia described seeing a basket (for measuring grain) and he told the Angel of the Lord what he was seeing and he asked the Angel what the basket was. The Angel of the Lord replied that the basketˋs appearance was universally found throughout the land.  (Alternately, the Angel of the Lord replied that basket contained the inquity of the land).

The basket had a round lid made of lead and when the lid was lifted, Zachariah saw a woman inside the basket who tried to get out of the basket whan the lid was lifted. The Angel of the Lord told Zacharia that the woman was ˋwickednessˋand the Angel of the Lord pressed the woman back into basket and closed the lid over her.

Zachariah then saw two women with large wings flying up to them and the women grabbed the basket and flew up with it into the atmosphere.

 Zachariah asked the Angel of the Lord where they were taking the basket and was told that the two women were taking the basket to the land of Shinar where they were going to build a house for it and once the house was completed, they would set the basket on a pedestal in the house. 

5 Then the angel who talkeed with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth.”

6 So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket that is going forth.” He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; 8 then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead over over its mouth. 9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.

10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?”

11 And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE

The book of Zachariah chapter 5 reecords the prophet Zachariahˋs  visions with verses 1 - 4 describing a vision of a huge flying scroll that was twenty cubits by ten cubits (roughly 10 meters by 5 meters). The Angel of the Lord explained to Zachariah that the scroll served as a curse against two kinds of people. People who were thieves were cursed by one side of the scroll and likewise, the other side of the scroll contained a curse against those who swore falsely by the name of God. The curses were curses of displacement and both the thief and the perjurer would be expelled from their dwelling places.

The Lord of hosts said that He would send out this scroll and it would enter the house of the thief and the house of the perjurer and it would remain in their houses and consume the wood and stone alike. 

1 Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.  2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.”

4 “I will send out the curse,” says the Lord of hosts; “It shall enter the house of the thief

And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house And consume it, with its timber and stones.”

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO ADVISES US NOT TO DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL BEGINNINGS

In the book of Zachariah chapter 4, the prophet Zachariah describes his experience of a vision and he recorded his conversation with the Angel of the Lord as he sought to understand the meaning of the vision.

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

The Angel of the Lord who had interacted with Zachariah upon his arrival in the spiritual realm stirred him from a trance and inquired as to what he saw in his vision.  Zacharia explained that he saw a lampstand with a reservoir elevated above seven oil lamps with pipes running from the reservoir to each lamp. This arrangement would allow oil in the central bowl to flow continously to the lamps to keep them perpetually burning as long they were connected to the reservoir. Zacharia also said that on either side of this lampstand, he saw two olive trees which dripped golden oil into a receptacle.

Zacharia, unable to decrypt the vision, asked the Lord for guidance on what the vision signified. Curiously, the Angel of the Lord seemed surprised that Zacharia was not able to make the connection between the items in the vision and the historic events they represented.

5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

The Angel of the Lord then explained to Zacharia what the symbolic arrangement of the lampstand with seven lamps and the two olive trees stood for.

6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see

The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord,

Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

The angel revealed to Zachariah that the lampstand with seven lamps was the word of the Lord of hosts given to Zerubbabel which told him that it was neither by might nor power that was needed to lay the foundation of the temple but rather by the Spirit of God. 

Zerubbabel, powered by the Spirit of God, would level a mountainsto become a plain upon which the temple would be built and finally completed with a capstone. This temple being built by Zerubbabel represents the spiritual temple that is constructed with each person who is saved. Each individual being built may seem like a small thing but in the end will cause God to rejoice when His eyes scan to and fro across all the land and finds those who are aligned to the plumbline of the builder.

11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” 12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?”

After the explanation of the lampstand with seven lamps, Zacharia asked what the olive trees on either side of the lampstands represented and the Angel of the Lord answered that the olive trees that were dripping golden oil into the receptacle through two gold pipes were the two annointed beings that stand on either side of the Lord of the whole earth. 

13 Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”

These two annointed beings are likely the cherubim who are depicted in Psalm 99 verse one which says;

The Lord reigns,

    let the nations tremble;

he sits enthroned between the cherubim,

    let the earth shake.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO GAVE THE SIGN OF THE CORNER STONE TO THE PRIESTS

The passage from Zacharia chapter 3 verses 6 - 10  decribes what happened after Joshua the priest was given clean garments and a clean turban. 

6 Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command,

Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts;

I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.

The  Lord of hosts addresses Joshua the priest and counsels him to walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His commands for doing so would qualify him to be a judge in Godˋs house and have responsibilities in the courts. The Lord told Joshua that he would be given roles to play among those who were already serving in heaven.

8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you,

For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.

9 For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes.

Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10 In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor

Under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”

The Lord of hosts, addressing Joshua by his title of high priest, tells him that there would a wonderous sign given to the lineage of priests who would continue to sustain the office of the priest and that would be sign of ˋthe BRANCHˋ who would come as a servant.

The prophet Zacharia writes that there was a stone that would be laid before Joshua the priest which would have seven eyes. This alludes to the chief corner stone who is the Christ who would take away the sins of the land in one day.

In the day of redemption, hearts will change and people will invite their neighbours to share in the wine and oil of the kingdom of God.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER REFINES HIS PEOPLE IN THE FIRE

Zachariah chapter 3 verses 1 - 5 records a vision that Zachariah the prophet had of the court of heaven where Joshua the high priest was standing accused by Satan for having unclean clothing. The Angel of the Lord, not rebuking Satan directly, said, ˆˋThe Lord ( who had chosen Jerusalem and who was referred to as the Lord of Hosts ) rebuke you, Satanˋ and the reason given for this rebuke was that Joshua the priest was a brand plucked from the fire. The priest had been subjected to great heat to carry the insignia of the Lord and as such, was going to have his filthy garment taken from him and be given rich new robes.

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

The prophet Zacharia added that a clean turban should be put on Joshuaˋs head and they put a turban on his head along with the new clean robes and the Angel of the Lord oversaw the exchange. 

The clean new turban may represent a renewed mind that a believer works towards in order for the patterns of thought that they had before they were born-again would stop recurring.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO

Zacharia chapter 2 verses 6 - 13 says this;

6 “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. 7 “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”

This passage carries an urgent warning to Zion to escape the land of the North where they were dwelling with the daughters of zion.  The reason they need to evacuate is that the Lord of hosts had been sent by the Glorious One against the nations who had harmed Zion and they would be brought to ruin such that even their slaves would plunder them.

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

After the nations who harmed Zion were brought down, the Lord of hosts would come to dwell among His people and many nations would be joined to the Lord in that day.

Judah will be taken by the Lord as his inherited possesion and will select Jerusalem as His dwelling place forever and as the Lord occupies Jerusalem, all of humanity will be silent before Him.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS A WALL OF FIRE AROUND HIS PEOPLE

Zachariah chapter 2 verses 1 - 5 says this:

1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?”

And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”

3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE MERCIES NEVER COMES TO AN END

Zachariah chapter 1 verses 12 - 20 says this;

12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”

13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words.

14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.

15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease;  For I was a little angry,

And they helped—but with evil intent.”

In this passage, Zacharia records a conversation between the Angel of the Lord and the Lord of hosts regarding the city of Jerusalem and reveals that the lackadaisical  attitude that Babylon had towards Jerusalem had angered the Lord of Hosts. The Lord of hosts was jealous and zealous for Jerusalem but Babylon had chosen a life of ease and punished and exploited Jerusalem beyond  the acceptable threshold.

Therefore, the Angel of the Lord instructed Zachariah to proclaim the words of the Lord Almighty that said that He would return to Jerusalem with mercy and that He would build His house there and that He would bring prosperity that would cause cities to spread throughout the land and the Lord would re-establish His favour and proximity over Jerusalem.

16 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;

My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,

“And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’

17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The Lord will again comfort Zion,

And will again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?”  So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.” 

The prophet Zachariah looked up and saw four horns that were the powers that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. As Zachariah watched, four craftsmen appeared to him. The Angel of the Lord told him that the four horns had scattered and decimated the land of Judah but the craftsmen were going to evict the horns of the attacking nations by bringing terror to them.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE WORDS OVERTAKE  THOSE WHO FLEE FROM  THEM

Zachariah chapter 1 verses 1 - 11 begins with an introduction of the prophet Zachariah as the son of Berchiah who was the son of Iddo who was a prophet. The month and year of the reigning king (Darius) provides the timeline on which Zacharia gave his prophecy to the nation.

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.

Zacharia gave the word of the Lord to the people saying that they should give up their evi ways and turn back to God and that God would turn back to them.  

Nevertheless, the people did not listen to the word of the Lord and they did not turn back.

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets,

Did they not overtake your fathers? 

“So they returned and said: ‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

The word of the Lord spoken by Zachariah  asked where the generation of their fathers was and if prophets lived forever.  This was to warn the people that all opportune times and seasons eventually pass and the generations disappear and if they reject the Lord in their day, they disappear without being saved.

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.”

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”

11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.

About 4 months after the first prophecy, a vision came to Zacharia and  he saw a man on a red horse near some myrtle trees and behind him were other horses colored red, sorrel and white. 

This scene puzzled Zachariah and he asked the angel who was talking to him to what the vision meant and the angel on the horse explained that they were the ones who had been sent into the earth to to move to and fro throughout the earth to assess its condition and the angels gave a report that the whole earth was resting quietly.

In the second half of chapter one, the Lord gives his thoughts on the earth being at ease while he was angry with them.

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER WHO GIVES LIFE TO ALL THINGS

The apostle Paul concludes his first lettet to his protege Timothy with chapter 6 verses 11 - 21. He tells Timothy to run away from hazards of loving money but to occupy himself with with the pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith , love, patience, gentleness. Timothy is famously exorted here to ˆfight the good fight of faithˆ and to grab onto the promise of eternal life to which he had been called and of which he had publically made the good confession.  Paul solemnly charges Timothy before God and before Christ Jesus to follow the commandment of fighting the good fight and to do so without reproach until the day that the Lord Jesus, the blessed and singular chief administrator, ruler and king and who will return at a time set within Godˋs own purview. Paul, with awe, writes of the Lord Jesus as the immortal and invisible God who dwells in unapproachable light and to whom are honor and everlasting power.

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

In some final points, Paul tells Timothy to tell those believers who were rich to to remain humble and not to place their trust in their wealth that is fleeting but rather to do good with their wealth so they can lay up treasures in heaven so as to be a good foundation for their eternal life to come. 

TImothy is also instructed to avoid being part of idle and profane discussions and arguments over contradictions found in false knowledge because even professing  this false knowldge has caused some to stray in their faith.

With that, Paul blesses Timothy by speaking grace over him.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE CONTENT

1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 1 - 10 says this,

1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

The apostle Paul passed some intructions to those who among the church who were slaves. He instructed them to honor their masters so that the name of God would not be associated with dishonor and rebellion. He also insructed that the slaves who had masters who were believers to honor them as well because the beneficiary of their honorable service would be believers.  

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Paul, aware that his counsel would have detractors, strongly conveyed to Timothy that those who spread a different ethic regarding how slaves were to relate to their masters, were prideful, obstreporous, envious, contentious, abusively critical, purveyors of evil intrigues, pointlessly political with no understanding of the truth and who viewed the path of righteousness as a means of materially benefitting themselves and he advised Timothy to avoid contact with such people.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Paulˋs comment to Timothy was to teach believers to cultivate contentment with what ever they had and to avoid scrambling to gain material wealth which would invite temptation that would ensnare them in destructive lusts and their attendant consequences.

Paul, recapitulating the teaching of the Lord Jesus, tells Timothy that the love of money was the root of all types of evil. This establishes the concept that the love of money is what entrenches evil conduct in a community where the pursuit of money causes people to involve themselves in all manner of unsavoury practices that lead them away from the faith and cause them to suffer painful physical and spiritual injuries.

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER WHO

In 1 Timothy  Chapter 5, the Apostle Paul turns the focus of his letter to Timothy onto the subject of whom it was appropriate to show honor.

First and foremost, Timothy, who was himself a young man at that time, was forbidden by Paul to rebuke an older man. Instead, he instructed Timothy to respectfully encourage the man towards correction as he would his own father. Similarly, older women were to be afforded the same respect and  young men and young women could be respectfully corrected as one would a brother or a sister.

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Paul then counsels Timothy to ensure that proper honor was paid to widows who were genuinely widowed. He tells Timothy that if a widow had children or grandchildren, those people should be given the first opportunity to honor their mother or grandmother with caregiving which is good and acceptable before God. 

If, however, a widow was alone and trusted God and was continually active in prayers, it was appropriate for the church to provide for her.

On the other hand, Paul declared that a widow who sought pleasure and luxury was already dead so Paul directed Timothy to teach everyone these standards so that they could be blameless because the ones who needed to provide for their widowed parent but failed to do so, were repudiating of the faith and were in worse condition than unbelievers.

3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 Timothy is given additional criteria by which a widow would qualify for church assisatance;

• Over sixty years old
• Married to one man 
• Had a reputation for good works
• Raised children
• Hospitable to strangers
• Cared for travelling saints 
• Was merciful to the downtrodden and unfortunate
• Were diligent in attending to all good initiatives

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 

 For younger widows, Paul gave instructions to exclude them from church support giving the reason that they were using their free time to pursue idleness, gossip and uttering inappropriate words and in doing so, they carelessly discarded their faith in Christ.

The advice Paul gave was that younger widows should remarry, bear children and care for their housholds so that their lives would be beyond the reproachful scorn of the enemy. Without these standards, some widows had already been diverted into the service of the kingdom of darknes

The general principle that Paul established with Timothy was that the church was not to be overly burdened by the care of widows while their own family members were available to care for them.

14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

 Paulˋs letter continues with a list of articles for Timothy to observe related to governance of the church;

• Honor and compensate those who served the church especially in teaching 
• Accusations against elders must be corroborated by two or three witness
• Publicly rebuke those sinning so that sinful conduct would be discourage
• Be fastidiously fair and impartial in enforcing the standards in the church
• Do not confer authority to people without careful observance and investigation
• Stay away from influencers trying to normalize sin but stay pure

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

After advising Timothy to drink a little wine for the stomach ailments he frequently suffered, Paul cryptically writes that some men are clearly headed for judgement because of their conspicuos sins while the sins of other men become evident later. 

Similarly, the good works of some men are conspicous and readily seen as the fruit of the Spirit while for other men, their good works, though done in secret, eventually percolate to the surface and become perceptible.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE

1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 - 15 says this;

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

The Apostle Paul alerted Timothy of a specific detail that the Holy Spirit expressed which was about the way that that parts of the body of Christ would drift away from faith in the gospel and adopt the false doctrines of demons.

The false doctrines would include dietary and marital strictures that these false doctrines would be administered by people who had contravened their own consciences so greatly that they would have been numbed to normal understanding of spiritual truth. 

For example, Paul mentions the people who had seared their concsciences would forbid certain foods as a route to acquire righteousness but this would be an obvious deception because food over which thanks had been given for by those who had believed and knew the truth, was santified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul encourages TImothy by telling him that he would be a good minister if he followed and taught such doctrine and rejected fables. Paul counsels Timothy to exercise godliness in his life similar to the way one would do physical exercise except that physical exercise gave temporal benefits while godliness provided benefits in this life and in the eternal life to come. 

The apostle mentioned that their efforts in the kingdom undertaken in hardship and resistance was done in trust in God who was the saviour of all men and particularly those who believed. This implies that there is a stratification that will occur where some people are saved to a greater placement by their faith in Christ while there are others who will be generally saved who trusted in God but by means other than by faith.

Paul tells Timothy, in spite of his youth, to be an example in behaviour, love, spirit, faith and purity and to keep up with reading, teaching and with the observance of doctrine.

Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the gift that was bestowed on him by the elders when they laid hands on him, Paul informs Timothy that meditating on those things continually and commiting wholly to them would yield noticable spiritual growth.

Pauls also writes that Timothy should be self-aware and careful about his own affairs and to be attentive to doctrinal issues because by doing this, he would save himself and those who are reached by his ministry.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH AND WAS SEEN BY ANGELS

1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 - 16;

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SERVANTS SHOULD CARRY A GOOD TESTIMONY

1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 - 13 says this;

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS ONE AND WHO APPOINTED ONE MEDIATOR (THE MAN JESUS CHRIST) BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MAN

1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1 - 15 

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS ETERNAL AND WISE

In 1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 12 - 20, the Apostle Paul recounts his former deeds as an insolent  blashemer and persecuter of the people of God and he thanks the Lord Jesus for for the mercy and abundant grace he was shown. The Lord Jesus counted Paul as faithful and entrusted  a ministry into his hands even though he was initially a violent and vociferous  sinner to  demonstrate Christ's longsuffering to believers.

 Paul emotionally declares that the eternal, immortal and invisible king and the only wise God was due honor and glory forever.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul solemnly confers the authority of the ministry upon Timothy (the one he is addressing in his letter), in keeping with the prophecies that were made about him so that he (Timothy) would be able to fight the good fight of faith and with a good conscience and against the blasphemers and those who rejected the tenets of the faith and consequently suffered shipwreck of their faith. 

Paul revealed that there were some over whom he had removed the spiritual covering of the church so that they would be exposed unshielded to the kingdom of darkness so that they would cease taking for granted the immeasurable value of their place in the family of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER IN WHOM WE ARE HOME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

WE ARE HOME IN GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES GRACE MERCY AND PEACE

1 Timothy chapter 1 is a personal letter which begins with a greeting from the Apostle Paul to his protege, Timothy, who was in the town of Ephesus. Paul starts with a formal introduction of himself and his role as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and a blessing of grace mercy and peace from God. 

He also calls Timothy a ˋtrue son of the faithˋ  who he had appointed to be an overseer of the doctrines being prescibed among the Ephesians because Paul had learned that false doctrine were infiltrating the body of believers and wanted a strong believer to steer the doctrinal beliefs of the Ephesians in the right direction which was where conduct was governed by love rather than governed by the law and its enforcement.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

The apostle instructed Timothy to help the Ephesians understand that their fellow believers were not to be subjected to the law but rather the people in the world needed the law to instruct them of their need for Christ.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CANNOT BE MOCKED

Galatians chapter 6 concludes the apostle Paulˋs letter to the Galatians. Having explained to them that they must avoid walking in the flesh and instead, walk in the spirit, Paul then explains how to deal with someone in the midst who trips up and walks in the flesh.

He prescribes that those who are in the Spirit should gently restore the one who has walked in the flesh but cautions the spirit lead people that proximity to activities of the flesh can tempt them to step down into fleshly living.

Paul then establishes a principle to be followed by those who walk in the Spirit and that is that they must be self-sufficient and self-regulating but must also keep watch over their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul also established that even as they walked in the Spirit, if they benefitted from any of their brothers or sisters, they should should freely recompense them with good things to register appreciation and acknowledgement of the value they have received. This principle is an extention of the principle of sowing and reaping where believers who sow into the lives of others would reap their appreciation and get the credit that God issues to those who sow as they play out the life of the Spirit.

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

As his letter ends, Paul comments on the oversize font he was using to write to them likely as a revelation of his failing eyesight and he recapitulates his opposition to the false doctrine that they had entertained from people who had gained accolades from their pursuit of the law (as well as avoided persecution) and thus these people were trying to induce the Galations to follow their example.

Paul intructs them not to capitulate to the false doctrine but to do as he did and boasted only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ because they were new creations in Christ.

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Paul, now weary of the struggle, requests that he not be troubled with problems having himself already absorbed a large amount of physical punishment for the gospel but he finalizes his letter by blessing the Galatians as his brothers and sisters with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SPIRIT IN US BRINGS FORTH FRUIT OF LOVE, JOY AND PEACE

In Galatians chapter 5 verses 16 - 26, the apostle Paul gives a presccription to believers walk in the Spirit as the way to bypass the lusts of the flesh. Believers have two modes; Walking in the flesh or Walking in the Spirit.  

To walk in the flesh is our default mode and even when we are born-again, we can persist in the life of the flesh where our identity remains centered around our fallen nature. This mode yields adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery. hatred, contentions, jealousies, wrath, selfish desires, ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkeness, revelries and other forms of short-sighted and selfish behaviour.

Believers, however, can practice living in the spirit where the center of their identity is their born-again spirit and in that mode, they walk according to the promptings and guidance of the Spirit of God. 

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are  evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Paul, having urged the believers in Galatia to center their identities on their new spirit, gives a warning about living in the Spirit because life in the Spirit can cause us to become conceited as we find ourselves becoming more bouyant in life due to the blessings of walking in the Spirit and Paul encourages us not to compare ourselves with one another in our spiritual growh which can lead us to showboating in order to prompt each other to envy us and we ourselves can be led into envying others.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER IN WHOM THERE IS LIBERTY

Galatians chapter 5 verses 1 - 15 carries the apostle Paulˋs urging to the believers in Galatia not to fall for the trap of trying to add to their salvation by following the strictures of the law for he said that following any part of the law in order to obtain righteousness would obligate them to follow the whole of the law and would thus be in a state where they have fallen from grace. 

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Paul asks the Galatians who in particular brought them them false doctrine for he certainly did not bring to them anything like what they were cultivating in their midst.

Paul prescribes for them a way to think about the new culture of love that they had been initiated into through faith in christ that had set the baseline of conduct around the principle of loving their neighbours as themselves. 

In the absence of this loving culture, the apostle warns the Galatians that they would end up turning on  one another and they would bite and devour one another until they were ultimately consumed. 

Amen.

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