peace to live by

Satan's Working Against the Church (TMF:2630)

Friday, June 06, 2025
Peace to Live By: Satan's Working Against the Church (TMF:2630) - Daniel Litton
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       But it also comes from warning. That also was part of Paul’s job, and with the great threat that was present, it is necessary. That’s also part of the minister’s job, whether he likes it or not. Satan has power, and he seeks to use that power against the church. And he seeks to use that power to prevent people from even believing in the message of the cross, from believing in Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead, in his payment for people’s sins. That’s Satan’s greatest victory, right, when he can do that? Unfortunately so. But really, at the end of the day, for the hearer—for the one who actually gets to hear the message, it is his or her choice. It’s one’s choice whether to believe in the Gospel message or not, whether to join in the church in having that firmness of faith in Christ.” Anyone can have it. Anyone can decide to build their house on the rock instead of the sand. That’s the beautiful thing. It’s never too late. One can start right now.

Good Order in the Church, Part 2 (TMF:2629)

Thursday, June 05, 2025
Peace to Live By: Good Order in the Church, Part 2 (TMF:2629) - Daniel Litton
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       Good order among the members. That that which is being taught is actually being followed. That lives are being helped. That they are being improved. That there is a closer relationship with God among each of the members. This is what the minister wants. This is certainly what Paul, Timothy, and Epaphras wanted. And there is also that “firmness of faith” which Paul mentioned. A firmness of faith among the body of believers. Faith comes in proclaiming what is good. There’s no doubt about that; we understand that. That’s what Paul spent the majority of his time doing. But it also comes from warning, like was discussed in chapter 1, and from dispelling that which isn’t true, like was talked about today. That also was part of Paul’s job, and with the great threat that was present, and still is present, it is necessary. That’s also part of the minister’s job, whether he likes it or not. Satan has power, and he seeks to use that power against the church.

Good Order in the Church, Part 1 (TMF:2628)

Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Peace to Live By: Good Order in the Church, Part 1 (TMF:2628) - Daniel Litton
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       Good order is necessary for success; that seems so obvious. Yet, people often go against order and still try to be successful. It seems so unreasonable to try that and yet people do it. They do it all the time. Yet, what Epaphras has laid out for his group of believers (remember Epaphras was the founder of the church), what he has laid out, which could have come from Paul’s ministry, for we aren’t really sure, but wherever he originally got his information, his church order information, the church seems to be headed down a good path. And Paul desires to see this. It’s what every minister of a church desire to see—good order among the members. That that which is being taught is actually being followed. That lives are being helped. That they are being improved. That there is a closer relationship with God among each of the members. This is what the minister wants. This is certainly what Paul, Timothy, and Epaphras wanted.

Paul's Prayers for the Church (TMF2627)

Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Prayers for the Church (TMF2627) - Daniel Litton
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       It certainly is true that the commonness shared, that of being serious about the Christian life had caused a mutual connection that was from the heart. That's what it looks like Paul is referring to among the church. And though he had never met this group of believers, the Colossians, he loved from afar, a love that was based on that shared commonness. And as he discussed in chapter 1, he prayed for the them. What better way could there be to connect to someone, or a group of people “in spirit,” right? Especially when we believe that our prayers are having a direct impact, actually making a difference which will materialize in the physical realm. Undoubtedly, what Paul wanted to see with his eyes when he got out of prison was the tangible results of his prayers. Again, he says, “rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” This good order and firmness of faith would definitely be helped along by these prayers.

Paul's Hope for the Church (TMF:2626)

Monday, June 02, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Hope for the Church (TMF:2626) - Daniel Litton
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       The presence of negative thinking comes for a spirit that lacks hope—one of which doesn’t see much good happening in the future. And yet, Paul in his unfortunate circumstances, even those which were directly caused by Satan himself, still retained hope. And even though he couldn’t be with the Colossians on the physical level, yet he had them in his heart and on his mind. We are familiar with this. We are aware of what it is like to be away from a person, the family, or a group of individuals, like a church, and still wish to be with them. In fact, this was the experience when departing from the church that was afore to mentioned, the Amish-Mennonite church. After getting to know the church members more and more, and various individuals on a more personal level, it was difficult. Lots of quality time had been spent eating at their homes, spending one on one time with friends, and the like. It certainly is true that the commonness shared, that of being serious about the Christian life had caused a mutual connection that was from the heart.

Paul's Love for the Church, Parts 2 (TMF:2625)

Friday, May 30, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Love for the Church, Parts 2 (TMF:2625) - Daniel Litton
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       In the case of the Thessalonians believers, Paul says that it was actually Satan who hindered him from coming to visit with them. That should sound familiar, for it also describes Paul’s condition in writing this letter to the Colossae believers. And, as an aside, note that Satan actually hinders something God wants accomplished. Certainly God wanted Paul to visit with the Thessalonians and the Colossians, but Satan hindered it. In the same way, it can be observed then that Satan could hinder us in this or that. Whether or not Paul really thought he would get out of prison, he seemed to have the hope. Consider in the verse he said, “rejoicing to see your good order and firmness of your faith in Christ.” So he hadn’t given up hope, It safe to say that Paul was a big hoper. He had lot of hope. Recall, he was the one who talked about faith, hope, and love with the Corinthian believers. And hope is a good attitude to have in general, right? It wards off depressive thoughts, right?

Paul's Love for the Church, Parts 1 (TMF:2624)

Thursday, May 29, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Love for the Church, Parts 1 (TMF:2624) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul basically appeals to love in the next verse, when he says, “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” (ESV). Notice the importance of Paul being present with them. And while he couldn’t be in his physical body, for he was locked up in Rome recall, yet he could be with them in spirit. This was true love, love on the Apostle’s part for the church. A good cross reference passage to this is found in 1 Thessalonians 2. Let’s read it, starting in verse 17. It says, “Since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us” (ESV). Note the phrases, “in heart,” “more eagerly,” “and with great desire.” One can see the Apostle’s love for the Thessalonians, and it was no different here for the Colossians.

Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 3 (TMF:2623)

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Peace to Live By: Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 3 (TMF:2623) - Daniel Litton
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       Whether we are considering Freemasonry, or Evolution, the basis for the real foundation of the truth is found in Christ. Found in Christ. That’s the solid ground one can stand on. That’s what dispels the plausible arguments. And if we back up to what Paul said referring to believers, “being knit together in love,” we understand that we are in the right place. Have you ever noticed that that’s what a lot of secret knowledge seems to lack? Just consider. With Freemasonry, women aren’t even included. Half of the equation is gone. There can’t be true fellowship in the group without the inclusion of women. Or Evolution, where is the love in that? It’s a scientific theory, and has nothing to do with love. And yet, it’s supposed to explain why we are the way we are, and yet, has no real way of describing the most essential attribute of the human, and that is love. The evolutionist would probably just say that love is attachment, or simply an emotion. But a lot of people would agree that love is much more than that.

Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 2 (TMF:2622)

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Peace to Live By: Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 2 (TMF:2622) - Daniel Litton
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       What does plausible mean? It means that it is something that sounds like it could be true. The varying aspects seem to line up. In the case with evolution, scientists are so convinced. This is made people in the general population very convinced. The diagrams that show the human evolution of the human. That from the animal, like the amphibian, to the cave man, to what we have nowadays in our physical expression. It all looks reasonable; it seems right. And yet, with a little understanding from our Lord, with just the basic understanding that Jesus, when he was here on the earth, believed in the creation account that involved Adam, we can understand something different. Just that little bit of information dispels the whole thing. All that evolutionary work—all down the drain. It sounds like it could be right, and yet the vast majority of it isn’t right. How this makes Pauls verse come alive, that in Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 1 (TMF:2621)

Monday, May 26, 2025
Peace to Live By: Delusion by Plausible Arguments, Part 1 (TMF:2621) - Daniel Litton
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       “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments” (Colossians 2:5, ESV). As just discussed, it has to be plausible. Let’s take another example, perhaps a more familiar and popular one in our time. Evolution. The theory of Evolution which has seemingly been made a fact. People seem so convinced that evolution is how creatures have really come to be as they are today. In order for this theory to take precedence, it has to seem “plausible” as Paul said. What does plausible mean? It means that it is something that sounds like it could be true. The varying aspects seem to line up. In the case with evolution, scientists are so convinced. This is made people in the general population very convinced. The diagrams that show the human evolution of the human. That from the animal, like the amphibian, to the cave man, to what we have nowadays in our physical expression. It all looks reasonable; it seems right.