James 3:1-12 hits the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to the hellish usage of the human tongue. As painful as it is to face, James is teaching us here that our words provide a barometer of our spiritual condition, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
In James 1:26, we were told that any individual who claims to be religious but has no control over his words is deceived and their professed faith is vain. Worthless. Of no value. Contrary to the worldly saying that words can never hurt me, in James 3:6, the uncontrolled human tongue is described as “a fire,” and as “a world of evil”.
In verse 8, we learn that the tongue is “a restless evil,” and is “full of deadly poison.” The fact that we can poison others with our words is staggering. The fact that the tongue is a restless evil is staggering. The very source, or igniting influence of the untamed tongue is hell itself.
James 3 can be called “Tongues from hell.” The fact that we can use our tongues to advance the kingdom of darkness is staggering. What brother James is telling us here is that the uncontrolled and hellish use of the tongue is counter to how God designed it to be used by those who are new creatures in Christ (James 1:18).
Talkative in Pilgrim’s Progress is described as “a saint abroad, and a devil at home”. Some people are worshipper of God in the sanctuary, but a gossiper or slanderer of image bearers of God like a devil on Monday. That’s the glaring inconsistency that James is talking about. There is good news for those of us with tongue problems. I may not be able to bridle my tongue, but God’s Spirit can and will, when I yield my mouth unto Him.
Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. David declared in Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psa 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Saints, we can and do choose the words that come out of our mouth. Acts 2 speaks of tongues set on fire from heaven above. James 3 speaks of tongues set on fire by hell. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. SELAH
Matthew 12:36-37 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
In this passage of James we learn that a genuine believer in Jesus Christ will be a person who brings forth the fruit of good works. Yes, we are saved by grace, through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, but we also read in Ephesians 2:10 that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." God has ordained good works for every believer to walk in.
Titus 2:14 tells us that all saints are to be zealous of good works. Hebrews 10:24 says that we are called to provoke one another unto love and good works.
Brother James is showing what grace does. True faith in Christ always leaves a trail of love, mercy, and obedience behind it. When God changes the heart, the hands follow. When the Spirit indwells, the fruit of that Spirit begins to grow—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (Gal. 5:22–23).
James uses two vivid examples. Abraham’s faith was tested when God asked him to offer Isaac. Abraham’s obedience didn’t make him righteous—it proved that his trust in God was real. “Faith was made perfect” when it moved from belief to costly obedience (James 2:22). Rahab, the prostitute, showed her faith by risking her life to protect God’s messengers. Her belief wasn’t a statement; it was a surrender. Both Abraham and Rahab remind us that true faith acts, even when it costs something.
The same Spirit who stirred them lives in us. That means faith is more than reciting creeds or nodding in agreement to sermons. It’s feeding the hungry neighbor (James 2:15–16), forgiving the one who wronged us, praying for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44), and offering our time and gifts for the sake of others. Love becomes the proof that we have been born of God (1 John 4:7).
James also warns that belief alone—even correct belief—is not enough. “You believe that there is one God; you do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19). The demons have theology; what they lack is surrender. Saving faith isn’t intellectual agreement—it’s relational trust. It says, “Lord, my life is Yours.”
There’s a beautiful honesty in how James speaks. He isn’t calling us to perfection but to reality. Real faith confesses sin, repents, and keeps moving toward Christ. It loves not just in word, but “in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). It doesn’t need applause because it serves for God’s glory, not man’s. As Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
The Christian life, then, is not about earning favor but living out the favor already given. Christ’s death purchased our forgiveness; His resurrection empowers our obedience. When we abide in Him, the life of Christ flows through us—quietly, persistently, fruitfully.
So let’s ask ourselves today: Is my faith alive? Does it breathe love into others? Faith that is alive doesn’t merely talk about Jesus—it walks with Him. And that kind of faith, radiant with grace and rich in mercy, will never be dead. It will shine until we see the One who first believed in us.
Brother James writes in chapter 2 verse 8, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well." The word royal means something that belongs to a king. For those who have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord, this royal law is something that not only belongs to a king, it is something that that should belong to every one of His children.
Paul in writing to the church at Rome said in Romans 13.8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law." This law of love is the law of the kingdom of God. Paul writes to the church in Galatia that faith worketh by love (Gal 5.6). 1 Thessalonians 4.9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. This royal law is what blesses the heart of The Father.
Consider this beloved: who or what you love is going to determine how you live. Who or what you love is going to impact how you relate and interact with others, both inside and outside of the body of Christ. Who or what you love is going to impact how you steward your God given gifts and finances. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5.14 that the love of Christ constrained him to live he way that he lived. This royal law of love towards one another is the overflow of the love that Jesus Christ has for us.
In this “rubber meets the road” letter that we are studying, let us keep in mind that The Father is saying to each one of us is that the very key of what makes us a Christ centered, Spirit driven, disciple making, soul winning church is this royal law of loving one another as He loves us. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13.34,35. SELAH
James writes this truth about God that every follower of Jesus should read every day. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Beloved, read that verse again prayerfully and slowly. Our Heavenly Father is The One Who blesses us with everything that is good and perfect. Brother James told us in verse 16 to not be deceived about that, because it is very easy to slip into the depths of despondency and despair whenever we get our eyes off of God and onto other things.
Beloved, do not allow social media, news agencies, current events or negative, fault finding people dictate to you what the true character of God is like. David, the man after God’s own heart was a man that suffered many trials and hardships in life, some being the result of his own doing, but through it all he wrote in Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Maybe you are struggling today with health or relational issues. Perhaps your finances have taken a turn for the worse. Satan capitalizes on fear and will not waste any “opportunity” that we give him to speak ill of God. Do not listen to his lies. He is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10.10). He is the one who depresses and oppresses people (Acts 10.38). Trust in God and know that He is good.
Yes, our circumstances may be difficult and indeed be gloomy, but it is when we are feeling low that we need to look up to heaven and look to The One from where our help comes from (Psalm 121). Psalm 118.1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. The very heaven are opened when the people of God lift up their hearts and voices to Him with praises (Psalm 22.3) and thanksgiving (Luke 17.15-19).
If you are a child of God, all of your sins have been forgiven! Your eternal soul is destined to be your Lord Jesus forever. That alone is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. All that awaits us in glory stems from the loving heart of our Father Who sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and deliver us from this present evil world according to His will (Gal 1.4). May the love of God for you give you cause to worship The One Who declares in Mal 3.6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Heb 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Just like the physical world is governed by laws of nature, the spiritual world is also governed by laws of the spirit. In our study today, James tells us that the law of sin and death begins with the bait of temptation.
Before we engage in this study of temptation, James reminds us of this very important point in verse 13, Let no man say when he is tempted (to commit sin), I am tempted of God (to commit sin): for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
Believe it or not, there are 3 things that God cannot do. (1) God cannot lie (2) God cannot be tempted with evil (3) God cannot fail to keep His promises. And one of those precious promises is given to us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. "
Sin would be helpless if there was nothing in man to which it could appeal. This means that Adam was created innocent, not perfect. You and I are not born innocent. Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." All mankind after Adam is born with a flesh nature that is prone to evil desires, whether you are a Christian or not.
Beloved, listen carefully…temptation in itself is not sin. We do not sin until we conceive the bait into our minds and carry the temptation out. If you follow the context of Hebrews 4:14–16, God’s way out of temptation is found in fleeing to our great high priest, The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who will give us grace to help in time of need. Praise God for that!
When, not if, we are being tempted, we need to remember that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. We also need to remember that 1 Cor 10:13 tells us that there is a way out. Thus, whenever you are being tempted today (to lie, to gossip, to lust, to brag), agree with God’s Word and look for God’s exit sign!
James is writing to believers like you and me about the reality of the source and root cause of all temptation and sin. This evil desire that resides in each and every one of us here today is something that will either be nourished or resisted. In Romans 6, God tells us that our bodily members are to be reckoned dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. The Spirit of God is telling us this evening that when we understand the source of temptation and the enemy’s objective in baiting us with it, we can walk in victory as we yield ourselves to God and resist the temptation.
May we hear what God says to us today, and may we see how we can walk in victory, not sinless perfection, by grace, through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. SELAH
Today we begin a study in the epistle of James. James and Jude were half brothers of The Lord Jesus Christ. All three had the same mother, but the Father of Jesus was God. James did not come to saving faith in Jesus until after Jesus rose again from the dead. We know that Jesus appeared personally to James after He rose from the dead.
James reveals the practical aspect of the saving grace of God. It has been called by some the New Testament equivalent to the book of Proverbs from the Old Testament. There are early church records that tell us that James was called “Old Camel Knees” because of the amount of time that he spent on his knees praying. I wonder if James learned that from observing his half brother Jesus, who Himself was a man of prayer.
As we journey through this epistle, James is going to teach us about trials and temptations that every child of God will experience. He is going to teach about the beautiful equality that we have in Jesus Christ. It’s an equality that does not depend upon race or riches, an equality that is based upon our oneness with God through the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
James will teach us about the good and bad that can stem from the human tongue. He will teach us the difference between human and heavenly wisdom. He will exhort us to live our lives with patience as we anticipate Jesus’ soon return. He will exhort us to pray rightly according to God’s will, and not after the flesh, or amiss. I cannot help but think of what was going through James’ mind when The Holy Ghost was inspiring him to write this book, and how he must have reflected back of the time when he and Jesus were little boys in Nazareth.
James identifies himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ, which is simply beautiful! So from one bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ to another, let us grow together in our faith in Jesus and in our church community as we determine to be doers, and not just hearers of The Word. SELAH
What would you do if you knew Jesus would return later this week? Would you go to work tomorrow? Would you start calling people? Would you change your life? Would you pray all day? Would you isolate yourself? If you knew that Jesus was coming this week, why aren't you living as urgently as that?
The Word of God will never leave people neutral. Some will receive it with joy, others will resist it, and still others will oppose it. That opposition is not about you—it is about Christ shining His light through you. Never let the devil and fear set the agenda for your life. The Lord is faithful; He will establish you and keep you from evil.
Much of Paul’s instruction in this chapter centers on work. Some believers in Thessalonica had stopped working because they thought the Lord’s return meant their earthly responsibilities no longer mattered. But from the beginning—back in Genesis—work has been part of God’s good design. Adam and Eve were given meaningful labor before sin ever entered the world. Work is not a curse; it is a calling.
How many of you realize that the people you work with at your present vocation are your prayer list and your mission field? The coworkers, employees, or customers you see each day are people God has entrusted to your influence. Studies show that most people who come to Christ do so outside the walls of a church. That means your daily faithfulness may be the very witness God uses to draw someone to Himself.
So how do we live this out? Be diligent—work hard, be punctual, give thanks. Reflect Christlike character—let integrity mark your words and actions. Meet people where they are—take a genuine interest in their lives. Be a good listener—show them you care. And when the opportunity comes, share the gospel simply and compassionately.
Today, when you walk into your workplace, imagine a sign over the door: “You are entering your mission field.” May that perspective shape the way you live, labor, and love—until the day Christ returns.
Isaiah 7 brings us into one of the most remarkable moments in Scripture—the birth of the promise that a virgin would bear a Son and call His name Immanuel, which means God with us (Isa. 7:14). But before this prophecy of hope, the scene opens with fear. King Ahaz of Judah faces a powerful alliance—Syria and Israel have joined forces against him. The nation trembles like trees shaken by the wind (Isa. 7:2). Instead of faith, fear grips the people of God.
It is here that the Lord sends Isaiah to meet Ahaz with words of comfort: “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not” (v. 4). God’s message to a frightened king is the same one He gives to our anxious hearts today—be still and trust that I am in control (Ps. 46:10). The Lord reminds Ahaz that the plans of his enemies will not stand, for He Himself has decreed it. Yet, He adds a searching warning: “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established” (v. 9). Faith, not strategy, is what secures the people of God.
Ahaz, sadly, refuses to trust. Though the Lord invites him to ask for a sign—any sign—he hides his unbelief behind religious-sounding words: “I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord” (v. 12). How easy it is to sound pious while our hearts cling to self-reliance. Ahaz had already decided to seek help from Assyria instead of God. When we choose our own solutions instead of waiting on the Lord, we trade His peace for our anxiety.
Still, God gives a sign—not because Ahaz deserves it, but because His mercy will not be silenced. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (v. 14). This prophecy would first have a near fulfillment in Isaiah’s time, reminding Judah that God was still with them. But its ultimate fulfillment came centuries later, when the angel told Joseph that Mary’s child was that promised Son: “They shall call His name Immanuel… God with us” (Matt. 1:23).
In that single name lies the heart of the gospel. The holy God who could have abandoned a rebellious people instead drew near in love. Through Jesus, He entered our weakness, walked among our fears, and bore our sin on the cross. The sign given to Ahaz—the virgin birth—is more than a miracle; it is the declaration that God Himself would come to save us when we could not save ourselves.
Isaiah’s message still speaks: when fear rises and enemies seem close, our security is not in alliances, wealth, or control—it is in the presence of Immanuel. The Lord says to us, as He said to Ahaz, “Be quiet, do not fear.” His perfect love still casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Faith steadies the heart that leans on Him.
Whatever storm surrounds you, remember this: God is not distant. He is with you, in the struggle, in the waiting, in the unknown. The same Lord who promised Immanuel has fulfilled that promise in Christ—and He has not changed. Trust Him, and you will find that His presence is more than enough.
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
Today we will be looking at some fascinating end times prophecies and how we are called to live out the reality of those prophecies practically. Gospel centered living is the goal of all last days or end times teaching, regardless of what one’s particular position is on the timing of the Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Let me be very clear that the timing of the Rapture is not a matter of one’s salvation. However, while the goal of all end times teaching should be on gospel centered living and biblical stewardship of the gifts and talents that God has entrusted unto us, that does not mean that specific last days details of events as taught by Jesus in Matthew 24 and laid out before us this morning by the apostle Paul are unimportant or insignificant.
My devotional today will be directed towards how belief in those prophetic realities are meant to be lived out practically. Paul, under the inspiration The Holy Spirit writes, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." ( 2 Thess 2:16,17).
The practical application of this chapter on prophecy is found in Paul’s prayer for them. And what did he pray for them? That their hearts would be comforted, and that they would be established or fixed in every good word and work. God’s love and grace for us through faith in Jesus Christ is the basis of our comfort and hope.
Note once again that our comfort is an everlasting one, and our hope in Christ is good and is through the grace of God. As we throughout Scripture, every aspect of our salvation comes from the grace of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Himself the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Our loving heavenly Father, in His grace, gives us through Christ what we do not deserve; likewise, God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve! This grace and mercy of God is meant to encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good action and word. Do you see what God is telling us?
The “correct interpretation” of end time prophetic teaching will be gospel centered, fruit bearing living for the glory of God. If our walk contradicts what the Scriptures teach about how we are called to live lives of holiness and purity in light of Christ imminent return, then it simply means that we have not understood the point to begin with!
One way that we contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints is by putting it into practice. We are called to be both defenders and demonstrators of the faith. One commentator put it this way: Lazarus did not have to give lectures on the reality of the resurrection, his life proved that to be true.
May both our words and our works be gospel centered manifestations of the reality of The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and fellowship. SELAH
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…” (Isa. 6:1). Isaiah walked into the temple grieving the fall of a long–reigning king and discovered the greater reality: the Lord still seated, high and lifted up. Beloved, when thrones on earth wobble, heaven’s throne does not (Ps. 11:4). The seraphim’s cry—“Holy, holy, holy”—reminds us that God’s holiness is not merely moral purity; it is His blazing otherness, His absolute supremacy over all (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Start here: look up. Let worship steady your heart when the news won’t (Rom. 8:28).
Then, like Isaiah, look in. A fresh vision of the Holy One humbles the soul: “Woe is me… I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). Scripture says our words reveal our hearts (Matt. 12:34), and James warns that the tongue can scorch like fire (Jas. 3:6). Bring your lips, your feed, your posts to the altar of God. Pray David’s prayer before you speak: “Let the words of my mouth… be acceptable in Your sight” (Ps. 19:14). This is poverty of spirit—the doorway to the kingdom (Matt. 5:3). The proud compare themselves with others; the contrite compare themselves with God and bow low.
Now look to the altar. A burning coal touches Isaiah’s lips, and God declares what every weary sinner longs to hear: “Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged” (Isa. 6:7). Cleansing is God’s work, not ours. It flows from Christ’s sacrifice, foreshadowed by the altar and fulfilled at the cross (Isa. 53:5). Confess, and trust His promise: “He is faithful and just to forgive… and to cleanse” (1 Jn. 1:9). Let grace move from doctrine to delight—receive it afresh today.
Finally, look out. Cleansed lips become commissioned lips: “Whom shall I send…? Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8). The order matters—worship, cleansing, then witness. God sends imperfect people to proclaim a perfect Savior. Some will hear and not understand (Isa. 6:9–10; Matt. 13:14–15). Don’t measure faithfulness by visible results. Sow, water, weep, and keep going; God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6–7). Even in hard seasons, the Lord keeps a remnant and a holy seed (Isa. 6:13). Your quiet “yes” today may be part of that hidden long work of God.
How, then, shall we walk? Begin each morning with the “up-look”—read a few verses and adore the King (Ps. 5:3). Practice the “in-look”—ask the Spirit to search your words before they leave your lips (Ps. 139:23–24; Jas. 1:19). Embrace the “altar-look”—return to Christ’s cleansing whenever sin stings your conscience (Heb. 9:14). And live the “out-look”—offer your ordinary places to Jesus: your table, your text threads, your Tuesday commute. Pray simply, “Lord, here I am. Send me to the next person in front of me.”
Take heart, dear ones. Earthly kings rise and fall, but Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Fix your eyes on Him, receive His grace, and step into the day with cleansed lips and willing feet. “The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3)—and He delights to shine that glory through you.
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
The Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians begins with a vision “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” He calls us to worship, endurance, and a life aimed toward the glorious return of Jesus.
When we become preoccupied with the dates, symbols, and signs of Jesus’ return, we risk missing the main thing, the righteous judgment of God. In a world easily distracted by symbolic puzzles of the end times—markings, beasts, lawless figures—Paul reorients the church toward the heart of our hope: the character and justice of Christ Himself.
Paul anchors the Thessalonians with seven indispensable truths about the judgment at Christ’s return. These are not optional details to debate, but pillars of Christian belief:
It is Momentary
Judgment will occur in an instant. As in Matthew 16 and 1 Corinthians 15, the trumpet will sound, and justice will fall like lightning. This is not a gradual evolution of human morality, but a sudden divine intervention. We do not work toward justice; we wait for it.
It is Imminent
Christ is already enthroned, surrounded by angels, ready to come. As Deuteronomy and Jonathan Edwards remind us, every human walks a slippery path, liable to fall at any moment. Death or the return of Christ is always near. This reality should stir urgency, not complacency.
It is Just
God’s judgment is righteous. He will repay affliction to those who afflict and grant relief to the afflicted. The criteria? Knowing God and obeying the gospel—not works, not lineage, but trust in the crucified and risen Lord. As Paul says, the standard is not moral performance but belief.
It is Comprehensive
Every deed and every motive will be exposed (Ecclesiastes 12, 1 Corinthians 4). Nothing is hidden. This calls for radical honesty—with God and with one another. The Psalms model a kind of brutal spiritual honesty that few of us know. But to be known by God, we must let ourselves be truly seen.
It is Eternal
The results of this judgment are not reversible. Hell is not annihilation, but conscious eternal separation from God (Luke 16). Heaven is not a temporary reward, but a forever joy. No purgatory, no do-overs. Our life’s trajectory—toward or away from Christ—is sealed at judgment.
It is Extreme
The division between the saved and unsaved is not subtle. There is no mixture of heaven and hell. The contrast is stark—life or death, blessing or curse (Deuteronomy 30). This intensifies the need for decision: there is no middle ground.
It is Marvelous
Those who have believed will marvel when Christ returns. Why? Because we will see, with perfect clarity, the beauty and justice of God’s plan. What now seems delayed or confusing will become astonishingly righteous and glorious in hindsight.
After laying out these truths, Paul turns to a very practical application. He prays that God would “make you worthy of His calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power” (2 Thess 1:11). In other words, he’s saying: here’s how you live now, in light of then.
What does that look like?
It means becoming the kind of person who instinctively wants what God wants. Paul says Jesus will be “glorified in you and you in Him.” Often, we emphasize the second part—we will be glorified. But Paul’s order is intentional. The real miracle is that Christ is glorified in us. We become vessels of His praise, examples of His mercy, images of His love.
For those who believe—who wait, worship, and work for His glory—it is not a day to dread, but a day to behold.
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Oh, how important it is for every child of God to have a biblical understanding of the attributes or character of our God. In our final study of first Thessalonians, we find that He is the God of peace, grace, and that He is faithful. Volumes could be written of any of these attributes and still fall short of coming close to describing how glorious and wonderful He is. But one attribute that I want to share with you this morning is the faithfulness of God.
Beloved, our God is faithful. The Greek word used for faithful means that our God is reliable, sure, and trustworthy. Paul encourages these saints in Thessalonica with the words, Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (vs. 24). That is a word of knowledge for of you who are reading this devotional this morning. Read it again. Read it prayerfully. Read it as if The Lord Jesus Himself is speaking to you, because He is! Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that God will be faithful to finish what He began in you.
Paul essentially said the same thing to the church at Philippi when he wrote, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). Remember beloved that The Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. The God who calls us to saving faith by the preaching of the gospel is also The God Who brings those whom He calls to glory and none will be lost. That is what is known as eternal security.
Listen to Jesus Himself talk about this blessed assurance that we have in Him. John 6:37-44 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded that our God is faithful...listen: 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. He is faithful to provide a way of escape whenever we are tempted. 2 Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. He is faithful to establish us in the faith and keep us from the evil one. Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Jesus Himself is our Faithful High Priest Who has provided reconciliation for our sins. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our God is faithful and just to forgive us when we sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Last but not least, when The Lord Jesus returns at His Second Coming, John tells us that Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.
Oh doubting and troubled saint, our Faithful God is unchanging. Doubt your doubts. Doubt your feelings. Look afresh to Jesus right now and never forget that He is faithful and true. SELAH
The return of Jesus Christ is certain, but its timing is unknown. Scripture makes clear that “the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). For unbelievers, it will come suddenly and unexpectedly, bringing destruction when they are saying, “Peace and safety!” (v.3). But for those who belong to Christ, this day should not come as a surprise. Believers are “not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (v.4).
The people of God are described as “children of light and children of the day” (v.5). This identity calls for a lifestyle consistent with the light—awake, alert, and sober. Just as natural day and night create different behaviors, so also those who belong to Christ must not live like those in spiritual darkness. The world sleeps and dulls itself with intoxication, but believers are called to stay awake, clothed with faith, love, and the hope of salvation (v.6–8).
Paul describes the Christian’s defense against spiritual lethargy in terms of armor: “putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (v.8). Faith anchors us in God’s promises, love guides us in our relationships, and hope protects our minds with the assurance of Christ’s ultimate victory. These are not optional virtues, but essential armor for those awaiting the Lord’s return.
The heart of this passage is the reassurance of God’s purpose: “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.9). Believers can face the future with confidence, not fear. Christ died so that, whether we are alive or asleep (living or dead), “we should live together with Him” (v.10). Our destiny is not judgment but eternal fellowship with Christ.
Because of this hope, believers are called to mutual encouragement: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (v.11). The reality of Christ’s return is not meant to stir fear but to inspire encouragement, holy living, and perseverance. The church must continually remind one another of the hope of salvation and the security we have in Christ.
The call of this text is clear: live with readiness. Stay awake, be sober, put on the armor of faith, love, and hope, and encourage one another in light of Christ’s coming. While the timing of the day of the Lord is unknown, the outcome is certain: those in Christ will be saved and live with Him forever.
Isaiah 3 paints a sobering picture of a nation under judgment—but also of a God who still longs to restore. The Lord tells Judah that He will “take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff… the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water” (Isa. 3:1). In other words, God will remove everything they’ve been leaning on—food, water, wise leaders, and skilled workers—because His people have leaned on those things instead of Him.
Sometimes, in His mercy, God removes the props in our lives. When the things we trust more than Him are shaken or stripped away, it’s not because He delights in our loss—it’s because He desires our hearts. He knows that false supports keep us from standing on the Rock that cannot move (Ps. 18:2).
The chapter describes a society that’s unraveled. Children rule over the people; the young mock the old; everyone is oppressed and confused (Isa. 3:4–5). When God is no longer honored, disorder follows. We see echoes of this in our world today—authority mocked, morality reversed, confusion spreading. The same spiritual law still applies: when people forsake the fear of the Lord, they lose wisdom and peace (Prov. 9:10).
Isaiah doesn’t stop with social collapse; he shows how it begins in the heart. The people’s “tongue and their doings are against the Lord” (Isa. 3:8). Their speech and behavior grieve Him. They parade sin openly, “declaring their sin like Sodom” (v. 9). It’s not that they’ve stumbled in weakness—they’ve grown proud in rebellion. Yet even here, God’s justice is mingled with mercy: “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with him” (v. 10). When judgment falls, the righteous need not fear. God sees, protects, and rewards those who walk with Him.
The prophet also confronts the leaders of the people for devouring God’s vineyard—taking advantage of the poor while claiming to represent Him (vv. 14–15). It reminds us how much the Lord cares for justice and humility. He never overlooks oppression. Whenever power is used to exploit rather than to serve, He promises to bring it low.
Isaiah then turns to the proud daughters of Zion, whose outward beauty masks spiritual decay (vv. 16–24). Their jewelry and fine clothes will be stripped away; their vanity will become shame. God isn’t condemning adornment—He’s exposing pride. Peter would later echo this: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… but from the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:3–4). The Lord treasures the kind of beauty that doesn’t fade with time—the radiance of holiness and love.
By the end of the chapter, the proud have fallen, the idols are gone, and only the Lord remains exalted. This is what God’s refining work always aims for—to bring us to the place where He alone is our strength and glory.
When we see instability in the world, or when personal trials strip away what we’ve depended on, Isaiah 3 invites us to look up, not around. The Lord is still on His throne. His purpose in every shaking is to call His people back to Himself.
May we be among the remnant who humble ourselves before Him, who walk in quiet faith and courage, and who find in Christ our true security. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer… in Him will I trust” (Ps. 18:2).
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.
And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4).
We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it’s subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.
The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier’s mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God’s word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.
Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).
Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH
Isaiah 2 gives us a breathtaking vision of the future—a time when “the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established… and all nations shall flow to it” (Isa. 2:2). It’s a picture of peace, when people will say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths” (v. 3). What a glorious promise! One day, Jesus Himself will reign from Jerusalem, and His truth will fill the earth like sunlight after a long night.
But Isaiah doesn’t give this vision only to lift our eyes to heaven—he gives it to change how we live on earth. After describing the beauty of that coming kingdom, the prophet turns and pleads, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (v. 5). The light of that future kingdom is meant to guide our steps today. We are not called to sit passively waiting for Christ’s return; we are called to walk now as citizens of His kingdom.
Isaiah’s audience, like us, needed that reminder. Though they knew God’s promises, their lives were filled with idols and distractions. Wealth had become their confidence, alliances with unbelieving nations their strategy, and superstition their counsel. They were going through the motions of worship, but their hearts had grown divided. The prophet paints a sobering picture of a people who still visit the temple, yet look elsewhere for wisdom and blessing.
It’s not hard to see ourselves there. Our idols may not be carved from wood or stone, but we still bow to things that capture our affection more than God—success, security, image, comfort. The Lord gently exposes these rival loves, not to condemn us, but to free us. Every time we look to something else to save or satisfy, He calls us back with the same words: “Walk in the light of the Lord.”
To walk in His light means to live in truth—to let His Word expose what’s false and to let His Spirit guide our steps. John echoes this in the New Testament: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It’s not perfection God asks for, but honesty. When we bring our hearts into the light, we find cleansing, not condemnation.
Isaiah also warns that pride—whether personal or national—cannot stand before God. The lofty will be humbled, and “the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:11). How wise, then, to humble ourselves now! Every blessing we enjoy—our talents, our strength, our resources—is a gift from His hand. When we acknowledge that, pride gives way to praise, and anxiety gives way to trust.
The chapter closes with a simple command: “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils” (v. 22 NIV). It’s as if God is saying, “Don’t build your hopes on what can’t last. Look to Me.” In a world that feels uncertain, that’s good news. Kingdoms rise and fall, economies shake, leaders change—but the Lord’s reign is steady and sure.
One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10–11). Until that day, we walk in His light—turning from idols, trusting His Word, humbling our hearts, and shining with His peace. The same God who will rule the nations longs to reign in our hearts today. May we, too, say with Isaiah’s generation: “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.
And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4).
We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it’s subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.
The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier’s mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God’s word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.
Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).
Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH
Isaiah opens with a shocking picture of a Father’s grief. God says, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me” (Isa 1:2). He’s not distant or angry for anger’s sake—He’s heartbroken. His people have wandered, yet they still bring offerings and say their prayers. They keep the rituals but have lost the relationship. The Lord looks at their worship and says, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings” (v. 13). Their lips honor Him, but their hearts are far away.
This isn’t just Israel’s story—it’s ours. We can attend church, sing the songs, and still miss the heart of it all. The Lord doesn’t seek our performance; He seeks our presence. He wants hearts that love what He loves, that show mercy, justice, and humility (Mic 6:8). When our worship flows out of a life aligned with God’s truth, it becomes pleasing again. When it doesn’t, He calls us not to hide but to return.
God’s words through Isaiah are both diagnosis and invitation. He describes sin like an infection that has spread through the whole body: “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint” (v. 5). The nation’s condition mirrors our own apart from grace—wounded and weary, yet pretending to be well. But even here, the Lord offers hope. He does not abandon His people; He calls to them with compassion: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds… learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (vv. 16–17). His call is always to cleansing, never to condemnation.
Then comes one of the most beautiful verses in all of Scripture: “Come now, and let us reason together… Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (v. 18). The Judge becomes our Redeemer. He invites us to step into His presence, not to be destroyed but to be made new. The Hebrew word “reason” suggests a conversation—a merciful negotiation in which God Himself provides the terms of peace. Through Christ, that invitation reaches us today. His blood washes away the stain that no human effort can remove (1 John 1:7).
The message is simple but searching: God wants more than our ceremonies; He wants our hearts. He wants faith that shows itself in love, prayer that flows from sincerity, and worship that leads to justice. When He convicts us, it is not to crush us but to cleanse us. His refining fire burns only to purify. The same hand that disciplines is the hand that heals.
Isaiah ends this chapter with hope for renewal: “Afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness” (v. 26). God’s purpose for His people has never changed. He still intends to make us reflect His character—a people who live with clean hands and compassionate hearts. When He washes us, He doesn’t just remove guilt; He restores purpose.
Wherever you are today—whether your faith feels strong or hollow—hear the Father’s voice calling: “Come now.” He longs to reason with you, to wash you, to make you new. No sin is too deep, no stain too dark. The blood of Jesus still makes the scarlet white as snow.
Let’s draw near to Him again with honest hearts, not hiding behind ritual or busyness, but coming as children to their Father. True worship begins not with perfection but with surrender. The One who invites us to come is the same One who makes us clean.
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
In today's passage Pontus Pilate asks Jesus the age-old question “What is truth?” With the proliferation of AI-generated media, endless online debates, and widespread disinformation, our contemporary society is experiencing “epistemic fatigue”, we are exhausted from constantly having to discern what’s real. Many of us are tempted to throw up our hands like Pilate, dismissing the pursuit of truth as hopeless or irrelevant. But Jesus’s response shows that truth is not just an idea to be debated; it is something deeper and more personal.
In Scripture, truth is not defined merely in terms of fact versus fiction. While the Bible affirms objective truth (e.g., orange cones are orange), it speaks primarily of truth as an ultimate, personal reality: the eternal life of God. Truth is not just propositional—it is incarnational. Jesus says, “For this purpose I was born… to bear witness to the truth,” revealing that truth is something embodied in His life, words, and personhood. The biblical concept of truth is therefore not merely cognitive, but relational and existential.
Every worldview is built upon an assumption of some ultimate reality. For materialists or rationalists, the material universe is that ultimate foundation. But such views are insufficient to answer the most important human questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my destiny? These existential questions demand a bigger framework—one that science or subjective feeling cannot satisfy. The Christian faith asserts that ultimate reality is God’s eternal life, and Jesus came not only to reveal this truth, but to make it accessible to us.
The teaching distinguishes three approaches to knowing truth: rationalism (knowing through logic and nature), mysticism (knowing through feeling and intuition), and revelation (God making truth known). Rationalism and mysticism both have their place, but neither can access the transcendent truth of God on their own. Only divine revelation—God speaking through His Word and through Christ—can lead us to real knowledge of ultimate reality. Revelation is not something we can earn or discover through intellect or experience alone; it is received by faith.
Faith is the “organ” through which we receive revelation. Just as our eyes are the organ for light, faith is what allows us to see and embrace the truth that God reveals in Jesus. This truth is not abstract or detached—it is embodied in Christ and offered to us not just for mental agreement but for spiritual belonging. The goal of Christianity is not merely to know the truth intellectually, but to become people who are “of the truth”—who live in alignment with the eternal reality of God.
Ultimately, we are called to reject the shallow, pragmatic view of truth that says, “It’s true if it works,” and instead embrace the deeper, biblical view: that truth is what aligns with God’s eternal life, made manifest in Christ. Jesus stood before Pilate as the Truth in human form, and Pilate missed it. The challenge for us is not to repeat that mistake—to not just ask “What is truth?” but to listen to the voice of the one who says, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Through faith, we are invited not only to know the truth, but to belong to it.
The Lord Jesus declared in Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. "
Before He ascends into heaven, The Lord Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
And we see that this spreading of the gospel would go from Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), and in all Judea, and in Samaria (Acts 8-12), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 13-28 to the present hour).
The question that begs to be asked and answered is exactly what is the church called to be a witness of? Let’s look at a few passages of Scripture that will shed some light on what we are to be witness of. Acts 2:32 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." Acts 3:14-15 "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." Acts 5:30-32 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
These, and many other passages indicate that these Spirit filled witnesses testified of the fact that Jesus Christ had accomplished the Father’s plan of redemption on the cross, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day. The Lord Jesus declared in John 5:36 "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."
You and I as disciples of Jesus Christ have been called to bear testimony or witness to the works that Jesus has finished. 1 John 5:10-11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
The record or witness of God is that Jesus Christ is the risen, exalted Son of God and that He gives eternal life unto all those who believe on Him. Hallelujah!
1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. "Acts 26:22 -23 "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." SELAH
