Block Diagram and Outline of 1 John 5:1-5

“We are Overcomers” – 1 John 5:1-5

"A Child of God can keep the Commandments of God because he is a Conqueror of God."

Block Diagram and Outline of 1 John 5:6-13

 “Life is in His Son”

Believe in the Son for the Eternal Life

Got A Prayer Request?

"Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains."

– Colossians 4:3

Exposition:

        Apostle Paul is a man of prayer, by this I mean he believes in prayer. In private, he prays unceasingly for himself, other Christians, Jews, and Gentiles. In public, he prays along with the other saints in a formal and informal context. Furthermore, he would not only pray solely by himself, but he would ask other saints to pray for him. He exhorts everyone to live a life of prayerfulness. Here, in this verse, we see Apostle Paul requesting prayers from the church at Colossae for his preaching ministry.

        Now, if Apostle Paul seeks prayer for himself and his team members, would we not seek the prayers of others for us? Paul is arguably the godliest person, yet he seeks prayer from ordinary church members. It does not matter how immature we may be, if we are Christians, our prayer is before the throne of God. We mustn't hesitate to pray even for such godly people, they need our prayers like the rest of us, and our prayers are effective as well, if not Paul wouldn't have asked for their prayers.

Sure, prayers must be according to God's will. We can't expect God to help us do the wrong things or for our sinful selfish interest. Even here, Paul is seeking a release from his imprisonment, not for the comfort of free life, but to continue the preaching ministry, and he wouldn't mind another imprisonment for preaching the gospel. Colossians could at least pray for the release of Apostle Paul, even if they aren't able to proclaim the gospel effectively like Paul does, or not bold enough to endure suffering as Paul does on account of the gospel.

Personal Reflection:

• Do I (as a minister of the gospel) have a list of prayer supporters who know my prayer points from time to time?
• Do I (as an ordinary Christian) have the habit of saying, "May I pray for you" or "Is there anything I can pray for you" or "Shall we pray together”?

Personal Commitment:

• To seek others’ prayers and also the prayer points from others from time to time.

Prayer:

Lord, humble my heart to fall before your throne of grace, Amen!

Block Diagram and Outline of 1 John 5:14-21

“Christian Confidence – What are we sure of” 

Christians can be certain of their prayers answered, sins pardoned, power over sin, deliverance from the power of Satan, and eternal life in the person of Christ, because they are born of God from the day they have heard and received the gospel. 

Block Diagram and Outline: 1 John 1:1-4

"Knowing Jesus – the Joy of Fellowship"

One must understand the nature of Christ and the nature of this fellowship to have this joy.

 

Thankfulness in Life

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

– Colossians 3:17

Exposition:

        It is far easier to control our actions than our attitude. Actually, actions are the precursors to our attitude (thinking, planning, or conceiving). One could avoid sinful actions but still sin in one’s heart. Likewise, we can do a lot of good work, but with a bad attitude. We can even say or do godly things with a sinful attitude of remonstrance, grumbling, or whispering. This verse exhorts us to do everything in speech and action with an attitude of thankfulness to God. Both action and attitude matter to God.

        When we are thankful, we do not grumble or whisper, we are joyful. God wants us to be joyous people. The root meaning of 'giving thanks' is gratefulness. Gratefulness is a response to the grace of God. Since we have received and built our life upon His grace, we are to be thankful people at all times, in all places, and in all works. Thankfulness is a recurring theme in this book of Colossians (1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2). O How God wants us to be thankful people!

        All our thankfulness is always primarily to God the Father. It's not the kind of thankfulness one has for somebody who helped him gain thing wrongfully. It is the thankfulness that comes when doing the right things according to the power of Jesus in our life. Would you recognise that the Sovereign God is your Father–who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus–when you say and do all things for the edification of one another in the body of Christ? When we recognise that, we will not only be faithful people but also be thankful and joyful people.

Personal Reflection:

• I am commanded not only to do everything for the glory of God (1Cor.10:31) but also to do everything, giving thanks to God.

Personal Commitment:

• To delight in any work of ministry knowing that every work of ministry is a grace of God because even being called into the body of Christ is grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me a Christian, and for giving us a church. Thank You for this family.

Block Diagram and Outline: 1 John 1:5-2:2

“The Life in the Light”

God cleanses us from sin to have fellowship with Him
1. Pursue Sanctification (Holiness), 2. Confess Sins, 3. Trust Jesus's Work

 

Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

"In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

– Colossians 2:3

Exposition:

        Nobody wants to be a fool. Everybody wants to know more, just that the process of learning is not easy, sometimes boring and frustrating. It's true if we want to learn more, we must make an effort as the saying goes: "No pain, no gain." In this verse, we see, Jesus is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge. The more we know Jesus, the more wisdom and knowledge we accumulate.

        Treasures of gold, diamonds, and other precious stones do not show up everywhere, they are hidden deep under the surface of the earth. Similarly, treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. The Holy Bible is given to us that we may know Jesus until we attain to His likeness. However, this doesn't mean all knowledge that we can ever have in the universe is in the Bible. Apostle Peter says everything pertaining to life and godliness is in Jesus, i.e., in the Bible.

        If and since all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Jesus, He is sufficient. We do not need any source apart from Christ. We do not need to travel anywhere to get them but only to walk in Christ diligently and joyously. We do not need any other philosophies, ideas, traditions, anything, but the teaching of Christ. Jesus is sufficient for our salvation. His word is sufficient for us to live a God-pleasing life. Would we only make an effort to know Him more, and in knowing Him more we make Him as our pattern to follow!

Personal Reflection:

·       Do I take pleasure and make an effort to know more about Jesus as I do to know other things in life?

Personal Commitment:

·       To be rooted and built up in Him because all other ground is sinking sand.

Prayer:

God, our Father, You have given Jesus, the treasures of all wisdom and knowledge, only to be received by faith and to follow Him. Thank You. I receive Him by faith. Would you please cause my heart to delight in following Him, Amen!

Block Diagram and Outline: 1 John 2:3-11

“The Assurance in Obedience”

Three Enemies (Challenges) of Obedience: 1. Mere Profession over Serious Reflection, 2. Complacency over Consistency, 3. Unlovely Fellow Christians

 

Gospel Relationship in Ministry

"So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us."

– 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Exposition:

        Relationship is an important word in the ministry of the gospel, vertically (with God) and horizontally (with one another). I fear that many have been more careful to please man than to please God. We must remember that the relationship with God is the first commandment, and the relationship with one another is the second commandment. Actually, if one has a healthy relationship with God, it will reflect on one's relationship with one another. We must never put the cart before the horse. The ministry of Paul described in 1Thessalonians is a fitting model for us.

        Paul didn't manipulate people to like his ministry nor did he develop a skin-deep relationship for his gain. He laboured for the approval of God. He recognised the centrality of the gospel and prioritised to preach it, no matter how offensive it was. He would preach nothing else but the gospel. However, Paul did so as a mother to her child, gently and affectionately. He preached because he cared for them, unlike the prophet Jonah who wanted his hearers to perish. Not only did he preach the gospel, but he demonstrated for them how to live a gospel-filled life. He sacrificed his rights, preferences, and comforts for his listener’s growth.

        In this verse, we see the priority of the gospel as well as the importance of gentle shepherding. Paul cared for them, neither to be liked by them in return, nor to be well spoken by them or others, he never lived to please man. He cared for them that they may live a life that glorifies God. He exhorted, comforted, and charged them as a father (not only as a gentle mother). Gospel ministry without an authentic relationship and a ministry without accurate teaching are fragile as houses upon the sand.

Personal Reflection:

• As much as I’ve made an effort for my hearers to understand the teachings of Scripture, have I made the same effort to show them in my life!? 

Personal Commitment:

• To implement not only servant leadership, but also parental shepherding in a pastoral ministry.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the exemplary ministry of Paul. Help me to love your people as family members, Amen!