Verbatim Word with Justin Gerry

Walking as a Christians cannot be done in our own strength. Paul prays for the Colossian believers as they seek God's will and take steps to fulfill it. He rejoices that God has qualified them to partake in the inheritance that awaits the faithful believer. BIBLE VERSE References: COLOSSIANS 1:9-12 | 1 SAMUEL 12:20-24 | EXODUS 17:9-13 | PROVERBS 3:5,6 | MARK 1:17 | JOHN 12:26 | REVELATION 2:2-4 |...

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The gospel was meant to be heard and responded to. Paul reminds us of how powerful the pure gospel is to those who truly hear. BIBLE VERSE References: COLOSSIANS 1:3-7 | MATTHEW 11:15 | ROMANS 10:17 | 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4 | LUKE 15:10 | MATTHEW 22:35-40 | 1 JOHN 4:20-21 | PROVERBS 25:25 | REVELATION 12:11 | MARK 5:18-20 | ROMANS 10:14 | MATTHEW 28:18-20 | MARK 4:3...

God has a will. And so do we. And we wrestle with whose will will prevail -- His will or ours. But there is blessing for the saints who surrender to the will of God. BIBLE VERSE References: COLOSSIANS 1:1-2 | GENESIS 32:24 | EPHESIANS 6:12 | ACTS 19:1-10 | PHILEMON 23 | HEBREWS 1:4-11 | GENESIS 1:27 | REVELATION 4:11 | GENESIS 2:16,17 | GENESIS 3:6 | ACTS 2:21 | ROMANS 10:13 | ROMANS 5:8 | ISAIAH...

Paul's desire was that God would be glorified in and through him. He trusted that could occur regardless of his circumstances as he allowed his life to be used for God's glory. He knew that this was possible with a little bit of grace for himself and all the saints. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 4:20-23 | PSALM 19:1 | EXODUS 16:10 | EXODUS 24:16 | HEBREWS 1:3 | MARK 13:26 | ISAIAH 43:1-7 | I...

God shall supply all of our needs. But trusting that sometimes requires faith. Paul rejoices that God has provided for him once again and encourages the believers to turn to God for all of their needs. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 4:10-20 | PSALM 145:15,16 | MATTHEW 5:44-45 | ROMANS 8:32 | ACTS 20:35 | ACTS 16:9-10 | 2 CORINTHIANS 11:7-9 | ACTS 18:3-4 | 1 CORINTHIANS 9:14 | 2 THESSALONIANS...

We all know what it is like to be anxious. And in our world today, there seems to be more and more to be anxious over. Paul prescribes a cure for our anxiety in these verses as he has learned from experience how to find the peace of God in turbulent times. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 4:6-9 | MATTHEW 6:25-24 | PSALM 94:19 | PSALM 61:2 | MARK 5:25-34 | PROVERBS 12:25 | MARK 4:39 | JOHN 14:27...

Three things are eternal: God, His Word, and people's souls. Paul longs for the fellowship of the believers and desires that others might know Jesus to spend eternity together in the Kingdom. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 4:1-5 | MATTHEW 23:37-39 | LUKE 14:15-24 | LUKE 15:7 | ACTS 16:9 | 1 THESSALONIANS 2:8 | LUKE 11:17 | HEBREWS 12:14-15 | REVELATION 3:5 | REVELATION 13:8 | REVELATION 17:8...

Take the road less traveled. Paul reminds the believers that many are walking away from Christ instead of toward Him. We will be influenced by those we walk with in life. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 3:15-21 | 1 PETER 2:2-3 | ROMANS 3:10 | ROMANS 3:23 | ROMANS 6:23 | ROMANS 5:8 | ROMANS 10:9-10 | ROMANS 10:13 | 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-2 | MATTHEW 7:13-14 | PROVERBS 14:12 | PROVERBS 16:25 | ROMANS...

Reach for the prize. Paul had no regrets about leaving the past behind to pursue Christ wholeheartedly. His one desire was to know Jesus more. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 3:8-14 | ACTS 9:1-20 | MATTHEW 7:21-23 | 1 PETER 4:3 | 1 CORINTHIANS 7:7 | LUKE 18:29-30 | LUKE 23:34 | ROMANS 4:24-25 | ROMANS 6:12-14 | MATTHEW 16:24 | JOHN 15:18 \ ACTS 9:16 | MATTHEW 26:69-75 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 | JE...

Nothing is more valuable than knowing Christ. Paul reflects on all that he possessed of value in the world's eyes, and how willing he was to abandon it all for the sake of Jesus. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 3:1-7 | MATTHEW 13:44 | JOSHUA 1:8 | ACTS 16:25 | NEHEMIAH 8:10 | GALATIANS 5:22-23 | MATTHEW 23:27 | GALATIANS 5:9 | 2 PETER 2:1 | 1 THESSALONIANS 5:21 | 1 CORINTHIANS 7:19 | ROMANS 9:...

Life is full of risks. But those involved in following and serving Christ are worth it. Paul talks about Timothy and Epaphroditus, and the examples they are as dedicated service to the Lord and His people. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 2:19-30 | ACTS 28:30-31 | JAMES 4:13-15 | 1 CHRONICLES 11:16-19 | ESTHER 4:13-5:2 | COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 | LUKE 16:10 | 1 TIMOTHY 3:6,10 | ACTS 16:1-4 | ACTS 14...

Working out our salvation. It takes some effort on our part to fully realize the full extent of all that Christ has made available to those who are saved. God commits to do an inward work that might make us look more like His Son, bringing Him pleasure as we are conformed to the image of Christ. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 2:12-19 | EPHESIANS 4:15 | MARK 10:21 | EPHESIANS 2:8,9 | 2 CORINTH...

Following Jesus will cause the believer to begin to think differently about life and eternity. Jesus found purpose in leaving the throne of heaven to come to this earth to die for mankind. While the world my not understand this, we are called to share the humble, sacrificing mind of Christ.   BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 | ROMANS 12:2 | 1 CORINTHIANS 4:10 | MARK 5:15 | 1 PETER 4...

Who's most important? Paul challenges us to esteem others to be better than ourselves. He points us to the resources Christ has given us to make achieving unity a possibility. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 | LUKE 11:17 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11-13 | 1 CORINTHIANS 3:3-4 | LUKE 2:25 | MATTHEW 18:21,22 | 1 PETER 4:8 | MARK 1:35 | LUKE 22:50-51 | MATTHEW 5:39 | 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 | ROMANS 1:12...

What do you live for? What purposes or plans or perspectives motivate you? For Paul, he found purpose in magnifying Christ -- whether by life or by death. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 1:19-30 | GENESIS 2:17 | 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 | EPHESIANS 3:1 | HEBREWS 13:3 | PSALM 139:16 | JOB 14:1,5 | MATTHEW 6:27 | REVELATION 9:6 | PSALM 90:12 | JOB 13:15 | 2 CORINTHIANS 11:23 | ACTS 14:19,20 | JOHN 1...

Every cloud has a silver lining -- or so they say. But finding that silver lining often depends on the perspective from which you view it. Paul talks about the eternal perspective of his trials and hardships, and the opportunities God has granted him through all he has endured. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18 | ACTS 9:15-16 | GENESIS 50:20 | ROMANS 8:28-30 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 | ACTS 2...

Grace is available to us all. That is something Paul was confident of as he reflects on all he has endured. This understanding leads him to intercede for the believers to abound in a love that pleases God, but not necessarily the world, and in a fruitful Christian witness that is authentic to those who are watching. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 1:7-11 | JOHN 1:17 | EXODUS 34:6 | 2 CHRONICLE...

Some memories fade...others do not. For Paul, he was clinging to the joyous memories he had of fellowshipping with the believers in Philippi -- those precious people who had come to know God as he did. He saw the consistent thread of prayer as the foundation of their fellowship, and was confident that God would be faithful to them, even in his own absence. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6...

Ever doubted you were where you were supposed to be? Paul had seen the Lord faithfully direct and redirect in ways that were only apparent later down the road. It's in a season of reflection that Paul rejoices in God's grace in his life and in the lives of his dear friends in Philippi. BIBLE VERSE References: PHILIPPIANS 1:1-8 | ACTS 28:30-31 | EPHESIANS 5:16 | PSALM 46:10 | PSALM 121:4 | ACTS 5:1...

The Lord is steadfast, and He calls us to be, as well. Consider the word steadfast in Scripture on this final bonus episode of Season 1.

Where does your help come from? The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him!

Repetition reinforces. And as a good teacher, the Lord repeats lessons in our lives, as well.

No man is an island. Following Jesus means being a part of a fellowship of believers. We are called to pray for one another, serve one another, and reach out to one another as ambassadors of Christ. BIBLE VERSE References: EPHESIANS 6:18-24 | MATTHEW 26:36-46 | DANIEL 10:10-13 | LUKE 18:1 | ACTS 28:30-31 | EXODUS 4:10-12 | JEREMIAH 1:4-10 | MATTHEW 10:19-20 | ECCLESIASTS 3:7 | PROVERBS 25:11 | ACT...

It's a battle out there. Paul exposes the source and nature of many of the struggles we face in this life. Standing firm in our faith and in all that Christ has given us is key to our victory.  BIBLE VERSE References: EPHESIANS 6:10-18 | GENESIS 17:1 | EXODUS 14:13-14 | EPHESIANS 2:10 | EPHESIANS 4:1 | EPHESIANS 4:17 | EPHESIANS 5:2 | EPHESIANS 5:8 | EPHESIANS 5:15 | MATTHEW 5:13-15 | 1 JOHN...

Being faithful is the highest calling. In this portion of Scripture, Paul challenges the servant and master, the employee and the employer, to do all things as unto the Lord. And when we are faithful in the little things, there will be blessing. BIBLE VERSE References: EPHESIANS 6:5-9 | GALATIANS 4:1-7 | GALATIANS 3:24-25 | LUKE 1:1-4 | ACTS 1:1 | GENESIS 39:2-4 | 1 CORINTHIANS 7:20-24 | PHILEMON...