Isaiah 23 is a prophecy about Tyre and Sidon. Tyre was the chief city of the Phoenician kingdom and closely allied with her sister city Sidon. These were settled by the Hittites who came from a powerful civilisation of the Hath-hi in Turkey. In the zenith of their power this kingdom rivalled the Egyptians and the Assyrians. The Phoenician’s were the greatest maritime nation of that time sending their navies as far as the Tarshish of the west – Great Britain. Verse 3 says that Tyre was the merchant navy of the world. Verse 6 explains how the mantle of maritime supremacy was relocated from Tyre to Great Britain who in the history of the last few hundred years has ruled the seas. Verses 11-14 speaks of the loss of naval greatness would be taken from her by the LORD in modern times. Tarshish. Verses 15-18 says that there would be a revitalisation of Tarshish’s powers after a 70 year epoch – the time of one monarch. We today are witnessing Great Britain reestablishing her old trading patterns with those nations of her commonwealth. This is at the close of the reign of Elizabeth 2 after a rule of seventy years.

Joshua 16 outlines the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim. This was Joshua’s own tribe and it is significant that the faithful leader, who was the only other spy to completely trust in the Living God. Joshua together with Caleb courageously stood against the rebellious congregation of Israel. Sadly this tribe fell away from the values of Joshua in the long era when judges ruled the nation of Israel and were known for their great pride. At the division of the kingdom in the time of Rehoboam and his servant Jeroboam. Ten tribes went with Jeroboam and formed the northern kingdom of Ephraim ie Israel. Verses 1-9 describe the boundaries and territory allocated to Ephraim. The last verse of the chapter closes on a disturbing note, similarly to that in chapter 15. It tells of Ephraim failure to destroy the Canaanites.

We are surrounded by ungodliness to a far greater degree than experienced by any previous generation – at least in the western world. We can say we “renounce ungodliness”, but putting what we say into action is getting more difficult: it means we must concentrate our minds on godly thoughts at every opportunity.

The 46 verses of Paul’s letter to Titus is an ideal source for mental fortification; we should not just read it, but we should also meditate on it. Titus is in Crete (1 v.5) to work for the Lord. The contrast between those who really believe – and those who give the appearance of believing is a problem in Crete – the parallels with the problems that challenge us today is increasingly apparent.

Paul says, “a prophet of their own said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true.” [1 v.12,13] Titus is told to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith … to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable …” [v.15,16] Sadly, Christianity in general is sliding toward doing this! How much is this influencing us?

Titus is to set the example “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” [2 v.7,8]

This leads Paul to make the point, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope …” [v.11-13]

Our sense of urgency in waiting for our hope to be fulfilled grows ever greater – a sense the younger generation can only partly appreciate – life today is so interesting! We stress it is “the grace of God” that provides the message of salvation and meaning for our existence. Let us appreciate that grace to the full – for we cannot ‘earn’ a place in God’s kingdom so as to deserve it – but, writes Paul, “being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” [3 v.7] How is your “training” progressing?

In the final segment In the final segment of our Bible readings we are introduced a picture of ourself – Onesimus, a profligate runaway slave, who in Rome is liberated from his wasteful state to become a brother in Christ. The key words in this letter are related to BOWELS. Paul is demonstrating his love for God, His Son, His Word, His truth, and for Philemon and his family and the ecclesia, as well as for Onesimus. The Apostle is demonstrating to Philemon that, we must not only know and live the truth, we must love it, and God and His Son and His Word, His truth, His ecclesia, His family: we must be emotionally involved and committed. Paul sends Onesimus back to his master, as a fellow believer in Christ carrying this letter and the epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus is formerly described as being “unprofitable”, which is our condition before we believed the gospel and received forgiveness. But now he has learnt to abound in his grateful realisation of his elevated status see Ephesians 2:1-12. The Apostle Paul had taught Philemon the truth of the gospel. He speaks of Philemon’s debt to God in the forgiveness which he has been given. Therefore Philemon ought to show the same forgiveness to his fellow believer – even though Onesimus was his slave. The Apostle Paul is confident that Philemon will comply with the Apostle’s request. Final greetings are conveyed through Epaphras, who carries the letter to Philemon.

A @Christadelphians Video: **Video Description:** 📖 **Discover the Timeless Hope of God’s Kingdom!** In this powerful 19th-century Bible talk, Robert Roberts presents *"The Final Consolation"*—a profound vision of the coming Kingdom of God. Explore biblical prophecy, divine promises, and the ultimate hope for humanity in this inspiring message. 🔔 **Subscribe & Turn on Notifications** to stay updated with more life-changing Bible teachings! 📌 **Video Timestamps:** 00:00 - Introduction: The Hope of the Kingdom 05:12 - The Promise of Restoration in Scripture 12:35 - The Role of Christ in God’s Plan 18:50 - The Resurrection & Judgment 25:40 - The Peaceful Reign of Christ on Earth 32:15 - How to Be Part of God’s Kingdom 40:00 - Conclusion: Living in Hope 📜 **Bible Verses Discussed (with Emojis!)** ✨ **Daniel 2:44** – God’s Kingdom will crush earthly empires 🕊️ **Isaiah 11:6-9** – The peace of Christ’s reign ⚡ **Acts 17:31** – The coming judgment 🌍 **Revelation 21:4** – No more pain in God’s Kingdom 🙏 **Matthew 6:10** – “Your Kingdom come” 👑 **Psalm 72:8** – Christ’s universal rule 💬 **Join the Discussion!** What excites you most about God’s Kingdom? Comment below! 👍 **Like, Share & Subscribe** to help spread this message of hope! #BibleStudy #KingdomOfGod #ChristianTeachings #Prophecy #RobertRoberts #HopeInChrist

oshua 14:1-5 speak of the allocation of the tribal inheritances west of the river Jordan. Verses 6-15 deal with the request and allotting to Caleb, the great man of faith who wholly believed and wholeheartedly trusted Yahweh his God together with Joshua. Caleb was not a natural born Israelite. He was a Kennite and from a tribal group who faithfully chose to journey to the Promised Land with the people of the LORD that they too might share Yahweh’s blessings for His people. Caleb at 85 years old is as vigorous and eager as he was at 40 years of age. Then, as at this time, Caleb trusted in the help of the Almighty to go and take Hebron, meaning fellowship. This city was the place where the patriarchal family settled in the land and sojourned in faith with their God. That city had belonged to the greatest giant of the Anakim – Arba. Caleb stands in contrast to his fearful brethren who cowered at the thought of fighting against the giants of Canaan.

2 Timothy is the last letter the Apostle Paul writes. The Apostle has been hunted throughout the Roman world as a criminal, and then taken to Rome and placed in a cold dark cell awaiting execution by beheading. The year is 63-64 AD. The fire which destroys half of the buildings in Rome was blamed on the Christians by Nero; and Paul as a recognised ringleader of the hated sect is to be made the chief scapegoat. The introduction to this letter additionally contains the greeting of mercy (to grace and peace) which start all the letters before the Apostle’s second imprisonment; excepting Philemon which is a personal letter. As one gets older one becomes even more conscious of the need for Divine mercy – for without it we are all doomed. The words of this letter are Paul’s last and chosen very carefully to warn and advise. The first great charge was to safeguard the deposit of the sound teachings which were believed. Timothy’s love of the truth goes back to his mother and grandmother (Lois and Eunice). Timothy had been given the gift of prophecy by the laying on of the hands of the elders. Paul encourages this faithful young man to stir up that gift and to be invigorated to enthusiastically testify as to what Timothy knew to be true. What a hope he has embraced and he stands unshakable in his conviction that, “Jesus Christ had abolished death and brought life (Zoe) and immortality (deathlessness) to light through the gospel” (v10). Timothy is exhorted to follow the great example of faith and love that had been lived out and constantly exhibited by Paul. The Apostle says that he has fathered Timothy in the gospel. Sadly in Paul’s time of needing support he is abandoned by many. Paul names two in particular – Phygellus and Hermogenes – as foremost in his abandonment. But he commends Onesiphorus, who appears to have been killed for his going to Rome to aid the aged and suffering Apostle.

1 Timothy 6 says that servants must honourably bare the responsibility of faithful service. The chapter next sounds a warning against false teachers and this is followed by one of the greatest, and possibly the hardest, lesson to learn – ie that godliness with contentment is the greatest profit a believer can have in life. We can take nothing with us when we die. All that is important is the legacy that the Almighty sees – a life of devotion to Him and service to others – a life rich in good works. To pursue any other course is a guarantee of frustration and sorrow (just as Balaam found out). Verse 10 tells us, “the love of money” (Greek “philaguros” – literally “lover of silver” which has in Greek the numeric value of 666) is ‘a root of all kinds of evil’. In verses 11-16 Timothy (and each believer) is urged to fight the fight of faith following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave a faithful witness before Pontius Pilate – costing our Lord Jesus his life. Jesus will, on his return to earth, set up the glorious kingdom of God demonstrating the power and honour of the King Invisible (God the Almighty Father) and the benefits that will come to those who live life by this guide. The letter concludes with a reminder to safeguard the deposit which had been committed to Timothy and a charge to the rich to avoid pride. The rich are counselled to use their God given resources to benefit others (the lesson being based on the life of Hezekiah cp
2 Kings 20 verses 12-16). Let us learn godliness with contentment; richness in faith and loving works to others – pause and ponder.

Paul’s letter to Timothy is full of advice and instruction we can use for ourselves. He tells Timothy that, “I hope to come to you soon , but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church (assembly) of the living God.”[1 Tim. 3 v.15] Paul goes on to explain how each community of believers should have overseers, or elders. He goes into great detail about the qualities such persons ought to have.

He must be married and have brought up children for if he cannot effectively manage “his own household” how will he properly “care for God’s church.”?[v.5]. Also “he must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”[v.6]

What is this devil? How can an overseer be seen to be condemned by a devil? The translators are inconsistent, for the Greek word diabolos they translate here as devil occurs again in v.11 about what the character of the wives of deacons should NOT be! They translate diabolos as “slanderer“ in this case! The character of deacon’s wives must be such that they never stoop to slander anyone. Where diabolos occurs in 2 Timothy 3 v.3 and Titus 2 v.3 the translators have rightly rendered it as slanderer or some similar word depending on your version..

Jesus said “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil” (diabolos) [John 6 v.70] It is to be greatly regretted that the Church, over time, built up a totally fictitious story of a evil supernatural spirit being.

So it makes sense to understand Paul’s advice that they should not make a recent convert an overseer or elder until he has developed godly wisdom to prevent the possibility that he could “fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil” dDiabolos)

Those who take any position of responsibility in God’s church “must be dignified, not double tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy … They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” [1 Tim. 3 v.8,9]. Timothy is told that he should, “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”[Ch.4 v.12]

We should all take Paul’s advice as to “how one ought to behave in the household of God.” Yes! God’s household! Do you belong?.

1 Timothy 4 commences with signposts which mark out the coming departure from true teachings – 1) a belief in evil and deceitful spirits; 2) a celibate clergy forbidden marriage; 3) the refraining from eating certain foods ie meat on Fridays and during Lent leading up to Easter – all foods are for our eating as long as we have offered a prayer of thanksgiving before eating. In verses 6-10 we have the third faithful saying, “bodily exercise is of some value, but godliness Greek “eusebia”) is profitable in every way, benefiting present daily life, and offering the hope of eternal life in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is essential that believers be reminded of the necessity to be pure in thought, word and action. Such diligence will save both the teacher and the hearer alike. In chapter 5 we are told the type of respect to be shown to elderly believers. Next follows instructions on the proper treatment of widows. It tells families to show their commitment and care for the widows before requesting aid from the ecclesia. However, widows whose faith and actions stand as a witness to their commitment to Christ Jesus and His Father should be supported in their needs. Older members of the flock of God who have diligently proclaimed the Word of God must be honoured (compare Hebrews 13 verses 7, 17). Those whose words and actions show a failure to continue in the beliefs and behaviour of the Truth are to be openly rebuked. Be careful in the choice of those commissioned to faithful service. Timothy should drink wine moderately for reasons of health. Sometimes the faithfulness of some believers is evident; and sometimes the wrongdoing of believers is seen. But not always. Beware of hypocrisy, but be assured it will be unmasked in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.