Physical Healing of the Bible (NLT)

A) Medical Care Used
2 King 20:7 
7  Then Isaiah said, “Make an ointment from figs.” So Hezekiah’s servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!
 Luke 10:34-35
34  Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
35  The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
I Timothy 5:23
23  Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.

B)  Miracles Performed:
By God Directly  
Genesis 20:17
17  Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.

By Prophets
I King 17:17-24
17  Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.
18  Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
19  But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.
20  Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
21  And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”
22  The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!
23  Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”
24  Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”
2 King 5:1-14
1    The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
2    At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.
3    One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
4    So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said.
5    “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6    The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”
7    When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”
8    But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”
9    So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.
10  But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
11  But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!
12  Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
13  But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”
14  So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!

By Jesus
Matthew 4:24
24  News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.

By Followers of Jesus 
Acts 5:15-16 
15  As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.
16  Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 28:8
8    As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

By Agents of Satan
2 Thessalonians 2:9
9    This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
Revelation 13:3
I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.

C)  Spiritual Gifts of Miracles and Healing
I Corinthians 12:9-10, 28
9    The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
10  He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
28  Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:  first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

Human Elements That Play a Role in Healing (NLT)

Faith    (Matthew 13:58; Mark 5:14 and Luke 18:42)
Matthew 13:58
58  And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Mark 5:14
14  The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened.
Luke 18:42
42  And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”

Prayer (James 5:14-16)
14  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
15  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Intercession  (Numbers 12:10-15 and I King 13:6)
Numbers 12:10-15
10  As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened to her,
11  he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.
12  Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.”
13  So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!”
14  But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.”
15  So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again.
I King 13:6
6   The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again.

A Cheerful Heart  (Proverbs 17:22)
22  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Positive Words  (Proverbs 16:24)
24  Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

God is the Ultimate Healer (NLT)

Deuteronomy 32:39
Look now; I myself am he!  There is no other god but me!  I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!

Psalms 103:3
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

Jeremiah 30:17
I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.  “For you are called an outcast—

‘Jerusalem for whom no one cares.’”

Relationship of Believers to Grace (NLT)

They Are Under Grace (Romans 6:14)
14  Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

They Stand in Grace  (Romans 5:2)
2    Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

They Are What They Are by Grace (I Corinthians 15:10
10  But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

The Abound in Grace   (2 Corinthians 9:8 and I Timothy 1:14)
2 Corinthians 9:8 
8    And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
 I Timothy 1:14
14  Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

They Share in God's Grace (Philippians 1:7)
7    So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.

They May Approach God's Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16)
16  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

They Must Grow in Grace (2 Peter 3:18)
18  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

They Must Not Receive Grace in Vain  (2 Corinthians 6:1)
1  As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

They Can Fall Away From Grace  (Galatians 5:4 and Hebrews 6:4-6)
Galatians 5:4
4   For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
 Hebrews 6:4-6
4   For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,
5   who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—
6   and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

The Wicked Experience Grace ( Isaiah 26:10; Matthew 5:45 and Acts 14:17)
Isaiah 26:10
10  Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good.  Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty.
Matthew 5:45
45   In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
Acts 14:17
17   but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

What Happens To Believers Through Grace? (Continued)

What Happens To Believers Through Grace? Continued: 
I)    They Receive Many Good Things   (Romans 8:32)
J)    The Receive Spiritual Gifts   (Romans 12:6 and Ephesians 4:7-12)
K)   They Receive Encouragement (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
L)    They Receive Help In Time of Need  (Hebrews 4:16)
M)  They Are Able To Bear Up Under Suffering  (2 Corinthians 12:9)
N)   They Have Hope        (2 Thessalonians 2;16)
O)  They Are Glorified In Christ  (2 Thessalonians 1:12)

I)    They Receive Many Good Things   (Romans 8:32)
32   Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

J)    The Receive Spiritual Gifts  (Romans 12:6 and Ephesians 4:7-12)
Romans 12:6
6   In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 
Ephesians 4:7-12
7    However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
8    That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9    Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
10  And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11  Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

K)   They Receive Encouragement (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
16   Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,

L)    They Receive Help In Time of Need  (Hebrews 4:16)
16   So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

M)  They Are Able To Bear Up Under Suffering  (2 Corinthians 12:9)
9      Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through
 N)   They Have Hope        (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
16    Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,

O)  They Are Glorified In Christ  (2 Thessalonians 1:12)

12    Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

What Happens to Believers Through Grace?

A)  They Are Chosen  (Romans 11:5)
B)  They Are Called  (Galatians 1:15)
C)  They Believe   (Acts 18:27)
D)  They Are Justified  (Romans 3:24 and Titus 3:7)
E)  They Receive Righteousness (Romans 5:17)
F)   They Are Saved (Acts 15:11 and Titus 2:11)
G)  They Are Redeemed  (Romans 3:24)
H)  They Are Forgiven  (Ephesians 1:7)

A)  They Are Chosen  (Romans 11:5)
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

B)  They Are Called  (Galatians 1:15)
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased

C)  They Believe   (Acts 18:27)
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

D)  They Are Justified  (Romans 3:24 and Titus 3:7)
24  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:7
7   so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

E)  They Receive Righteousness (Romans 5:17)
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

F)   They Are Saved (Acts 15:11 and Titus 2:11)
11  No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

G)  They Are Redeemed  (Romans 3:24)

 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

H)  They Are Forgiven  (Ephesians 1:7)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

How Can We Receive Grace?

A) We Must Accept Christ (John 1:14, 16; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:6-7)
John 1:14, 16 
14  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
16  From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
2 Corinthians 8:9
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Ephesians 1:6-7
6  So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
7  He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

B)  We Must be Humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6)
Proverbs 3:34
34 The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.
James 4:6
6   But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

C)  We Cannot Earn it by Good Works ( Romans 11:6; 2 Timothy 1:9
Romans 11:6
6   And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
2 Timothy 1:9
9   For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

D)  We Cannot Earn it by Keeping the Law (Romans 6:14 and Galatians 2:16)
Romans 6:14
14  Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Galatians 2:16
16   Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Grace Comes As A Gift

From God (Ephesians 2:8 and I Peter 5:10)
Ephesians 2:8
8   God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
I Peter 5:10
10  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

From the Father (Psalms 84:11 and James 1:17)
Psalms 84:11
11  For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
James 1:17
17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

From Christ, the Son (John 1:17 and I Corinthians 1:4)
John 1:17
17  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 1:4
4    I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

From the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 12:10 and Hebrews 10:29)
Zechariah 12:10
10  “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Hebrews 10:29
29  How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The End of the Antichrist

A)   He is Now Being Restrained (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)
B)   He Will be Destroyed at Christ's Return (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
C)   He Will be Thrown Into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10)

A)  He is Now Being Restrained (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)
6  And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
7  For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.

B)  He Will be Destroyed at Christ's Return (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
8  Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

C)  He Will be Thrown Into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10)
Revelation 19:20
20  And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Revelation 20:10
10  Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Characteristics of the Anitchrist

A)  He is Controlled by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 13:2)
B)  He Opposes God (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:6)
C)  He Teaches False Views of Christ (I John 2:22; I John 4:3 and 2 John 7)
D)  He Lies  and Deceives Humanity (I John 2:22 and 2 John 7)
E)  He Persecutes Christians (Revelation 13:7)
F)  He Gains Political Control of the World (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 13:7)
G)  He Gains Economic Control of the World (Revelation 13:16-17)
H)  He Gains Religious Control of the World (2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:11-14)

A) He is Controlled by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 13:2)
2 Thessalonians 2:9
9  This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
 Revelation 13:2
2  This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

B)  He Opposes God (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:6)
Daniel 7:25
25  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
Daniel 11:36
36  “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
4  He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
Revelation 13:6
6   And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven.

C)  He Teaches False Views of Christ (I John 2:22; I John 4:3 and 2 John 7)
I John 2:22
22  And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
I John 4:3
3   But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
2 John 7
7   I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.

D)  He Lies  and Deceives Humanity (I John 2:22 and 2 John 7)
I John 2:22
22  And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
2 John 7
7   I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.

E)  He Persecutes Christians (Revelation 13:7)
Revelation 13:7
7  And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.

F)  He Gains Political Control of the World (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 13:7)
Daniel 7:25
25  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
Daniel 11:40-45
40  “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood.
41  He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape.
42  He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape.
43  He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants.
44  “But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many.
45  He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.
Revelation 13:7
7  And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.

G)  He Gains Economic Control of the World (Revelation 13:16-17)

Revelation 13:16-17

16  He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 

17  And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.

H)  He Gains Religious Control of the World (2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:11-14)

2 Thessalonians 2:4

4  He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

Revelation 13:11-14

11  Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. 

12  He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 

13  He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. 

14  And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.

The Antichrist: The Title Given and Symbols of the Antichrist

The Antichrist
Given the title "antichrist"  I John 2:18
18  Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.

Symbols of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:8, 24-26; Daniel 11:36-45; Mark 13:14; 2 Thessalonians2:3-4, 8-10; Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 13:1,11)

Daniel's Little Horn (Daniel 7:8, 24-26)
8    As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

24  Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
25  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
26  “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.


The King Who Exalts Himself (Daniel 11:36-45)

36  “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place.
37  He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.
38  Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew—and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts.
39  Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.
40  “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood.
41  He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape.
42  He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape.
43  He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants.
44  “But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many.
45  He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.


The Abomination That Causes Desolation (Mark 13:14)
14  “The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where he should not be.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 

The Man of Lawlessness (2Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-10)
3   Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.
4   He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

8   Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9   This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.


The Beast (Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 13:1,11)
7   When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.

Revelation 13:1,11
1    Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.
11  Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.

Anyone Who Opposes Christ Are Called An Antichrist and a False Christ

Anyone Who Opposes Christ
Called an Antichrist (I John 2:18,22; I John 4:3 and 2 John 7)
Called a False Christ (Matthew 24:34 and Mark 13:22)

Called An Antichrist
I John 2:18, 22
18  Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.
22  And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

I John 4:3
3   But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

2 John 7
7    I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Called A False Christ (Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22)
Matthew 24:24
24  For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

Mark 13:22
22  For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

The Blood Shed by Christ and What it Accomplishes (Our Holiness, Our New Life, Establishment of the New Covenant & Our Power Over Satan)

Our Holiness (Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 13:12); Our New Life (John 6:53-56); Establishment of the New Covenant (Luke 22-20, I Corinthians 11:25); Power Over Satan (Revelation 12:11)

Our Holiness (Hebrews 10:29 and 13:12)
Hebrews 10:29
29  How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 13:12
12  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood.

Our New Life (John 6:53-56)
53  Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54  Whoever eats my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56  Whosoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

Establishment of the New Covenant (Luke 22:20 and I Corinthians 11:25)
Luke 22:20
20    In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
I Corinthians 11:25
25  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Power Over Satan (Revelation 12:11)
Revelation 12:11
11  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.


***Scriptures taken from NIV

The Blood Shed by Christ and What it Accomplishes (Our Atonement; Our Justification; Our Reconciliation; Our Cleaning)

Our Atonement;  Our Justification; Our Reconciliation; Our Cleaning

Our Atonement
Romans 3:25
25  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--

Our Justification, Romans 5:9-11
9   Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
10  For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how many more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Our Reconciliation, Ephesians 2:13-16
13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15  by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
16  and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Our Cleaning;  Hebrews 9:4,  I John 1:7, Revelation 7:14, 
Hebrews 9:4
4   which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.  This ark contained the gold jar of jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
I John 1:7
7   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Revelation 7:14
14  I answered, "Sir you know."  And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


Scriptures taken from NIV

The Blood Shed by Christ and What it Accomplishes (Our Redemption)

Scriptures taken from NIV Bible

Our Redemption:  
Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:12; I Peter 1:18-9

Acts 20:28
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.  Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Hebrews 9:12
12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

I Peter 1:18-20
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

The Blood Shed by Christ and What It Accomplishes (Our Forgiveness)

Our Forgiveness
Ephesians 1:7-8; Hebrews 9:22 and Revelation 1:5-6 (NIV)

Ephesians 1;7-8
7  In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8  that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Hebrews 9:22
22  In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and with the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Revelation 1:5-6
5  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father -- to him be glory and power for ever and ever!  Amen

God is Both Kind and Severe (Romans 11:17-24) NLT

17  But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.
18  But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
19  “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”
20  Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.
21  For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
22  Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
23  And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.
24  You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

We Harvest What We Plant (Galatians 6:1-10) NLT

1    Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 

2    Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

3    If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

4    Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 

5    For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6    Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

7    Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 

8    Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 

9    So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 

10  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

By God's Grace and Mighty Power (Ephesians 3:6-13) NLT

6    And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
7    By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8    Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
9    I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10  God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11  This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12  Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
13  So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

The Righteous Shall Live By Faith (Galatians 3:6-14) NLT

6    In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
7    The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8    What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9    So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

10  But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”
11  So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
12  This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”
13  But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
14  Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

God Loves a Person Who Gives Cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:6-11) NLT

6    Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7    You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
8    And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
9    As the Scriptures say,  “They share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

10  For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Who Will Be Saved (Acts 2:17-21)NLT

17  ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18  In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
19  And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20  The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21  But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’

This Is My Command: Love Each Other (John 15:9-17)NLT

9    “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
12  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
13  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14  You are my friends if you do what I command.
15  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
16  You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
17  This is my command: Love each other.

Gives Thanks to The Lord (Psalms 107:1-21) NLT

1    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.
2    Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!  Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
3    For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

4    Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.
5    Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.
6    “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.
7    He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.
8    Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
9    For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

10  Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
11  They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.
12  That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them.
13  “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
14  He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.
15  Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
16  For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.

17  Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins.
18  They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door.
19  “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
20  He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
21  Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

You Must Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me (Mark 8:34-38) NLT

34  Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 
35  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 
36  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 
37  Is anything worth more than your soul? 
38  If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Living With Wisdom, Righteousness and Devotion to God (Titus 2:11-15) NLT

11  For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
12  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
13  while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
14  He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
15  You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

People Come Into Your Life For a Reason

Humble Yourself Under the Mighty Power of God (I Peter 5:6-11) NLT

6    So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 

7    Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8    Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

9    Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 

11  All power to him forever! Amen.

Are You Believing for God To Do Something In Your Life Today?

Are you believing for God to do something in your life today?  I want to encourage you because God is already working behind the scenes on your behalf!  Just because you don't see anything happening, doesn't mean that God isn't working.  The moment we pray, God sets the miracle into motion.  The thing we have to remember is that God doesn't say, "I'll deliver you in one hour, or next week, or Tuesday at 5:00 p.m."  No, He doesn't put a time frame on it.  That's where trust comes in.  We have to know that our enemies retreat as soon as we call on Him for help.  We have to choose to go back to the place of peace knowing that He is working things out.

Today, shake off the temptation to get discouraged during the waiting process.  Shake off offense, shake off discouragement.  Remember, all it takes is one touch of God's favor to take you years ahead.  Keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping because because the answer is on his way the moment we pray!

Prayer for Today:  Heavenly Father, thank you for hearing me the moment I pray.  today I choose to trust that you are working behind the scenes on my behalf no matter what I see in the natural.  I will praise You today and always because You are faithful.  I love You and bless You.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen

Now Is The Time to Seek The Lord (Hosea 10:12-14) NLT

12  I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.  Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

13  “But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins.  You have eaten the fruit of lies—trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe.

14  Now the terrors of war will rise among your people.  All your fortifications will fall, just as when Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel.  Even mothers and children were dashed to death there.

Patience and Endurance (James 5:7-12) NLT

7    Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 

8    You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9    Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 

11  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

12  But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Let The Peace of Christ Rule In Your Heart (Colossians 3:12-17) NLT

12  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Warning About Self-Confidence (James 4:13-17)NLT

13  Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 

14  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 

15  What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 

16  Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

17  Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

God Blesses Those Who Patiently (James 1:12-18) NLT

12  God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
14  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16  So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
17  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

The Thief Comes to Steal and Kill and Destroy (John 10:10-18) NLT

10  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 
12  A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 
13  The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14  “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 
15  just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 
16  I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17  “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 
18  No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Good News: All Who Believe in Christ Are Made Right With God (Romans 10:3-10)NLT

3    For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.
4    For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5    For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.
6    But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth).
7    And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”
8    In fact, it says,  “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 

9    If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself (Galatians 5:13-15) NLT

13  For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
14  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15  But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

If Anyone Loves Me He Will Obey My Teaching (John 14:23-31)NLT

23  Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 
24  Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 
25  I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 
26  But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 
28  Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 
29  I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
30  “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 
31  but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

Suffering for Doing Good (I Peter 3:13-2

13  Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 

14  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 

15  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 

16  But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 

17  Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

18  Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

19  So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 

20  those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 

21  And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22  Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority