“Have faith in God?” “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours?” The seeds of faith to move the mountains. Mark 11:20-25

Mark 11:20-25 Revised Standard Version

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

²⁰As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. ²¹And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master,^[a] look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” ²²And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. ²³Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received^[b] it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”^[c]

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

As Jesus and his disciples walked along toward Jerusalem, they came across an unexpected surprise: a fig tree in full leaf.

This was a surprise because it was too early in the year for figs.

But where there was a fig tree in leaf, you could expect figs.

So Jesus and the disciples went over to the tree to see if it had any fruit.

It had none.

What seemed at first to be a remarkable tree turned out to be a disappointment.

So Jesus said to the tree: “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

And he walked away.

The next day, as they left Jerusalem and passed by the same tree, the disciples were astonished to find the tree totally withered.

When Peter expressed his surprise about the tree, Jesus used the opportunity to teach two lessons.

The first lesson was about failure. The empty tree serves as a stern hardcore warning we cannot pretend to be spiritually alive, for we won’t bear any fruit.

The second lesson is about faith. Jesus says, “Have faith in God.” We are to 100% trust in him for all the life and strength we need in order to serve him.

When we are rooted in Jesus through sincere prayer, our faith will bear fruit.

Our faith in Christ will be strong enough to help move people to believe in Jesus and enter his kingdom. Through his strength in us, we will show he is alive!

Probable or Improbable: Faith to Move Mountains

In reading our Bibles, we will come across verses that seem straightforward and easy to understand immediately.

On the other hand, there are also verses like this one!

“Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,” says Jesus.

We are tempted essentially to sidestep what these words say.

We try to bury them under a hundred qualifications.

The misapplication of such verses has scared some of us so much that we hardly give any attention to the sheer encouragement and the challenges they contain.

In this bold command, Jesus reminded His followers to trust God, because it is actually faith’s foundation in God that gives that faith significance. We should not have faith in faith or faith in ourselves, but 100% faith in God, God alone.

The metaphor that Jesus employed—that of someone commanding a mountain to be thrown into the sea—was perhaps familiar to the disciples; it was similar to a common rabbinic figure of speech for accepting an impossible challenge to then, with all effort accomplishing something that was seemingly impossible.[1]

1 Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1898), Vol. 2, p 376 (footnote).

The way to get real-life results in prayer is to seek God with an attitude that says, “No matter how long it takes, or whatever I have to do, I will not be denied.”

This is not arrogance; it is Godly hunger. It is not about pushing God to give us what we want and how and when we want it, but about pushing yourself into God. It is not praying for the sake of praying. It is praying to see the hand of God move. It is desperate hardcore praying. It is the type of prayer that gets answers.

The disciples would not have misunderstood Jesus as suggesting that they can literally hurl the Mount of Olives into the Dead Sea over 4,000 feet below them.

They would have understood his words as a proverbial statement indicating God wants to do extraordinary things through His children, for His children.

We discover vivid proof of Jesus’ teaching on faith and prayer throughout the book of Acts.

Early on, when a lame beggar asked Peter and John for money, Peter told him instead to look up, to stand up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ(Acts 3:6).

Perhaps as he spoke to this man, Peter was remembering Jesus’ words and he was thinking to himself, “Whatever you ask in my (Jesus) name … believe…”

When God is the object of our faith, we can have an audacious faith—a faith that believes the impossible to be possible with Him.

We can know that we are speaking to someone who is able to do far more than we can even imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21), we can do even greater works than Jesus (John 14:12-14).

¹²“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; ¹⁴if you ask^[a] anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus essentially says to us, I want you to pray in a way that says you actually truly believe in One God who is too wise to make mistakes, who is too kind to be cruel, and who is too powerful, unchangeable to be subdued by the great forces of the universe.

Don’t set aside these verses with hundred impossible improbable qualifications.

Just let them sit there in your spirit for a minute – preferably a whole lot longer.

Enjoy the truth that God is able to do things beyond anything you can imagine.

Rest secure in the indelible reality Father, Son, Spirit, know no impossibility.

And then ….

Pray Until Something Happens!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Psalm 20 Revised Standard Version

Prayer for Victory

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20 The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
    The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
²May he send you help from the sanctuary,
    and give you support from Zion!
³May he remember all your offerings,
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

⁴May he grant you your heart’s desire,
and fulfil all your plans!
⁵May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfil all your petitions!

⁶Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with mighty victories by his right hand.
⁷Some boast of chariots, and some of horses;
    but we boast of the name of the Lord our God.
⁸They will collapse and fall;
    but we shall rise and stand upright.

⁹Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.^[a]

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Our families are a circle of strength founded on faith, joined in love kept by God forever. Genesis 2:21-24

Genesis 2:21-24 Authorized (King James) Version

²¹And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²²and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In Genesis 2:21-24 we find a close-up of the first wedding ever celebrated.

It took place in Paradise at the beginning of history, and it was one of the most impressive events ever.

The setting was more beautiful than at any other wedding.

The first bride and groom, Adam and Eve, were surrounded by the unstained, breathtaking beauty of God’s creation.

No modern-day florist or outdoor photographer could begin to capture the beauty of that setting.

Most impressive about that first wedding, though, was that God himself conducted the ceremony:

“the LORD God made a woman … and he brought her to the man.” This is the Bible’s way of telling us that marriage is from God, established as a creation ordinance. Marriage was not invented by a human being; it was instituted by God when he created us “male and female” (Genesis 1:27) and brought Adam and Eve together.

Marriage, then, is sacred.

All who marry receive a special gift from God’s own hands.

And because marriage is from God, we need to listen carefully to God’s expectations for marriage.

Many people see the outcome of their marriage as a toss-up.

Some see their marriage as a reason, as an opportunity, to start a reality television show to gain their fame and fortune and celebrity recognition.

Then to protect themselves and their individual estates, they sign complicated prenuptial agreements spelling out in greatest legalese, detailing their assets.

Consider that the wisest of the wise Kings Solomon had 600 wives and 300 concubines – and while God clearly held greatest relevance to Solomon in the beginning of his reign, by the time his reign concluded – it was a marital mess.

Who really knows if love truly exists in those relationships?

Who knows if God is even .01% relevant in that relationship?

But marriage has the God-given potential to be a powerful source of blessings, unity to all who choose to follow the instructions of the One who ordained it.

What Is God’s Purpose for Our Family?

Families. We all have one, whether it’s a biological family or an adopted family.

Families change when babies are born or adopted, and when marriages and deaths occur.

When one gets married, it’s normal to accept their spouse’s family as their own.

And there are times when, after the death of a spouse, the widow or widower maintains familial relationships with the family of their deceased spouse.

If one re-marries, the family increases.

Family is an important concept in the Bible.

God instituted family when He created Eve as a helpmeet for Adam.

The rest of the Bible speaks of family in its various roles, and most important is the church as God’s family.

What Does the Bible Say about Family?

The Bible defines the family as do we – those of the same household, that being the pairing of a husband (man) and wife (woman), along with their children.

Because God created the family, He is intimately involved with each one.

Scripture is our great instructor of monogamy—the lifetime union of one man and one woman in marriage as the foundation of the family (Genesis 2:21-24).

Throughout the Bible, the institution of family as the model God created it to be is prevalent; all other relationships are to stem from the family, God’s building block of society.

If we regard the Ten Commandments, we see the first four of them concern our relationship to and with God, the other 6 speak to our relationship with others.

Three are directly related to the family.

The fifth commandment says to honor one’s father and mother (the family foundation) (Exodus 20:12).

The seventh commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), thus preserving the sacred nature of the family.

The tenth commandment, “you shall not covet,” (Exodus 20:17) speaks to God’s command for fidelity of heart. For within a family, it is not good nor godly to covet what others have, including a different family.

Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

Actions proceed from the heart’s intent, and God is all about preserving the family as He created it. He therefore gets the glory (Ephesians 3:14-21).

The New Testament includes historical narratives and epistles which include instruction (and reiterations from the Old Testament and Jesus’ teachings) as to what the family is to be according to God.

Paul spoke to them when he said, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1) and “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).

Why Is Family So Important in the Bible?

God uses families throughout history to enact His will.

The promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:5 involves family.

“‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’”

A later unfolding of the Abrahamic Covenant reveals more details as God tells Abraham He has made him “the father of a multitude of nations…I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.”

God established His everlasting covenant with Abraham and his progeny (Genesis 17:4-7). Thus began a family too large to number.

And within the family of Abraham, offshoots came.

The most significant is the progression of families which led to the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.

We can trace His genealogy at Matthew 1:1-17 (a possible trace of Joseph’s side of the family) and Luke 3:23-38 (a possible trace of Mary’s side of the family).

Not an insignificant aside is God used all sorts of people, including a Moabite woman (Ruth in Ruth 4:18-22), a prostitute (Rahab in Joshua 6:23-25 and Matthew 1:5), and an adulteress (Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 12:24).

The point is God shows no partiality, and He will use families for His purposes in His perfect timing (Isaiah 55:8; Acts 10:34; Romans 2;11; Galatians 4:4).

Who Is Our Family, according to the Bible?

Mark 3:31-35 Authorized (King James) Version

³¹There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. ³²And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. ³³And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? ³⁴And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! ³⁵For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Is our family only biological?

Happily, no.

As Christians, we gain a two-fold family life when we accept and proclaim Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

In one sense, we do have biological families (those who belong to us in the way God intended), for example mother, father, and siblings.

In a second sense, as people belonging to Jesus, we have been adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:16-17).

Christians who have been adopted by other families here on earth are part of a three-fold family (biological, adopted, and God’s family).

We can consider the family as a model for who we (as believers) are as God’s children. Each Christian is a child of God (Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1).

And, according to God’s design, we each have a father, mother, and siblings (usually).

Each part of a person’s biological family is to act as God has mandated in His word.

And each spouse is to be one with the other (Matthew 19:5), just as we are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

As far as the three possibilities, only one will endure forever, and that is the family of God.

We are indeed to love our biological family, yet we will spend eternity worshiping the Lord with our church family (which may indeed include members of our biological families).

Jesus, in Matthew 10:37, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son and daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (See also Matthew 12:50; Luke 14:26).

What Is God’s Purpose for the Family?

The Lord spelled out His reason for a family in Genesis 1:28 when He said,

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Families are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, just as God said would happen to Abraham’s family.

God uses each one born to continue that process through the means of families.

In the end, however, each family member’s purpose is to,

“Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13); God’s ultimate purpose for us is to bring Him the glory He so rightfully deserves.

We are to seek His kingdom 1st as individuals, teach our families to do the same.

We are, as families, to grow in Christ and be witnesses to the world.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

we stand united in Christ to worship Him and enact His will, edify His Kingdom.

Yes, we are all born into a family.

Yet what matters, in the end, is to have been born again into the family of God (John 3:3).

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 45 Complete Jewish Bible

45 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. Set to “Lilies.” By the descendants of Korach. A maskil. A lovesong:

^2 (1)My heart is stirred by a noble theme;
I address my verses to the king;
My tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.

^3 (2)You are the most handsome of men;
gracious speech flows from your lips.
For God has blessed you forever.
^4 (3)Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh;
[gird on] your splendor and majesty.
^5 (4)In your majesty, succeed, ride on
in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness.
May your right hand teach you awesome things.
^6 (5)Your arrows are sharp. The people fall under you,
as they penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies.
^7 (6)Your throne, God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity.
^8 (7)You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions.
^9 (8)Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia;
from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy.
^10 (9)Daughters of kings are among your favorites;
at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir.

^11 (10)Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention!
Forget your own people and your father’s house,
^12 (11)and the king will desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, so honor him.
^13 (12)Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples,
will court your favor with gifts.

^14 (13)Inside [the palace], the king’s daughter looks splendid,
attired in checker-work embroidered with gold.
^15 (14)In brocade, she will be led to the king,
to you, with the virgins in her retinue.
^16 (15)They will be led in with gladness and joy,
they will enter the king’s palace.
^17 (16)You will have sons to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the land.
^18 (17)I will make your name known through all generations;
thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Spurring one Another On, Bringing Out The Best In Others: How Well Does Anyone Really Recognize The Truest Urgency of Encouragement? Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews 10:19-25 Christian Standard Bible

Exhortations to Godliness

¹⁹Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— ²⁰he has inaugurated^[a] for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— ²¹and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. ²³Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The word for “encouraging” here means literally “to stand alongside.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/kjv/tr/0-1/

It has to do with assuring someone that you care, strengthening them by just being there, by coming alongside of them. It’s also similar to a word used to describe the Holy Spirit—parakletos, which means “counselor, advocate.”

Is there anyone out there who does not need to be encouraged today?

There is a high probability that the answer to that question is a resounding NO!

We all do!

Anyone who says they never need encouragement is probably a hurting person.

There’s nothing wrong with desiring or needing encouragement. Jesus did.

His Father encouraged him, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). An angel encouraged him as he struggled alone one night, knowing he would soon be arrested and crucified (Luke 22:43).

In the Upper Room as they were all together celebrating their Passover, Jesus mightily stirred them up by declaring as he broke the bread – “this is my body which is broken for you, then declaring as he raised the cup – this is my blood which is being shed for you, then getting up he shed his tunic and he stated to wash everyone’s feet – John 13:6-8

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

⁸“You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

The disciples were completely stunned, disoriented by these declarations.

Jesus could easily sense this disorientation and moved quickly to encourage.

John 14:1-6 Amplified Bible

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. ⁴And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” ⁵Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “^[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

How well do we recognize when our neighbors need anyone’s encouragement?

One may be a student leaving home for college. Another may be a tired, frazzled mother facing the stress of child care and a strained marriage. Another may be a new widow or widower or new mother whose young child is now facing a severe life threatening medical diagnosis and facing long, lonely and uncertain days, an addict or an alcoholic who is burning one bridge after the other in their days of active use and abuse – they are just about to become unsupported, homeless.

Or perhaps there’s someone you have not seen at worship in a while. When that person is contacted, you discover their life has been put on notice when words like marital separation or divorce are being showered by tears all around them, or their house is being foreclosed, sudden loss of job, and any other countless and diverse reasons for tears. People who need encouragement are not far away.

Our children’s teachers, our worship leaders, pastors, elders—all of these folks need encouragement. Elderly members of our congregations going through a time of transition, moving into senior or assistive living, having to surrender their driver’s license. Being available, a daily encourager can be an addictive but healthy habit. Loving by encouraging, by exhorting, can bring energy and joy.

Will you ask for it?

Will you give it?

Will you do it?

Will you receive it?

Transformation Through Exhortation

2 Timothy 4:1-5 Amplified Bible

“Preach the Word”

4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: ²preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. ³For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, ⁴and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. ⁵But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.

Some of us need to be told to get off the sofa and be productive. Sometimes we just need to receive an order. That’s why there are many commands in the Bible.

Paul motivates Timothy through exhortations, such as Preach, be prepared, correct, rebuke, encourage.

Paul says, “You’ve got an important job to do. I have encouraged you; I have equipped you; I have given you an example; and now I charge you to get down to God’s business.”

The more I get to know myself, the more I realize that I often need a push to volunteer for service in God’s army. I need God himself as my drill sergeant.

We are all born with different personalities.

Hearing a command motivates some while frustrating others.

Prohibitions against disgraceful behavior can actually stir up a desire to disobey.

Something I frequently heard in my more mischievous youth; “Tell that child to stay away from the cookie jar,” and soon Mom would hear its lid rattling open.

Similarly, a “KEEP OFF THE GRASS” sign will actually prompt some soul to deliberately walk on the grass. But although commands might not work for all, most of us needed several stout words from our parents authority in our lives.

God is the ultimate authority in all of our lives.

We follow his commands because He has ultimate authority.

In awe, fear and deep reverence, we know he cares for us, has our best in mind, and acts from an eternal perspective and God’s criticism is always constructive.

And his exhortations are priceless advice. He charges us to hear, listen, obey.

Unswervingly Spur others to Greater Works …

John 14:12-13 Amplified Bible

¹²I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in My name [^[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son.

Unswervingly, in generic English translation it means to follow a direct path, to never turn aside and to be steadfast and loyal.

In Greek, the word is anthistemi, which means to set against or withstand without giving up or letting go. We are to withstand without giving up on the hope we profess. We cannot turn or be turned aside from that hope.

We must hold tightly to it with a single-minded belief that this hope we have in Jesus, that which we profess is based on God’s promises which are unfailing.

The second word that grabbed me here was, spur.

When I hear or see the word spur I think of an attachment to a cowboy’s boots which is meant to get their horses moving forward with a bit more urgency…

Spur also means to provoke or stir up, to goad in to action or to incite.

It also means to urge or encourage to action, to move in vigorous pursuit of an object, to stimulate, to impel, to drive.

We are to spur each other on toward love and good deeds and not to neglect meeting together.

Spur does not mean suggest, imply, or consider.

It does not mean that we should think about it or wait for the right time or even to hold off till it’s convenient.

The sense of urgency here is clear.

We are to stand firm without turning aside, setting ourselves against all that comes at us in the hope of God’s promises.

Additionally, we are to drive and incite each other toward love and good deeds.

This is action! As I read this scripture with new eyes, I don’t see it as the warm fuzzy that I once did, encouraging me to remember God’s promises and to make sure I remain disciplined enough to continue to meet together with the Body.

This is a call to action.

A call for us to stand firm in the living Word of God, and the promises of God in our beliefs, our faith, to encourage one another to act as Christ has taught us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 20 Complete Jewish Bible

20 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. A psalm of David:

^2 (1)May Adonai answer you in times of distress,
may the name of the God of Ya‘akov protect you.
^3 (2)May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Tziyon.
^4 (3)May he be reminded by all your grain offerings
and accept the fat of your burnt offerings. (Selah)
^5 (4)May he grant you your heart’s desire
and bring all your plans to success.

^6 (5)Then we will shout for joy at your victory
and fly our flags in the name of our God.
May Adonai fulfill all your requests.

^7 (6)Now I know that Adonai
gives victory to his anointed one —
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.

^8 (7)Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we praise the name of Adonai our God.
^9 (8)They will crumple and fall,
but we will arise and stand erect.

¹^0 (9)Give victory, Adonai!
Let the King answer us the day we call.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The world offers so little guidance on finding real and lasting truth, but the Word of God has much to say about it. 2 Timothy 2:14-19

2 Timothy 2:14-18 Complete Jewish Bible

¹⁴Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before the Lord not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! ¹⁵Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straight forwardly with the Word of the Truth. ¹⁶But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, ¹⁷and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among these; ¹⁸they have missed the mark, as far as the truth is concerned, by saying that our resurrection has already taken place; and they are overturning some people’s faith. ¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words:

“The Lord knows his own,”^[a]

and,

“Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord
stand apart from wrongdoing.”^[b]

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

A recent blog I read celebrated the idea of a “never-ending vacation.”

Faced with the prospects of an unfulfilling rehabilitation from open heart surgery and the constant demands of everyday life, many people (me) dream of simply “leaving it all behind” and heading for a place with no responsibilities.

While it can definitely be good to have a change of pace in life, the temptation to run away from all our responsibilities will inevitably lead into so much trouble and will damage the relationships in our lives.

In 2 Timothy 2 the apostle Paul mentions two individuals who ran away from home spiritually. Apparently they got caught up in false teachings about the resurrection and undermined the hope that believers had in Christ.

The false teachers had painted an erroneous picture that misled the people to wander from the good news of Jesus—that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, who died for our sins and rose again so we can live forever with him.

2 Timothy 2:11-15 Disciples’ Literal New Testament

If We Endure, We Will Reign With Him. He Will Be Faithful To Us

¹¹The saying is trustworthy— for if we died-with Him, we will also live-with Him; ¹²if we are enduring, we will also reign-with Him; if we shall deny Him, that One also will deny us; ¹³if we are faithless^[a], that One remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. ¹⁴Be reminding them of these things, solemnly-warning in the sight of God not to battle-about-words for nothing useful^[b], to^[c] the overthrow^[d] of the ones hearing.

Be Diligent To Present Yourself As an Approved Worker of The Word of Truth

¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker not-needing-to-be-ashamed, cutting-straight^[e] the word of truth.

No matter how much we might enjoy learning new things in life, we need the “solid unshakeable indelible foundation” of truth through Jesus Christ that we can 100% depend on to provide us with our spiritual home. We need a place where we are known, accepted in grace. And that’s what God gives us in Christ.

Let’s be careful about the stories we tell and the “chatter” we might engage in.

In all that we say and do, we should rigorously ask ourselves, “Does it line up with the truth as revealed by the Word of God “Does it point people to Christ?”

How to Use the Bible to Discover What Is Truth?

We live in a world that increasingly values subjectivity over objective truth.

The World preaches and teaches in academia what is true for one person, may not be true for someone else.

Culture encourages people to discover their own truth, make conclusions solely based on their own personal experiences, promotes the message each person is empowered, entitled to create and envision, then make and take significantly transformational (irreversible) actions upon their bodies minds and spirits to go forth, live by their own set of truths.

The world in its current vast departure from what we have always been taught to be truth by our parents, of male and female, reproduction, offers very little guidance on finding real, lasting truth, but the Bible has much to say about it.

Believers, therefore, are given a most precious gift through God’s word that leads, guides, directs us to discover God’s truth in the midst of dishonesty, miscommunication, and confusion in the broken world in which we reside.

John 14:6 Amplified Bible

⁶Jesus said to him, “^[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The world is constantly changing, but God remains the same. His truth has endured the history of humanity and is still true and valid. The Bible says that Jesus is the truth, and that truth is found in who God is, the ways of God, and the rhythms of the world around us which declare the glory of God.

What Is Truth?

There are many proven scientific and social facts that have been passed along throughout the history of humankind. Information is gained and shared. Truth, however, is far richer than facts or knowledge which the secular world values.

Scripture declares boldly that truth is tightly bound to God.

God is the God of truth (see Psalm 31:5), Jesus is the truth (see John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit is described as the Spirit of truth that was sent to guide believers (see John 16:13).

Truth is found within all three persons of the Trinity, and truth is found in the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Amplified Bible

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; ¹⁷so that the ^[a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

John 17:15-18 Amplified Bible

¹⁵I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. ¹⁸Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world.

Truth sanctifies us; making us holy and set apart. Truth sets us free; no longer bound by sin, death, and lies. Biblical truth does not change over time, it does not trend, and it cannot become less true.

Biblical truth is not dependent on anyone believing it to be the truth. Truth is what we find in Scripture, truth is who God is, truth is the way of God, and truth is ultimately that which aligns with who God is and what He does.

What Does the Bible Say Is True?

John 3:31-36 Amplified Bible

³¹“He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³²What He has [actually] seen and heard, of that He testifies; and yet no one accepts His testimony [as true]. ³³ Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal [of approval] to this: God is true [and he knows that God cannot lie]. ³⁴For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]! ³⁵The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand. ³⁶He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”

God himself is true.

There is nothing false or deceitful about God.

His very nature is truthful.

God is faithful, God is pure, and God is honest.

God is good in every way possible.

It is the very nature of God that makes Him trustworthy and worthy of all honor and praise.

Scripture teaches that God is true.

All God does is true. Just as God himself is true, so too are the works of His hands. All that God has done, is doing, and will do is true. The works of His hands, all of creation, and His continued involvement in humanity is true.

God’s ways are true.

Throughout Scripture, the ways and commands of the Lord are taught as they are woven into the narratives of God and His people. God invites us to set our heart on His truth. The Lord’s path is true and should be what guides believers in how we live, think, and act. God’s way of truth determines our steps when we set the fullness of our hearts on His laws rather than following our own desires.

The word of the Lord is true.

All Scripture is God-inspired (see 2 Timothy 3:16) and therefore, fully true.

We have full confidence that what we read in the Bible is true and reliable as it teaches us all about a wide variety of aspects in relation to God and humanity.

We can read the Bible knowing that it is a dependable source and entirely true.

How Can We Use the Bible to Determine What Is True?

The Bible teaches us that God is true, and that the word of the Lord and His ways are true. The Bible helps us to discern what is true when something is consistent with who God is, the ways of God, and what the Bible teaches.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

The sobering reality is we have an enemy who is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him (see John 8:44).

The enemy tries to distract people with his lies and attempts at distorting the truth to lead people away from God and what is true. In Jesus we find truth.

When we face situations in life, have decisions to make, or are trying to find clarity, we can use Scripture to determine if something is true when it aligns with the teachings, ways, and works of the Lord as He laid out in the Bible.

We Follow a God of Truth

God is not the God of confusion, rather, He is the God of truth.

Followers of Jesus are to live truthfully and honestly, and aligning their lives, thoughts, and actions with the ways of God.

Jesus invites us to know Him, and to know the God of truth.

In the world around us, we are tempted to believe truth is something each of us can construct, or that truth is somehow unattainable.

The Bible, however, demonstrates that truth is found in God alone.

We cannot know truth apart from knowing God.

When one finds and knows Jesus, they have indeed found truth.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 111 Amplified Bible

The Lord Praised for His Goodness.

111 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the congregation.
²
Great are the works of the Lord,
Studied by all those who delight in them.
³
Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
⁴
He has made His wonderful acts to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and merciful and full of loving compassion.
⁵
He has given food to those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence];
He will remember His covenant forever.
⁶
He has declared and made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

⁷
The works of His hands are truth and [absolute] justice;
All His precepts are sure (established, reliable, trustworthy).
⁸
They are upheld forever and ever;
They are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness.
⁹
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name—[inspiring reverence and godly fear].
¹⁰
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom;
A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord;
His praise endures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us … He Revealed the Father to Us … He Extended God’s Kindness onto Us! Titus 3:1 – 8

Titus 3:3-8 Amplified Bible

³For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], ⁵He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). ⁸This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

While doing my morning studies I discovered The Greek word that is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22 sounds similar to the Greek word for “Christ.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/gal/5/22/s_1096022

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5544/esv/mgnt/0-1/

chrēstotēs

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/gal/5/24/s_1096024

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5547/esv/mgnt/0-1/

christos

In the days of the early 1st Century church, that sometimes led to confusion among unbelievers. They weren’t always sure if Christians actually believed in a person called Christ, or if they practiced a religion that focused on kindness.

When one sets their mind to it, when you think about it, that confusion was actually quite a compliment to the first Christians!

How wonderful it would be if the Spiritual Gift kindness stood out as the predominant impression that we Christians gave to unbelievers today.

Unfortunately, kindness may not always be the first impression that comes to mind when people think of Christians being Christians daily and the church.

This is why we must be diligent in our prayers that the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of kindness in us.

As Paul writes in today’s Scripture reading, the kindness of God was the only thing strong enough to conquer our foolishness, disobedience, and bondage to sin, spending and wasting our life in malice, envy, hateful, hating one another.

The Bible verse Titus 3:4-5 from the King James Version (KJV) states, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

This verse is taken from the book of Titus, which is one of the pastoral epistles written by the apostle Paul.

In this letter, Paul addresses Titus, a trusted co-worker, and fellow missionary, giving him instructions for overseeing the churches in Crete and encouraging the believers there to live godly lives.

In Titus 3:4-5, Paul specifically emphasizes the kindness and love of God our Savior, and how it is not by our own works of righteousness that we are saved, but according to His mercy. This passage is packed with profound theological truths that speak to the heart of the Christian faith.

The first part of the verse highlights the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man. This demonstrates God’s surest loving and compassionate nature towards humanity. Despite our sin, malice and rebellion, God freely extends His kindness and love to us, ultimately through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

This is a central theme in the Christian message, emphasizing God’s love and grace are still freely extended to all people, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

Titus 3:4-5 is a powerful and profound passage that captures the heart of the Christian gospel. It specifically emphasizes the kindness and love of God our Savior, the centrality of His mercy in our salvation, and the transformative ever-ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, unbelievers too.

These truths are foundational to the Christian faith, and they remind us of the amazing grace and love that God has shown toward us, despite our disgusting sinfulness, ultimately leading us to respond in humble obedience and gratitude.

We must pray that the power of God’s kindness that saved us will also be the power that is revealing Jesus Christ, continually transforming our character.

This is what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about.

He wants to make kindness flourish, like the trillions of stars of heaven in our lives so when others notice our abundance, they will naturally think of Christ.

The Kindness of God Saved Us (Titus 3:4-6)

God Saved Us!

Those Three, uncomplicated easy to understand but not accept, words.

That’s what we should take away from this passage.

Three simple words that form the grand slam summary of what it means that God’s goodness and loving kindness have appeared. Three words: He saved us.

God showed up in grace. This isn’t a new line, it’s a new act. The lock box of our condemnation was invaded with the light of God’s glory. The radiance of His majesty has beamed forth onto the stage of history in the Person of Jesus Christ our Savior and things are not the same anymore. God came. And God saved us.

God: the one and only true God, the Sovereign of all things, holy beyond our comprehension, righteous in unapproachable purity.

And then us: creatures with open malice against our Maker, our own neighbors, hyper valuing our goods more than our God, degrading, diminishing, devaluing our neighbors, thereby ourselves, serving our cravings instead of our Creator.

That God would save us. Save. Not disintegrate. Not damn. Not punish. But save.

He saved us.

We cannot fathom the wonder here.

We conspired against him.

We took money to betray him.

We openly, publicly, humiliated him.

We openly, publicly put him on trial, a sham trial that would only lead to one outcome – by deliberately perjuring ourselves against him, to his crucifixion.

This is His action towards us:

An Empty Tomb!

for us …

His Resurrection!

for us …

His Ascension!

for us …

He was still incomprehensively kind to us.

He saved us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 8 Amplified Bible

The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.

To the Chief Musician; set to ^[a]a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
²
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.

³
When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established,
⁴
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
⁵
Yet You have made him a little lower than ^[b]God,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶
You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
⁸
The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

⁹
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A song of praise for God’s Creating, and our Keeping(?) His Sabbath Holy. Psalm 92

Psalm 92 Complete Jewish Bible

92 ⁽⁰⁾A psalm. A song for Shabbat:

^2 (1)It is good to give thanks to Adonai
and sing praises to your name, ‘Elyon,
^3 (2)to tell in the morning about your grace
and at night about your faithfulness,
^4 (3)to the music of a ten-stringed [harp] and a lute,
with the melody sounding on a lyre.

^5 (4)For, Adonai, what you do makes me happy;
I take joy in what your hands have made.
^6 (5)How great are your deeds, Adonai!
How very deep your thoughts!

^7 (6)Stupid people can’t know,
fools don’t understand,
^8 (7)that when the wicked sprout like grass,
and all who do evil prosper,
it is so that they can be eternally destroyed,
^9 (8)while you, Adonai, are exalted forever.

^10 (9)For your enemies, Adonai,
your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
^11 (10)But you have given me
the strength of a wild bull;
you anoint me with fresh olive oil.
^12 (11)My eyes have gazed with pleasure on my enemies’ ruin,
my ears have delighted in the fall of my foes.

^13 (12)The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar in the L’vanon.
^14 (13)Planted in the house of Adonai,
they will flourish in the courtyards of our God.
^15 (14)Even in old age they will be vigorous,
still full of sap, still bearing fruit,
^16 (15)proclaiming that Adonai is upright,
my Rock, in whom there is no wrong.

The Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today we pause from our regular Category 5 rhythms of our stormy daily lives to strictly focus on the God of the universe. And so he now calls us to worship!

This day, as we measure the gap between chaos and God, as we solemnly reflect on what it means to be Jesus’ witnesses wherever we go, it can be tempting to think that this work is on our shoulders. If we don’t do it, who will? So God’s gift of Sabbath helps us remember that ultimately this is God’s work, not ours.

Psalm 92 expresses very similar feelings toward God. “You make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!” What a relief it is to know that this world sits firmly in God’s capable, good hands. He has not stopped working; rather, has prepared good works for us to do in his kingdom (Ephesians 2:10).

Sabbath gives us an opportunity to step away from Category 5 days, join with our fellow brothers and sisters to praise and honor the One who has already done it all for us. We have a God who has already modeled Sabbath. We have a Savior who walks with us on mission, wherever God has called us! Hallelujah!

When I was involved in full-time or part-time church ministry, Sunday was usually my busiest and most stressful day of the week.

By Sunday night, I was whipped. Unfortunately, I gave myself no rest. I often got up on 0500Monday morning and hit the bible hard again. Sound familiar?

Granted, I took a week off in the summer and after Christmas, but not much else. I ran on adrenaline and two-liter bottles of Diet Coke.

About five years later, I’d got burned out and have to hit the “reset” button.

All work and no time for myself put me on the Coronary Care Unit in desperate need of a Triple Bypass Open Heart Surgery to save my life – 1% from a grave.

People admired my passion and applauded my high tenacity for my spiritual discipline – but the Heart Surgeon later admonished me for working too hard.

But looking back, working 24/7 wasn’t healthy…and it isn’t .01% scriptural.

The Lord commanded His people to observe a weekly Sabbath without work to commemorate that He created then rested (Genesis 1) and when He gave to Moses his mission and liberated the Hebrews from bondage, led them through the waters to His Mountain, then gave His 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20:8).

In Old Testament days, Sabbath-keeping, along with circumcision and other rituals, helped to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations.

But Jesus makes it clear that “God made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Our Heavenly Father ordained the gift of rest because our wellbeing, our “obedience to his commandments” gives Him delight and brings Him glory and gives us a disciplined pattern of taking care of ourselves.

Resting on the seventh day is therefore a blessing–not a burden. It’s not a measure of spiritual superiority; rather, it’s an admission that every single one of us needs rest, reflection and restoration…and we need it every week.

So how can people in ministry and mission–whether clergy or laity, especially worship ministry-finally come to discipline themselves to experience Sabbath?

Here are three suggestions:

Set Your Sabbath. Schedule a specific day (or consecutive half-days over a 24 hour period) as your “seventh day.” The Jews observed Saturday as their Sabbath and first century believers celebrated resurrection Sunday as “The Lord’s Day.” That makes me think God is not as concerned with which seventh day we observe as long as we set one aside.

What day is your Sabbath? Write it on your calendar.
Keep Your Sabbath. Let’s not be legalistic about this, but “not working” seems to be the operational phrase in Fourth Commandment. For me, “work” means earning my livelihood. Keeping my Sabbath means I consciously choose to defer my job to another day. It means I resist checking my office email or working on that spreadsheet.

What specific boundaries would you set to help you keep your Sabbath?
Share these with a close friend or family member.
Celebrate Your Sabbath. Saying “no” to work for one day a week means I can say “yes” to things that working might otherwise prevent me from doing: spiritual enrichment, enjoying my family, friends, recreation at the beach or mountains, tending my lawn and garden, playing with my dog or napping on the couch. My Sabbath (which happens to be Sunday) is now my favorite day.

What can you do to make your Sabbath especially meaningful and restorative?

Commit to doing these things for the next four weeks and see what happens!

It wasn’t till later in my life that I really learned how invaluable a Sabbath could be. If I went seven straight days without a break, I got fried…and the next seven days were even worse. So I “religiously” began to observe a Sabbath, and the discipline of “not working” made the other 6 days more productive than ever.

Work is good. After all, we are created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

But we are better workers–and worshippers–when we are disciplined, re-energized through the blessing of a weekly Sabbath.

So as God long ago commanded, give it a rest!

Set, keep and celebrate your Sabbath—and I sincerely believe you will soon be a significantly healthier person and a more effective ministry and mission leader.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible

23 ⁽⁰⁾A psalm of David:

⁽¹⁾Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
²He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
³he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
⁴Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.

⁵You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.

⁶Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Being Transformed by Truth: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs 9:7-12 Complete Jewish Bible

⁷“He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted;
reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish.
⁸If you reprove a scoffer, he will hate you;
if you reprove a wise man, he will love you.
⁹Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more.
¹⁰The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of holy ones is understanding.
¹¹For with me, your days will be increased;
years will be added to your life.
¹²If you are wise, your wisdom helps you;
but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In today’s world, we are flooded with information – misinformation, fake news manipulated news to satisfy someone’s propaganda, someone’s ulterior motive someone else’s political or financial or “I need to be in control of it all” agenda.

From every manner of social media to 24-hour news cycles, covering just about every imaginable angle, from good, to bad to outright criminal or falsified, we have more access to more knowledge (%wisdom??) than any other generation.

Yet, despite this abundance of information, wisdom seems increasingly scarce.

People make decisions every day that lead to pain, confusion, and chaos.

Who is smart enough or discerning or wise enough to sort out fact from fiction?

What is missing?

Personally, I tend to err on the far side of caution. If there is risk involved, I will pause and evaluate, even over-evaluate the given situation so that I can make a rational and “well reasoned” decision that should keep me as safe as possible.

At an early age I learned from my parents that respecting things like the law of gravity, that rocks are always going to be harder than my skull, the authority of the people in charge was better than disrespecting things that I cannot control.

Basically what they did was to deeply ingrain, weave into my young soul the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20 Complete Jewish Bible

20 Then God said all these words:

א ²“I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.

ב ³“You are to have no other gods before me. ⁴You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. ⁵You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.

ג ⁷“You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly.

ד ⁸“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. ⁹You have six days to labor and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. ¹¹For in six days, Adonai made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.

ה ¹²“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you.

ו ¹³“Do not murder.

ז ⁽¹⁴⁾“Do not commit adultery.

ח ⁽¹⁵⁾“Do not steal.

ט ⁽¹⁶⁾“Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.

י ^14 (17)“Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

(A: vii) ^15 (18)All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, ^16 (19)they said to Moshe, “You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don’t let God speak with us, or we will die.” ^17 (20)Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.”

What’s Missing? What has been/gone un-noticed?

The Bible gives us the answer.

I have found that the Bible contains all the answers to all the questions we will ever ask, even those answers to those questions we are not wise enough to ask.

Proverbs 9:10 (NLT) declares, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”

Proverbs 9:10 Amplified Bible “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence],
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.”

Proverbs 9:10 Easy-to-Read Version “¹⁰Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 Contemporary English Version

“¹⁰Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
of wisdom.^[a]
To have understanding,
you must know the Holy God.

Here, we see that true wisdom, the kind that emanates from the Word of God, which wisely used, leads to a flourishing life, begins with the fear of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 Amplified Bible

¹⁴But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them, ¹⁵and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; ¹⁷so that the ^[a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

That truth, brought to remembrance by the Holy Spirit of God helps me to reason out, pray through, discern, what the author of Proverbs is saying here.

Fearing the Lord does not mean being scared of God, as if he were a tyrant waiting to take his anger out on us.

To fear the Lord is to give him respect and reverence.

After all, God is the Creator who graciously made a covenant with his people.

He deserves our respect.

God has promised to provide his people with all that they need. He deserves our reverence.

Revering the Lord is the first step in developing a vibrant relationship with him.

Revering God calls for us to submit ourselves humbly to him—seeking him, listening for him and to him, and obeying him, and serving with Him. Fearing the Lord puts us in the position of a true servant who loves God and trusts God.

That is precisely where God wants us to be, and that is where we need to be.

To understand the fear of the Lord, we must first clarify what it is not.

Fear in this context isn’t a terror making us cower in dread or guilt before God.

Instead, the Hebrew word for fear here, yirah, refers to a reverence, awe, and deep respect for God.

It is a recognition of His greatness, holiness, and authority over all creation.

Psalm 111:10 (NLT) reinforces this: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.”

To fear the Lord is to acknowledge, recognize Him as the sovereign King and Creator, to stand in awe of His power, majesty, to align our lives with His will.

In contrast, the opposite of fearing the Lord is living as though God does not matter or is irrelevant.

This is the essence of foolishness, according to the Bible. Psalm 14:1 (NLT) declares: “Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”

When we flat out reject or refuse to acknowledge the fear of the Lord, we turn away from the very source of wisdom.

” To fear God is not to be afraid of Him but to stand in awe of His majesty, power, and greatness.”

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Just as a building cannot stand without a strong foundation, our lives cannot, won’t flourish without the foundation of wisdom that begins with reverence for God.

Wisdom, in biblical terms, is not simply knowledge or intelligence.

The Hebrew word hokmah refers to skill in living—our knowing how to apply knowledge in the right way at the right time. It is the ability to to learn through experience to live well, to make choices that lead to life, peace, and godliness.

In James 1:5 (NLT), we are strongly encouraged to seek this wisdom: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” The wisdom we need comes from God alone, and it begins when we humbly recognize our need for Him in every area of our lives.

The world offers many competing definitions of wisdom.

Some seek wisdom in self-help books, others in success, wealth, or power or by media produced over dramatized, paid appearance televised self help programs.

But true wisdom is found in God’s Word and through a relationship with Him.

Colossians 2:3 (NLT) tells us, “In him (Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s wisdom, and through Him, we can each access, act upon the wisdom that leads to eternal life.

Imagine trying to build a house on sand. No matter how beautiful or well-designed the house is, it will crumble because its foundation is weak.

This is what life is like when we build without God.

But when we build on the solid rock of God’s wisdom, our lives can withstand the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Fear of the Lord and Good Judgment

The second part of Proverbs 9:10 promises that “Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” When we grow in our understanding of who God is—His holiness, His justice, His mercy—it leads to better decision-making.

The phrase good judgment can also be translated as discernment.

Discernment is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies.

In a world filled with moral confusion, we desperately need this discernment.

Hebrews 5:14 (NLT) says: “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”

The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the more our minds are disciplined and trained to think as He thinks and to make decisions that align with His will.

This is why Romans 12:2 (NLT) instructs us all: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

When we fear the Lord and seek His wisdom, He transforms our minds and equips us with the discernment needed to navigate life’s challenges.

“True wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective, and it comes as we grow in our relationship with Him.” – Reverend Dr. Charles Stanley

Living in the Fear of the Lord

So, what does it look like to live in the fear of the Lord?

First, it means living a life of obedience.

Proverbs 8:13 (NLT) says: “All who fear the Lord will hate evil.” When we fear the Lord, we align our lives with His Word, rejecting sin and pursuing holiness.

Second, it means living a life of trust.

Psalm 34:9 (NLT) encourages us: “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.”

When we revere God, we trust Him to provide for our needs and guide us in every situation.

Finally, living in the fear of the Lord means walking in humility.

Proverbs 22:4 (NLT) declares: “True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour, and long life.”

Recognizing our dependence on God, we approach life with humility, understanding that every blessing comes from Him.

Think of a compass.

Without it, a sailor can easily get lost at sea, drifting off course.

The fear of the Lord is like that compass—it keeps us on course, guiding us toward the life God intends for us.

Conclusion: A Call to Wisdom

In closing, the fear of the Lord is not just an abstract concept.

It is a way of life. It is the surest foundation upon which we build everything, and it leads us to true wisdom, good judgment, and a life that honor’s God.

Today, I challenge each and every one of us to examine our hearts. Are we living in the fear of the Lord? Are we sure, building our lives on the foundation of His wisdom, or are we following the world’s definitions of success and knowledge?

In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 14 Complete Jewish Bible

14 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. By David:

⁽¹⁾Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.

²From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
³But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
⁴Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
⁵There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
⁶You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.

⁷How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!

Psalm 139:23-24 The Message

^23-24Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Standing? Sitting? Lounging? Asleep? Vacationing? Arguing? Getting Drunk Humming? Behind the Message are all the ‘beautiful?’ Lazy? messengers themselves. Romans 10:14-17

Romans 10:14-17 The Message

^14-17But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,

A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!

But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful, yet simple, and universal declarations of the good news of the gospel of grace, is found in Chapter 2 book of the Prophet Joel: “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord, will be delivered.”

Joel 2:32 English Standard Version

³²And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Originally, this was an ancient prophetic proclamation made to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament which was subsequently reiterated to the men of Israel in the book of Acts… following Christ’s Resurrection from the dead.

Acts 4:8-12 English Standard Version

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^[b] ¹²And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men^[c] by which we must be saved.”

And then this good news of greatest joy was repeated to the Gentile nations in the epistle to the Romans, where we, who were dead in our sins, discover the beautiful truth that: “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord, will be saved.”

When God speaks, we should listen, but when He repeats an important truth, it should be received with our laser focused undivided attention.

But then comes the devastating reality from Romans 10:14-17 unless someone is prepared to go and tell lost sinners that “whoever will call on the name of the Lord, will be saved,” they will never hear: “For how can they call on the Lord, in Whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him, Whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about Him without a preacher?”

No matter how amazing the gospel of Christ may be, unless lost souls are told the truth about sin and salvation… and unless the good news of the gospel of grace is proclaimed universally, men and women, boys and girls, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles alike, will remain dead in their trespasses and sins.

Not all of us may be called into the office of evangelist or preacher, but every one of God’s children has a Great Commission to be THE light in this darkened realm, salt in a putrefying world, God’s witnesses to those that are lost in their sins, a walking talking testimony of God’s grace to those who are dead in their trespasses, and messenger of hope to those that are without hope in the world.

God has long promised to hear the cries of all who call upon Him – but first they must believe in Him… and Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent. How shocking then to realize unless the gospel is preached to a world of unsaved people, they will neither hear the truth, nor be able to call out to the only One Who can save them from their sins and a lost eternity – but how will they hear without a preacher?

A deliberately silent gospel and a purposely hidden witness will not minister to anyone at anytime for those wandering in, stumbling in, the valley of decisions.

Matthew 9:35-38 English Standard Version

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

³⁵And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Let us pray that God would send out His diligent, vigilant messengers, laborer’s into the ever expanding, ever present harvest-fields of all the souls that need to be saved by grace through their faith in Jesus Christ, and let us ask God to bring His whispers into our lives people, with whom we can share the good news that:

“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord, will be delivered – for how can they call on the Lord, in Whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him, Whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about His message of salvation without a preacher?”

As we assume whatever our “regularly scheduled” bodily or spiritual posture will be for the moment, for all of the live long days, and the longest darkest of nights, let us take careful consideration of what Romans 10:14-17 means to us.

Or not…just go about our regularly scheduled days with our governing attitudes.

Somebody else will surely come along eventually – maybe, perhaps, some day?

Heavenly Father, I guess that there are multitudes of souls in the world today that remain dead in their trespasses and sins. I gratefully, not so gratefully thank You(?) wondering if You have given me all I need for life and godliness.

Should I dare ask that You would use me to share the good news of Christ with others, and pray that You would send more laborer’s into the harvest-fields of the world and bring many souls to saving faith in Jesus, in Whose name I pray? Or should I not pray one prayer, nor utter even one syllable of even one word? or just cry out to be left alone under any all known circumstances? Hallelujah?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Let us Pray,

Psalm 91 Complete Jewish Bible

91 You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon,
who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,
²who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress!
My God, in whom I trust!” —
³he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter
and from the plague of calamities;
⁴he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his truth is a shield and protection.

⁵You will not fear the terrors of night
or the arrow that flies by day,
⁶or the plague that roams in the dark,
or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand;
but it won’t come near you.
⁸Only keep your eyes open,
and you will see how the wicked are punished.

⁹For you have made Adonai, the Most High,
who is my refuge, your dwelling-place.
¹⁰No disaster will happen to you,
no calamity will come near your tent;
¹¹for he will order his angels to care for you
and guard you wherever you go.
¹²They will carry you in their hands,
so that you won’t trip on a stone.
¹³You will tread down lions and snakes,
young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.
¹⁴“Because he loves me, I will rescue him;
because he knows my name, I will protect him.
¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble.
I will extricate him and bring him honor.
¹⁶I will satisfy him with long life
and show him my salvation.”

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Personal Truth? Impersonal Truth? If Jesus said to Me, If you hold onto my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free? John 8:31-32

John 8:31-32 Amplified Bible

The Truth Will Make You Free

³¹So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. ³²And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Sometimes the Bible is described as a telescope. A telescope is not something to look at but an instrument to look through, to bring that which is too distant for us to see closer. When we do what is far away, hard to see becomes clearer to us.

When we look at our life and history through the lens of the Bible, what once seemed distant, hard to understand – God – slowly comes into focus. Through Scripture we are brought close to God. Through Scripture we are brought near to events that happened thousands of years ago. We zoom in, for example, on the life of Christ, who became human and came to live among us (John 1:14).

John 1:14 The Message

¹⁴The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.

God, unexpectedly, abruptly but gently, intruded into mankind’s experience.

Jesus walked among us. Jesus wanted the people of his day to believe in him as the One who reveals the truth about God and what God is doing in this world.

But instead they were slow to catch on, they wanted to hang on to old legalisms, refusing to admit to anyone that they were slaves to sin and could not keep the law perfectly. Jesus urged them to accept him as the eternal truth and life who could bring them out of this slavery and give them new life forever with God.

Are we any different?

As we daily encounter the Word of God, how challenging, how utterly complex is to accept God on his terms, not ours, moving from our world to His Kingdom?

Even those who profess hardcore belief, are we fully relying on the Spirit’s help?

Are we authentically listening, are we authentically hearing, as God speaks to us and breathes into us his life and truth? And believing the truth sets us free-free to serve him in our daily work, play, relationships, and every other facet of life?

Why is the Truth of Jesus even .01% Relevant Today?

The Book of John remains profoundly relevant today, offering readers profound insights into the deeper nature of faith, of hope and love, and eternal life also.

Its emphasis on the divinity of Christ and the transformative power of belief provides a foundation for personal spiritual growth. In a world seeking truth and meaning, John’s Gospel invites us readers to encounter Jesus in a deeply personal way, encouraging them to live out their faith with love and integrity.

John 8:31 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Truth Will Make You Free

³¹So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

In this moment, Jesus speaks to those who have already shown belief in Him, urging them to deepen their faith through committing to actual visible action.

He underscores that true discipleship is characterized by our adherence to His teachings. This means that belief is not merely an intellectual agreement but a transformative process that involves living out His words in our everyday life.

The call to “hold to my teaching” suggests that Jesus had in mind a continuous, active effort to align one’s life with the principles that Jesus was teaching, such as love, mercy, forgiveness, a life grounded in genuine sacrifice and humility.

This passage from John invites believers to reflect on the nature of their faith.

In that moment, it is quite the confrontational statement, challenging them to consider whether their transitional actions now reflect the teachings of Jesus.

By doing so, by trying to shift their mindsets from their world to the Kingdom, they not only affirm their transitioning, transforming identity as His disciples but also committing themselves to experience a deeper relationship with Him.

This commitment to His teachings is a journey of growth and transformation, prayerfully leading to a more profound understanding of His truth and love.

John 8:32 New American Standard Bible 1995

³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The idea of truth in this context is deeply connected to the teachings of Jesus and the gospel.

It implies that through reading, studying and understanding and accepting these teachings, one can move towards achieving a profound sense of freedom.

This sense of freedom is not merely physical or political but is spiritual and emotional, liberating individuals from the chains of sin, guilt, and ignorance.

The truth referred to here by Jesus is the truth of God’s love, grace, and the salvation offered exclusively through their confession of Jesus Christ Savior.

By embracing this truth, by bear hugging this truth, believers are then set free from the burdens that would otherwise hang a thousand pound millstone on their necks, weigh them down, such as fear, doubt, the pressures of the world.

This freedom allows for a life lived in alignment with God’s will, characterized by hope, peace, joy, and a sense of purpose. Moreover, it invites believers to live authentically, in harmony with their true selves as originally created by God.

The verse calls for a sure commitment to seeking and living by the truth, which in turn guides, leads, to a transformative experience of liberation, fulfillment.

Job 9:1-13 The Message

Job Continues

How Can Mere Mortals Get Right with God?

9 ^1-13Job continued by saying:

“So what’s new? I know all this.
    The question is, ‘How can mere mortals get right with God?’
If we wanted to bring our case before him,
    what chance would we have? Not one in a thousand!
God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense,
    who could take him on and come out in one piece?
He moves mountains before they know what’s happened,
    flips them on their heads on a whim.
He gives the earth a good shaking up,
    rocks it down to its very foundations.
He tells the sun, ‘Don’t shine,’ and it doesn’t;
    he pulls the blinds on the stars.
All by himself he stretches out the heavens
    and strides on the waves of the sea.
He designed the Big Dipper and Orion,
    the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri.
We’ll never comprehend all the great things he does;
    his miracle-surprises can’t be counted.
Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don’t see him;
    quietly but surely he’s active, and I miss it.
If he steals you blind, who can stop him?
    Who’s going to say, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’
God doesn’t hold back on his anger;
    even dragon-bred monsters cringe before him.

Psalm 31:3-5 New American Standard Bible 1995

³For You are my ^[a]rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
⁴You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
⁵Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of ^[b]truth.

Psalm 40:9-11 New American Standard Bible 1995

⁹I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
¹⁰I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

¹¹You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
^[a]Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

Psalm 51:5-11 New American Standard Bible 1995

⁵Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶Behold, You desire truth in the ^[a]innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
^7 [b]Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
^[c]Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
^8 [d]Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
⁹Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰Create ^[e]in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew ^[f]a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

What or who is “the truth” that “will set you free” (John 8:32)?

What is the condition for being set free by “the truth”?

What qualifies as “the truth?”

What do you understand about the phrase “will set you free?”

When you see that word “freedom” what thoughts, feelings arise?

What qualifies people as Jesus’ disciples?

What is the flip side of what Jesus said in John 8:31?

What does John 8 32 us teach about?

What does it mean to worship him in spirit and truth?

What did Jesus mean when he said “I am the truth”?

What is the meaning of truth biblically?

Christ Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). That’s a wonderful promise that can be taken seriously, especially when you and I feel the need for some sort of healing – whether the difficulty is injury, illness, financial hardship, a troubled relationship, or anything else.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

25 ⁽⁰⁾By David:

⁽¹⁾I lift my inner being to you, Adonai;
²I trust you, my God.
Don’t let me be disgraced,
don’t let my enemies gloat over me.
³No one waiting for you will be disgraced;
disgrace awaits those who break faith for no reason.

⁴Make me know your ways, Adonai,
teach me your paths.
⁵Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God who saves me,
my hope is in you all day long.
⁶Remember your compassion and grace, Adonai;
for these are ages old.
⁷Don’t remember my youthful sins or transgressions;
but remember me according to your grace
for the sake of your goodness, Adonai.

⁸Adonai is good, and he is fair;
this is why he teaches sinners the way [to live],
⁹leads the humble to do what is right
and teaches the humble [to live] his way.
¹⁰All Adonai’s paths are grace and truth
to those who keep his covenant and instructions.
¹¹For the sake of your name, Adonai,
forgive my wickedness, great though it is.

¹²Who is the person who fears Adonai?
He will teach him the way to choose.
¹³He will remain prosperous,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴Adonai relates intimately with those who fear him;
he makes them know his covenant.

¹⁵My eyes are always directed toward Adonai,
for he will free my feet from the net.
¹⁶Turn to me, and show me your favor;
for I am alone and oppressed.
¹⁷The troubles of my heart are growing and growing;
bring me out of my distress.
¹⁸See my affliction and suffering,
and take all my sins away.

¹⁹Consider my enemies, how many there are
and how cruelly they hate me.
²⁰Protect me and rescue me;
don’t let me be disgraced,
for I take refuge in you.
²¹Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because my hope is in you.

²²God! Redeem Isra’el
from all their troubles!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinners, just come home! Job 8:5-7

Job 8:5-7 Complete Jewish Bible

⁵“If you will earnestly seek God
and plead for Shaddai’s favor,
⁶if you are pure and upright;
then he will rouse himself for you
and fulfill your needs.
⁷Then, although your beginnings were small,
your future will be very great indeed.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Job 8:5-7 Christian Standard Bible

⁵But if you earnestly seek God
and ask the Almighty for mercy,
⁶if you are pure and upright,
then he will move even now on your behalf
and restore the home where your righteousness dwells.
⁷Then, even if your beginnings were modest,
your final days will be full of prosperity.

What great, unsearchable, marvelous things has God earnestly done in your life? What great, unsearchable, marvelous things might God have done in your life, or would have been more aware of as having already been accomplished if…

⁵“If you will earnestly seek God
and plead for Shaddai’s favor,
⁶if you are pure and upright;
then he will rouse himself for you
and fulfill your needs.

The verses emphasizes the importance of earnestly seeking God and pleading with Him, which is a call to earnestly approach God with sincerity and humility.

Earnestly seeking involves a deep, genuine desire to connect with God, fully acknowledging our complete total dependence on His wisdom and strength.

Pleading with the Almighty suggests a heartfelt, persistent prayer, reflecting a deep trust in God’s power and compassion.

This act of seeking and pleading is not just about asking for help, but too about building a connectional relationship with God, recognizing Him alone, as the only source of all wisdom and strength.

In the context of the Book of Job, this verse is part of Bildad’s response to Job, encouraging him to turn to God in his time of suffering.

It serves as a reminder that, regardless of our circumstances, God is always ready to listen and respond to those who approach Him with a sincere heart.

This message is universal, admonishing, encouraging believers to maintain a posture of humility and trust in their relationship with God, knowing that He is always present, will always be present, and willing to guide and support them.

Job 8:5 In today’s context – in a far more complex time, with more people tech savvy than God savvy.

I believe that untold tens, if not hundreds of millions of Christians, all over the world, would give anything to have the religious freedoms we have in America.

Not only to hold the Living Word in their hands, but to read and share it freely, would be like winning the greatest single lottery jackpot of all time to them.

Here, in our westernized culture, with Bibles gathering dust on bookshelves, and Bible apps stored away on our phones, and Bibles gathering mounds and pounds of dust long hidden away from us sinners somewhere in a church pew.

I’m so very afraid we’ve lost our fervor for the precious and holy Word of God.

John 1:29-34 English Standard Version

Behold, the Lamb of God

²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³²And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son^[a] of God.”

Let me now introduce to you our new Senior Rabbi Dr. Earnest Lamb of God.

Meet your new Senior Rabbi Earnest—the Lamb of God who is so well known for his eagerness and wholeheartedness to reveal God, to share God too—that seemingly long forgotten, so seldom acknowledged virtue of the Christian faith.

Do we possess the earnestness (once a week for an hour or too) to get up each day, meet with God in worship thereby replacing our to-do lists and agendas?

An earnestness to share not just the neighborhood gossip or sports, the Gospel within our circle of influence now badly hindered by tolerance, complacency?

Ergo, I am now writing these things to myself as well, sadly realizing how much earnestness has escaped my busy, daily life; how the zeal I once had for Christ has been severely overshadowed by worldly desires and restless temptations.

But now, more than ever before, we have an amazing opportunity to rekindle an earnestness for the Word of God; to read and to study, to share and uphold, and earnestly pray to shine the light of God’s truths in dark places. For the Word of God truly is living and active, able to penetrate the deepest intents of the heart.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Meet Earnest—the attribute that ushers in an excitement for the things of God—rekindling our tiny smoldering flame of faith into a raging fire of conviction and motivation – to run in every which direction of the compass to declare God?

Luke 24:28-35 English Standard Version

²⁸So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³²They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. [and sharing of the Word!]

My prayer for Christians everywhere, dust off their Bibles, that we will awaken anew to the life-giving truths of the Bible and yearn for them as for daily bread.

I ask, in the precious name of Jesus, that we will pick up that Bible, dust it off, and open it as often as we can. I ask for the Holy Spirit to continue His work in us to reach a hurting and confused world, with the only absolute truth there is.

And, lastly, I pray for an earnestness, to once again declare God’s Word—a lamp for our feet and light for our path. (Psalm 119:105)

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 40 English Standard Version

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
²He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
³He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

⁴Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
⁵You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

⁶In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have given me an open ear.^[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.
⁷Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
⁸I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

⁹I have told the glad news of deliverance^[b]
    in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.
¹⁰I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.

¹¹As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
    your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me!
¹²For evils have encompassed me
    beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
    and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
    my heart fails me.

¹³Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
    O Lord, make haste to help me!
¹⁴Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
¹⁵Let those be appalled because of their shame
    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

¹⁶But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
¹⁷As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

Probable or Improbable: Faith to Move Mountains

Pray Until Something Happens!

Prayer for Victory

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

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Genesis 2:21-24 Authorized (King James) Version

What Is God’s Purpose for Our Family?

What Does the Bible Say about Family?

Why Is Family So Important in the Bible?

Who Is Our Family, according to the Bible?

What Is God’s Purpose for the Family?

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Hebrews 10:19-25 Christian Standard Bible

Exhortations to Godliness

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Transformation Through Exhortation

“Preach the Word”

Unswervingly Spur others to Greater Works …

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2 Timothy 2:14-18 Complete Jewish Bible

If We Endure, We Will Reign With Him. He Will Be Faithful To Us

Be Diligent To Present Yourself As an Approved Worker of The Word of Truth

John 14:6 Amplified Bible

What Is Truth?

How Can We Use the Bible to Determine What Is True?

We Follow a God of Truth

The Lord Praised for His Goodness.

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Titus 3:3-8 Amplified Bible

The Kindness of God Saved Us (Titus 3:4-6)

The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.

To the Chief Musician; set to [a]a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David.

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Psalm 92 Complete Jewish Bible

Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible

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Proverbs 9:7-12 Complete Jewish Bible

What’s Missing? What has been/gone un-noticed?

Psalm 139:23-24 The Message

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Romans 10:14-17 The Message

Joel 2:32 English Standard Version

Acts 4:8-12 English Standard Version

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

Psalm 91 Complete Jewish Bible

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John 8:31-32 Amplified Bible

The Truth Will Make You Free

Why is the Truth of Jesus even .01% Relevant Today?

The Truth Will Make You Free

Job Continues

How Can Mere Mortals Get Right with God?

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Job 8:5-7 Complete Jewish Bible

Job 8:5 In today’s context – in a far more complex time, with more people tech savvy than God savvy.

Behold, the Lamb of God

Psalm 40 English Standard Version

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Share this:

To the Chief Musician; set to ^[a]a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David.