Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "abide". We'll be looking at two verses in John. First is John 15:4:
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"Abide" here is the Greek word "meno". Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says: to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy), abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: not to depart; not to leave; to continue to be present; to be held or kept continually. John 15:7 (Amplified) says this:
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
We "bear fruit" as effective ministers of the Gospel when we continue "in Him". That means spending enough time in fellowship with Him that we remain aware of His presence! As we continue to be aware of His presence inside of us AND continue feeding daily on His Word, we will get in the position where we are thinking like Him, speaking like Him, and then we WILL have HIS results! That's a promise, and God keeps His promises! Thank You, Jesus! The song I was going to use wouldn't load, so here is Hillsong United singing To Know Your Name:
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "reward". The Greek word for the Scriptures we'll be looking at is "misthos". Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says: pay for services, good or bad; hire, reward, wages. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: dues paid for work; wager, hire (in both senses - rewards and punishments). We see this in Matthew 6:2-4 concerning our giving:
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already. 3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6 is speaking about our praying:
6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
Matthew 5:11-12 is speaking of times when we endure persecution for our faith:
11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. 17 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.
And then Luke 6:35 speaks about walking in love:
35 But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant) and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked
Our salvation from sin is a free gift, and not a reward or a wage for anything we have ever done! But, everything that we DO once we are born again WILL reap a reward, whether for good or evil, depending on the choices we have made! I KNOW you'll continue making the right ones, and have a great reward for it; in this life AND the next! Here is a song that is new to me! Aaron Keyes singing "Psalm 62 Song":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
The word for this week is "reward". The Greek word for the Scriptures we'll be looking at is "misthos". Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says: pay for services, good or bad; hire, reward, wages. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: dues paid for work; wager, hire (in both senses - rewards and punishments). We see this in Matthew 6:2-4 concerning our giving:
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already. 3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6 is speaking about our praying:
6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
Matthew 5:11-12 is speaking of times when we endure persecution for our faith:
11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. 17 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.
And then Luke 6:35 speaks about walking in love:
35 But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant) and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked
Our salvation from sin is a free gift, and not a reward or a wage for anything we have ever done! But, everything that we DO once we are born again WILL reap a reward, whether for good or evil, depending on the choices we have made! I KNOW you'll continue making the right ones, and have a great reward for it; in this life AND the next! Here is a song that is new to me! Aaron Keyes singing "Psalm 62 Song":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "crave"! I really did some inside checking when that word came up! I couldn't find it in the KJV, but when I tried the Amplified Bible, I found this verse in 1 Peter 2:2-3:
2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, 3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.
In the KJV the word is "desire". It is the Greek word "epipotheo", which means; to dote upon, intensely crave possession, long (according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) and to long for greatly (according to Vine's Expository Dictionary. The Free (online) Dictionary says: to have intense desire for, to need urgently, require. To have an eager or intense desire for. I have found, in the 31 years since I received Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour, that the more I read and study the Word of God, the more sense it makes to me! At the same time, the error and wrong-thinking of the world stands out so clear! But for the intense desire for more of the Word, it has taken obedience to the Word I have already heard and understood. When, at times, I would hesitate or hold off from putting the Word to practice, I would find it easier to stay away and harder to WANT to be in the Word. Obedience is the key, and obedience is what pleases the Lord (1 Samuel 15:22)! When we truly understand that everything we are instructed to do in the Word of God has it's source in His great love for us, then it will be easier to make whatever adjustments may be necessary! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "One Thing". I hope that it will be a blessing to you!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys
The word for this week is "crave"! I really did some inside checking when that word came up! I couldn't find it in the KJV, but when I tried the Amplified Bible, I found this verse in 1 Peter 2:2-3:
2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, 3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.
In the KJV the word is "desire". It is the Greek word "epipotheo", which means; to dote upon, intensely crave possession, long (according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) and to long for greatly (according to Vine's Expository Dictionary. The Free (online) Dictionary says: to have intense desire for, to need urgently, require. To have an eager or intense desire for. I have found, in the 31 years since I received Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour, that the more I read and study the Word of God, the more sense it makes to me! At the same time, the error and wrong-thinking of the world stands out so clear! But for the intense desire for more of the Word, it has taken obedience to the Word I have already heard and understood. When, at times, I would hesitate or hold off from putting the Word to practice, I would find it easier to stay away and harder to WANT to be in the Word. Obedience is the key, and obedience is what pleases the Lord (1 Samuel 15:22)! When we truly understand that everything we are instructed to do in the Word of God has it's source in His great love for us, then it will be easier to make whatever adjustments may be necessary! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "One Thing". I hope that it will be a blessing to you!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "renewing". Titus 3:5 says this:
5 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 is the Greek word "anakainoosis", which means: a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better; according Thayer's Greek Lexicon. At the New Birth, the Spirit of God instantly changes our previously dead human spirit, making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our soul (mind, emotions and will) is NOT instantly "renewed". Romans 12:2 says this:
2 And be not conformed to this world: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This "complete change for the better" of our soul is a process! This is the work of the Word of God (James 1:21). With the combination of our born again spirit and our "continually being renewed" soul, we begin to think, speak and act more like Jesus every day! I know that YOU are well on your way! Here is Hillsong's "We The Redeemed":
5 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 is the Greek word "anakainoosis", which means: a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better; according Thayer's Greek Lexicon. At the New Birth, the Spirit of God instantly changes our previously dead human spirit, making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our soul (mind, emotions and will) is NOT instantly "renewed". Romans 12:2 says this:
2 And be not conformed to this world: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This "complete change for the better" of our soul is a process! This is the work of the Word of God (James 1:21). With the combination of our born again spirit and our "continually being renewed" soul, we begin to think, speak and act more like Jesus every day! I know that YOU are well on your way! Here is Hillsong's "We The Redeemed":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
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