Hi Brian!


The word for this week is "learn". The words are a little different in the Old Testament and the New Testament. First we see this in  Deuteronomy 31:12-13:

12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: 13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.  KJV

This is the Hebrew word "lamad". Strong's Concordance says this: to goad, to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive). Brown-Driver-Briggs says: to learn, to teach, to exercise in, to be trained. Then we see this in Matthew 11:29:

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. AMP

This is the Greek word "manthanoo" Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to learn, to be apprised, to increase one's knowledge, to hear, be informed, to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of or accustomed to. 


The biggest difference between the O.T. learning and the N.T. learning is that they were learning the Law in the Old and we are learning about the One, True God in the New! In the Old testament they were given the words of the Law and parents trained their children to follow certain procedures and do things in a certain way. In the New Testament, we are learning about the person of the One, True God so that we can understand HIM! When we get to know HIM, the results are found in Philippians 3:10-11:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. AMP

The  more that we know and understand Him, the more we will know and understand the POWER that Jesus operated in, and that HE wants US to operate in! Look at John 14:11-12:

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father's name convince you.] 12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. AMP

We ALL still have a lot of "learning" to do to get to the place of doing the works of Jesus, and then the greater works! Today is a GREAT day to start learning more! Here is "Hillsong" with "Lost Are Found". The lyrics are found below:

VERSE 1:

Everlasting
While Earthly ages fade
In mercy
Our God Your kingdom reigns

CHORUS:

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

VERSE 2:

In the Saviour
Injustice brought to right
For Your glory
That Your name be lifted high

CHORUS:

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet
Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

BRIDGE: 

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You Are God
Forever You will reign
The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You Are God
Forever You will reign

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!


Happy Father's Day to a wonderful father! The word for today is actually two words: "be still", and specifically from Psalm 46:10:

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. KJV

This phrase is the Hebrew word "raphah". Strong's Concordance says that this is a primitive root meaning "to slacken". It is translated in various other verses as  with such words as: abate, cease, let alone, let go. One of the definitions found in Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon is: to let drop, relax, to refrain, to be quiet. The Amplified Bible says this:

10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! AMP

In order to properly hear and discern His voice when we spend time in fellowship with Him, we must "let go" of all doubt, unbelief, guilt, worry, fear, or anything else that would clog up our mind, emotions and will (soul), making it difficult to hear! That is one of the reasons for 1 Peter 5:7:

7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. AMP

In Psalm 46:10 the word "know" is the Hebrew word "yada`", which, according to Brown-Driver-Briggs means to learn to know, to perceive, to discern. Being still is a prerequisite for being able to clearly hear, see, know and understand the leading, guidance and direction of the Spirit of God! Being a professional in the business world, you already understand and do this where your work is concerned. Using that same diligence with the Word of God will reap great rewards and will affect every area of your life! Keep up the good and diligent study! The results are showing! Here is Hillsong United with a really slow and worshipful song called "Still":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!


We are so sorry for the loss of your grandfather. I am fully convinced that God heard and answered your prayers for him and that you WILL see him again! We are thanking HIM for peace, joy, and an abundance of great memories!


The word for this week is "awake". We will be looking at two different Greek words translated "awake". The first is found in Romans 13:11 and Ephesians 5:14:


11 Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). AMP

14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. AMP

This is the Greek word "egeiroo". Strong's Concordance and Thayer's Greek Lexicon both say: to arouse from sleep. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: awakening from a state of moral sloth. 


The other word is found in 1 Corinthians 15:34:


34 Awake [from your drunken stupor and return] to sober sense and your right minds, and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame. AMP

This is the Greek word "eknepho". Strong's Concordance says: to rouse oneself out of stupor. Thayer's Lexicon and Vine's Dictionary say: to return to oneself from drunkenness, become sober, to return to soberness of mind. Vine's also says: a return to soberness of mind from the stupor of consequent upon the influence of evil doctrine. 


When reading the Epistles we need to remember that these were letters written to the churches. They were addressed to the born again believers. The first two references are speaking to those believers who are not aware of the times in which we live! They may have become lazy in sharing their faith, thinking that there is a lot of time left before Jesus comes again. Though that may or may not be true, for some TODAY is the last chance they may have to hear the Gospel! Each day is a gift from God and we should live the life He has given us to the fullest, as a witness of HIS light and life and love! 


The second reference is speaking to those believers who have gotten so involved in, and enamored by, the world that they have forgotten that HE is to be our standard of right and wrong. We are to live to please HIM and bring glory to HIS Name, rather than our own. This must involve a balance between understanding the Biblical standard of what is sin and God's unconditional love for the sinner! We are to hate the sin, but love the sinner. We don't judge people, but we must never compromise the Truth. If we go back to the two most important commandments that Jesus gave, we should be able to walk that balance with success and be a light to the lost. Matthew 22:37-39:

37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).  [Deut 6:5.] 38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. AMP

Even if some of your friends and family don't appear to be interested in hearing the Gospel, they WILL be won over by your life and the love that you display! They're watching and I KNOW that they really like what they see! You and your family are a great blessing to us! We love you and appreciate you! Here is another song from Hillsong called "Awakening":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!


The word for this week is "triumph". It is only found one time in the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 2:14:

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  KJV

This is the Greek word "thriambeus". Strong's Concordance says: to make an acclamatory (a shout or salute of enthusiastic approval - dictionary) procession; to conquer or to give victory. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to celebrate a triumph. The Amplified Bible says:

14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, AMP

The Complete Jewish Bible says this:

14 But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him!  CJB

When we stand on the Word of God in faith and He confirms that Word, then people take notice! HE gets the glory and the opportunity is there for US to give the answer when people ask us what happened (1 Peter 3:15)! That's one of the reasons that God so loves when we walk in health, prosperity, favor and victory! When our motives line up with His motives, there is no stopping the "triumph"! Your life is such a great testimony of the love, goodness, favor and anointing of Almighty God! Here is a song from the Hillsong United "Live In Miami" album called "Freedom Is Here/ Shout Unto God":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!