Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "perform". We'll be looking at two different Greek words translated "perform". The first is found in Romans 4:20:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. KJV

This is the Greek word "poiéo". The Theological Dictionary says: to create, make, do, act. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to produce, construct, form, fashion. Abraham was confident that God was able to do all that He had promised him! This man nearing 100 years old became confident that the One, True God would give him a son in his old age! He doubted at first, but then he grew in faith. Here is this verse from the Amplified Bible:

21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. AMP

Sometimes what we see promised in the Word seems so impossible to happen in the natural! Only time spent hearing and hearing the Word concerning this promise will build our faith to the point where we, like Abraham, will be thoroughly convinced that it WILL happen! The next "perform" is found in Philippians 1:6:

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: KJV

This is the Greek word "epiteleo". Strong's Concordance says: to fulfill further (or completely); to execute. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete. The Amplified Bible says this:

6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. AMP

We must have patience in this growth process, realizing that this is HIS work! Zechariah 4:6 says this:

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. KJV

Philippians 2:13 says:

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. AMP

Your study of and obedience to the Word of God has already resulted in great growth in faith! Keep up the great work! Here is Hillsong with "Lord Of Lords":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "gentle". There are two different Greek words translated gentle in the New Testament. The first is found in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. KJV

This is the Greek word "epios". Strong's Concordance says: affable, i.e. mild or kind. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: mild, gentle, was frequently used by Greek writers as characterizing a nurse with trying children or a teacher with refractory (obstinately resistant to authority or control) scholars, or parents toward their children. This is instructing those who teach the Word of God to treat unbelievers and believers who don't yet know and understand the Word of God with great patience, as you would your own child. Here are these verses from the Amplified Bible:

24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. 25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it], 26 And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will. AMP

 We all started out knowing nothing about the Word and someone had to patiently teach and train us. We are to have the same patience with others! Having young children is great practice for patience! I have seen you and Kristine with your daughters and  I know that you are excellent at this! The next word is found in James 3:17:

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. KJV

This is the Greek word "epiekes". Strong's Concordance says: Appropriate, i.e. mild. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: seemly, suitable, equitable, fair, mild, gentle. The Theological Dictionary says: what is right or fitting; what is serviceable; equable, moderate, reasonable, gentle. Realizing that the Word that we see and hear, and what the Holy Spirit is telling us about it, is appropriate for our lives and right and fitting for each situation should help us to be quicker to obey that Word, even when it appears to be hard to do! The end results are ALWAYS worth it! THIS "Father" (God) really DOES know best! Here is a really old worship song by Hillsong called "I Live To Know You":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!


The word for this week is "private". We find it only one time in the Bible, in 2 Peter 1:20:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. KJV

This is the Greek word "idios". Strong's Concordance says: pertaining to self; ones own. The Amplified Bible says this:

20 [Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving). AMP

One of the reasons that there are so many different denominations is a lack of understanding and obedience to THIS Scripture! Every denomination began as a work of the Holy Spirit, but then people got involved and began to regulate and separate! They separated from others who didn't interpret the Word of God in the same way that they did. They formed rules, regulations and bylaws that incorporated their own particular view on what the Word of God was saying about certain topics. We see in 2 Peter 1:20 that God does NOT approve of this! Where there should be unity (Ephesians 4:3), there is division and discord. Jesus Himself said that there would be division in the earth, but that it would be a division between believers and unbelievers; between those who received Him and those who did not. True unity will come when born again believers, who have the Spirit of God living in them, come together around the Word. 1 John 2:20 and 27 say this;

20 But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.

27 But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, you shall abide in him. 

KJV

The Holy Spirit is the only One Who can cause this unity when WE allow HIM to teach us what the Word of God REALLY means! We can know THIS for certain: God wants us to know Him and His Word more than we do! Paul tells us that by knowing HIM, we also come to know the power that flows from Him, and how WE are to operate in it! Now we  know why the enemy fights that harder than almost anything! I LOVE the Word! I'm glad you do, too! Have a wonderful week! Here is another fun song from Hillsong Kids called "I'm Not Ashamed":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "apprehend". This word is found in Philippians 3:12-13:

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

This is the Greek word "katalambano". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to seize upon, take possession of. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to appropriate. The Amplified Bible makes it clearer:

12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]... AMP

Paul is speaking here as an extension or further explanation of what he had stated as his purpose or goal in verses 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

Paul was explaining that even though this was his most important pursuit, he hadn't arrived there yet! The rest of verse 13-14 reveal what he was planning to do about it!

13 ... but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. AMP

 We will never actually arrive there until we see Him (1 John 3:2)! What we CAN do is to continue to grow in the Word every day! Paul also adds this exhortation in verse 16:

16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that. AMP

That's the only way to grow up in the Word of God; do what we know to do and study to learn more. Each layer of knowledge builds upon the previous layer to give us a strong understanding or "apprehension"! Your continued growth in the Word of God is evident by the way you and Kristine are raising your children and the way you run your household! This is very gratifying to a Godmother and "Godmother-in-law"! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "All Of My Days":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!