Hi Brian!

The "word" for this week will be two words: "clean/cleanse" because, of course, they go together! We'll look first of all at 1 John 1:9:

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

"Cleanse" here is the Greek word "katharizo". Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to make clean from physical stains and dirt, from disease (as in leprosy), from defilement of sin, from the guilt of sin, to consecrate. I like the Amplified Bible for this!

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. AMP

By our act of obedience to confess the sin that we know, we put ourselves in position to have Him also cleanse us from the things that we are not even aware of as sin yet! Continuously! The word clean is the adjective of the verb for cleanse and is found in Luke 5:12-13 and John 13:6-10:

12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. KJV

6 When He came to Simon Peter, [Peter] said to Him, Lord, are my feet to be washed by You? [Is it for You to wash my feet?] 7 Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on. 8 Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him, Unless I wash you, you have no part with (in) Me [you have no share in companionship with Me]. 9 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too! 10 Jesus said to him, Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is clean all over. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you. AMP

This is the Greek word "katharos". Vine's Expository Dictionary says: free from impure admixture, without blemish, spotless, pure, blameless, innocent. In the first example the leper was healed of the disease that had attacked his body. In the second,  we see the instance where Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples. Peter thought that he was being humble by refusing to let Jesus wash his feet, but Jesus was trying to show to them that once they were born again (after the resurrection) and made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), then they only needed to confess their sin to remain "clean". In other words, they didn't need to get "born again, again".  So, 1 John 1:9 is our "foot washing"! No more "dirty feet"! Just confess the sin and receive the forgiveness and the cleansing! I am SO thankful for THAT! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Who Saves":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "anchor". The only place it is found in the Word of God is in Hebrews 6:19:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil; KJV

This is the Greek word "ankyra". The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament says: a ship's anchor; for that which gives support and stability. The whole passage of verses 16-20 explains just what that "anchor" or "support and stability" is for us:

16 Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves], and with them in all disputes the oath taken for confirmation is final [ending strife]. 17 Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath. 18 This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]. 19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it — a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,  [Lev 16:2.] 20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. AMP

I also like the Message Bible for this:

16 When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. 17 When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee —   18 God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. 19 It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God 20 where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek. Message Bible

His WORD is our anchor. We know from Numbers 23:19 that God cannot lie, and from John 17:17 that His Word IS Truth. We can count on it! When we do, then our lives, anchored in Him and the Truth of His Word, will be an example of Heaven on earth! You and your family are a blessing to everyone who knows you, and will be to those you have yet to meet! Here is a new song from Hillsong Live's "Glorious Ruins" album called "Anchor":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "works". One of the Greek words translated "works" is in these verses:

John 5:36 But I have as My witness something greater (weightier, higher, better) than that of John; for the works that the Father has appointed Me to accomplish and finish, the very same works that I am now doing, are a witness and proof that the Father has sent Me. AMP

John 9:4 We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight; night is coming on, when no man can work. AMP

John 14:11 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.] AMP

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. KJV

This is the Greek word "ergon:. Strong's Concordance says this: to work, toil (as an effort or occupation), an act. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: Business, employment, that with which one is occupied; any product, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind; an act, deed, thing done. These things are the results that we get from acting on the Word of God! These are the things that people can see! Another Greek word translated "works" is found in these verses:

Matt 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. KJV

Matt 14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.KJV

Mark 6:2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands! AMP

Luke 19:37 As He was approaching [the city], at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God [extolling Him exultantly and] loudly for all the mighty miracles and works of power that they had witnessed, AMP

This is the Greek word "dunamis". Strong's Concordance says: force, miraculous power. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: universally, inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; the power of performing miracles; The first works were what people saw Jesus and the disciples doing, and the results of what they did. The second works is the POWER that produced those results! In this life, we do not ever have to rely on our own "power" but on what He has made available to us because He lives IN us! That's why we can declare Philippians 4:13:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. AMP

He DOES expect us to use the God-given gifts and talents that we have, and to be diligent about it, but He WILL flow through us above and beyond our own natural ability when we trust in Him! Your "works" are evident in the success that you have accomplished in all areas of your life! His power is evident in the above and beyond that you have been able to accomplish! This applies to your job, your music, your family and everything else that you have put your hands to do! He is showing Himself off in your life to all who know you! You are a living witness to Who HE is! Great work man of God! Here is another new song by Hillsong Live called "Closer":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "enough". We'll be looking at two verses. The first is Exodus 36:3-5:

3 And they received from Moses all the freewill offerings which the Israelites had brought for doing the work of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. And they continued to bring him freewill offerings every morning.  4 And all the wise and able men who were doing the work on the sanctuary came, every man from the work he was doing,  5 And they said to Moses, The people bring much more than enough for doing the work which the Lord commanded to do. AMP

The next is Malachi 3:10, the promise to the tither:

10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. AMP

The word "enough" here is the Hebrew word "day". Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: sufficiency (an adequate amount). Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: the required. These two portions of Scripture above show opposite views of the giving and receiving relationship! When God's people left Egypt, the Egyptians gave them much wealth! This is what the people were now bringing for the building of the Tabernacle, and they brought MORE than was required or necessary to finish the building of it. In Malachi, we see the promise to those who will willingly tithe the first 10% of their increase! There will be MORE provided than is required! I LIKE that! That is why we, as tithers and givers, can make the great confessions of faith about what is coming into our lives! My personal thought is that the Egyptians who gave to the Hebrews willingly, were rewarded for their giving and the nation of Egypt rose up again. Never as glorious as it had once been, but far better than if they had not sown at all into the Hebrew people! I LOVE that our God is the God of "more than enough"! He is extravagant when it comes to His kids! After all, He DID say this, through Jesus, in John 10:10 AMP:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

"Enough" is a GREAT word, don't you think? Here is a new song from Hillsong Live called "Christ Is Enough":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!