Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "ransom". This is found three times in the New Testament, in Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45 and 1 Timothy 2:5-6:

Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. KJV

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. KJV

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. KJV

In the first two we see the Greek word "lutron" and in the third the Greek compound word "antilutron". Strong's Concordance says of lutron: something to loose with, i.e. a redemption price. The Theological Dictionary adds: releasing by payment. The "anti" in the compound word is also found in the preposition "for" which follows ransom in the the first two verses. The Theological Dictionary says: in place of, to the advantage of. Strong's Concordance adds: instead of or because of. In 1 Timothy 2:5, the preposition "for" is the Greek word "huper", which Vine's Expository Dictionary says is: on behalf of. Jesus gave His life to pay the price that was required for sin (Romans 6:23) which is death. Not the cessation of physical life, but the eternal separation from the God of the Bible. He did this by taking OUR place and paying OUR price! That is, those who receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior. In 1 Timothy we see that (huper) He did this in behalf of all mankind! Every person has the potential to receive their redemption from sin and be loosed from the penalty of it! Those who refuse to do so will not. God has done everything necessary, the choice is up to us! THAT is why we are to preach the Good News! I LOVE John 3:15-17 from the Amplified Bible:

15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! 16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP

When we present the Gospel as the Good News that God isn't holding anything against anyone and that the only sin NOT covered by the Blood of Jesus is the sin of rejecting Him, who wouldn't want to receive THAT promise? They may not ever do so in our presence, but that Good News WILL draw them! When you or your family share this Good News with others, expect that they will receive and just continue to pray for them! His Word will NOT return empty, but WILL accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:11)! In the meantime, your lives speak so clearly of HIS love and provision! You are definitely an inspiration to us! Here is Hillsong Kids again with "Tell The World":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "debate/debates". There are only two places in the New Testament where these are found: 

Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, KJV

2 Cor 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: KJV

This is the Greek word "eris". Strong's Concordance says this: a quarrel, i.e. wrangling. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: contention, strife. Vine's Expository Dictionary includes these: quarrel, especially rivalry; and the expression of enmity (Dictionary: Deep-seated, often mutual hatred.). Where the world LOVES a good debate, the God of the Bible does NOT! The world's idea of debate may start out as a friendly discussion of opposing viewpoints, but many times it DOES end up in contention, strife, rivalry, and even hatred! Since the Word of God can only be understood by those who have been born again (1 Corinthians 2:14), we should never try to "debate" the Word, but LIVE the Word! I like this quote from Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke:

"The answer for this nation is not polemics and debate, but the consistent, bright-burning witness of genuine believers. Let me remind you, if you want to be rid of the darkness, stop arguing and just switch the light on!"

HE (Jesus) IS the Light! 

John 1:1-5: IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.  [Isa 9:6.] 2 He was present originally with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. 4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. AMP

John 8:12: Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. AMP

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes. 36 While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. KJV

So, as children of the Light, we must simply be doers of the Word and let the light of His life and presence in us shine out to those we do life among! I KNOW that you and your family are being this Light at work, at school and wherever you go! No need for many words, your life SPEAKS volumes! Here is Hillsong Live with "Children of the Light":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "flee"! The verse we are probably all most familiar with is James 4:7:

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. KJV

This, and every New Testament "flee", is the Greek word "pheugo". This is a primary verb that Strong's Concordance says means: to run away (literally or figuratively), to shun, to vanish. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to seek safety by flight, to escape safe out of danger. That is certainly true of what the enemy is trying to do when we stand on the Word, submitted to God! The Voice translation of the Bible says this:

7 So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure. 

The first requirement, though, is that WE must submit to God. One of the ways that we submit is by obeying the Word. Some of the verses that instruct US to flee certain things include these:

1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 19 What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? 20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. KJV

1 Cor 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. KJV

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. KJV

2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. KJV

By "fleeing" these things that the enemy tries to use to tempt us, WE are running from danger into the safety of the Word and the presence of God! God's intention for US is ALWAYS good! John 10:10 reveals the plans and purposes of the devil in comparison to God's plans and purposes for our lives:

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). AMP

I also like this from the Old Testament, where the word for "flee" is the Hebrew word "nuwc". 

Prov 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion. KJV

This word is similar to the Greek. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament it: denotes rapid movement away from something or someone. It usually connotes escape from real or imagined danger. THAT sums up Proverbs 28:1 pretty well! As you stand on the Word for yourself and for your family, you will put the devil on the run! What he means for evil, God will turn around for your good! Have a great week celebrating Ellyson Grace and her first birthday! Here, in her honor, is Hillsong Kids with "Rainbow":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "dominion". In the Old Testament we see the word here in Psalm 8:4-6:

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 but a little lower than 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: AMP

This is the Hebrew word "mashal". Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to rule, have dominion, to reign. We see this same word again in Psalm 19:13:

13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression. AMP

So God intended for  mankind to operate at a level just a little lower than Himself! To rule over his own life and to be under the "dominion" of no one but God! With Adam's sin, mankind lost that right to rule and reign. They could, however, come to Him in prayer, as this psalmist did, to ask Him for help. We still come to Him in prayer, but this dominion was restored by Jesus through His death, burial land resurrection, but only to those who will receive Him. Romans 6:13-14 says this:

13 Neither yield  your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. KJV

This is the Greek word "kurieuoo". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to be lord of, to rule over, have dominion over. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to have power over. When we do sin, we have been given 1 John 1:9 to erase that sin so that it cannot have dominion over us again! Not only that, but we also have this promise in Romans 6:8-9:

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him. KJV

We LIVE, in Him! We do NOT have to operate under the law of sin and death anymore! Romans 8:1-2:

1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and of death. AMP

So, as you continue to grow in the Word of God, you will continue to be able to operate from the place of authority that God intends for you to walk in, in every area of your life! As head of your household, your family will continue to be protected, blessed and loved more each day! Keep up the good work! It is showing! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Forever Reign":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!