Hi Brian!

I hope you and Kristine are having a wonderful trip! The word for this week is "race". We'll be looking at two different Greek words from two different verses. The first is 1 Corinthians 9:24:

24 Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. KJV

This is the Greek word "stadion". Strong's Concordance says: a stade or certain measure of distance; a race-course. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: the one who outstripped the rest, and reached the goal first, receiving the prize. The next verse is Hebrews 12:1:

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, KJV

This one is the Greek word "agon". Strong's Concordance says: a place of assembly, a contest, an effort or anxiety. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: a contest, of athletes, runners, charioteers; any struggle with dangers, annoyances, obstacles, standing in the way of faith. Both verses, with the different words, are comparing our "race" of life with an athletic competition because we do have an enemy who is trying at every turn to defeat us or cause us to quit. It takes the same dedication and determination that a winning athlete has to have in order to be successful and to finish our "race". We have the advantage of the Spirit of God as our Helper, the Wisdom of God through the Word, and the gifts and talents He has given us, but without discipline and determination, we will never fully walk in them. It is exciting for me to see the success that you and Kristine have had in your careers. You already operate with determination and discipline, so when you add the supernatural anointing that comes from God, there is no limit to the success that you can have in every area of life! Here is Hillsong with "Running", because that IS what we do in a "race"! :) 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

Happy Father's Day to one of the very best fathers I know! The word for this week is "image". We'll be looking at this word in these two portions of Scripture:

Rom 8:2 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. KJV

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. KJV

This is the Greek word "eikon". Strong's Concordance says: a likeness, i.e. statue, profile, representation, resemblance. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament adds this: our being conformed to Christ is given its distinctive emphasis by the fact that this means participation in his divine likeness.  This likeness is the goal. Seeing the Lord's glory means sharing it and thus being changed into his likeness. The concern of the Christian life is already the putting on of the new being that is renewed after the image of its Creator. When we spend time in His presence through prayer, praise and worship, study of the Word and intimate fellowship with Him, WE are changed from the inside out to reflect HIS attributes! We will begin to think like Him, speak like Him and act like Him! THEN we WILL have His results! The area of your life that most shows up Jesus to me is your quiet strength! I have never heard you raise your voice, yet you are definitely in control of the situations that affect your home and your family! I KNOW that others see that in you, also! YOU, look like JESUS! His very image! Here is another new song from Hillsong United called "Empires" that speaks to this subject  a little bit! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "study". It's found in two places in the New Testament: 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. KJV

In 2 Timothy, the Greek word is "spoudazo". Strong's Concordance says: to use speed; to make effort; to be prompt or earnest. Thayer's Greek Lexicons adds: to exert oneself. Vine's Expository Dictionary also adds: to be zealous. It takes quite a commitment to put that kind of "study" in so that we can know the Word of God properly! Here is this same verse from the Amplified Bible and the Wuest Translation:

15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. AMP

15-18 Bend your every effort to present yourself to God, approved, a workman unashamed, expounding soundly the word of the truth. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest 

In 1 Thessalonians, the Greek word is "philotimeomai". Strong's Concordance says: to be fond of honor; emulous (eager or earnest to do something). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: from a love of honor to strive to bring something to pass. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to be ambitious; make it one's aim. This word seems to pertain to the reason and purpose for studying the Word AND for anything else that we do. There's a quote on our SWC website that appears in the "Nuggets of Wisdom" section that says this: 'He who has a "why" to live can bear almost any "how".' Here is this verse from the Amplified Bible and from the Wuest Translation:

11 To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you, 12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing. AMP

. Now, as for you, I beg of you, please, brethren, that you see to it that you continually are increasing more and more [in this love], that you make it your ambition to be living a quiet life, that you are cultivating the habit of attending to your own private affairs, and that you are working with your hands, even as I gave you a charge, in order that you may be conducting yourselves in a manner becoming to you [as children of God] toward those who are on the outside, in order that you may not be having need of anything. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest

It has been very exciting to see you reap the rewards of your diligence, focus and goal setting, in your career, in the Word of God, and in raising your family! Now, just for fun, I want to share the Message Bible version of these verses! This does NOT pertain to you at all, but they made me laugh! 

11 Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. 12 We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.  THE MESSAGE

Whoever said that Bible study wasn't fun has never really studied! :D Here is Hillsong United with another new song from their album "Empires" called "Here Now (Madness)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "keep". There are SO many different words used for keep, both in the Old and the New Testaments. We'll look at just two of them today. The first is found in Isaiah 26:3:

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee. KJV

This one is the Hebrew word "natsar". Strong's Concordance says this: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to watch; preserve, to guard from dangers. The promise here is that HE will guard, protect and preserve us in HIS "perfect peace" (Shalom that we covered in the first month of this blog) IF our minds are stayed (we'll cover that word in a future blog post!) on Him. Look at the Amplified Bible version of this verse:

3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.  AMP

It is our responsibility to keep our minds free from the negative influences of the enemy by spending time in His Word, getting it inside of us. THEN He will will cause that SHALOM (safety, happiness, prosperity, health, welfare, soundness, completeness, tranquility and contentment) operating and flowing in and through our lives! THAT will cause people to take notice of our God-blessed lives! The next verse we'll look at is Proverbs 7:1-2:

1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. KJV

This "keep" here is the Hebrew word "shamar". Strong's Concordance says this: to hedge about (as with thorns); to protect; to guard; to attend to. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds this: to observe; to treasure; to celebrate; to preserve.  The Amplified Bible says THIS:

1 MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] and treasure them.  2 Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.  AMP

When we treat the Word of God as the precious treasure that it is (TRUTH- John 17:17) by studying it, meditating on it, speaking it out and daring to stand on it, then HE will confirm that Word in our lives, sometimes with signs and wonders and miracles! HIS will will "RULE"! That's the name of the song I'm sharing with you today! From Hillsong United's new album "Empires":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!