Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "heart". I was surprised to see that we have never used that word before! There are only two different words translated heart in the New Testament. (A third reference is for the phrase "hardness of heart"). One of these two is only found once and is translated "soul" in other instances. Of the other one, we'll be looking at these verses:

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. KJV

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. KJV

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. KJV

This is the Greek word "kardia". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: 1. that organ in the body which is the center of the circulation of the blood. 2. universally denotes the seat and center of all physical and spiritual life. (this includes: the vigor of life (that which gives us life) and the soul (the mind, emotions and will). We know that we are triune beings, just like the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). WE are spirit beings, we have souls, and we live in bodies while on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 1 Peter 3:4 (above) tells us that there is a hidden man in the "heart" that is the spirit of a person. By this we can see that the heart is actually a combination of the spirit (in the image of God for a born again believer) and the soul (mind, emotions, and will). Knowing this, we can see from Romans 10:9-10 that our believing must be in the spirit, which contacts God and our soul, which must be fed the Word of God in order to agree with God. When those two are in agreement, faith is there and we receive deliverance! (That is what the word for salvation means)! We can see this especially in Mark 11:23:

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. KJV

We KNOW that the spirit of man knows and recognizes spiritual Truths, but it is the soul that makes the choices. Doubt does not attack the spirit, but the soul! Our spirit ALWAYS agrees with God, but the soul makes the choices, so we MUST renew that soul (mind, emotions and will) with the Word until we agree with the Word! THEN doubt will NOT stand and our faith will work! WE will be praying in faith for YOU to have a safe, efficient, prosperous and profitable trip this week! Here is another new song from Hillsong United called "When I Lost My Heart To You (Hallelujah)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

Happy Father's Day to one of the very BEST father's that I know! Your beautiful, fun, smart, creative and loving daughters are a testament to that! The word for this week is "closer". It's only found once in the entire KJV Bible. Proverbs 18:24:

24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "dabeq". Strong's Concordance says this: adhering. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: clinging to. The word "friend" in this verse gives us a clearer understanding. The first "friends" is the Hebrew word "rea`". Strong's Concordance says: an associate. Brown-Driver-Briggs adds: a companion, a fellow-citizen. The type of "friend" that sticks "closer" is the Hebrew word "`ahab". Strong's Concordance says: a primitive root: to have affection for (sexual or otherwise). Brown-Driver-Briggs adds; to love. Vine's Expository Dictionary speaks of the strong attachment of a servant toward a master and of the special friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1). 

This type of friendship goes even deeper than a sibling relationship. This is the type of friendship that is a part of your relationship with Kristine. It can also be a part of the relationship we may have with certain other born again believers. The greatest example of this, though, is the relationship that we have with God and the fellowship that we can have through the indwelling Holy Spirit. HE will never leave us or turn away from us. If WE make that same commitment, we can have that close and intimate fellowship with Him that gives us confidence in every situation! Here is another new song from Hillsong United called "Closer Than You Know" that speaks to that! It's pretty long, but a great example of that intimacy. 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "captain". There is one Greek word used for almost all of the references to "captain" in the New Testament, which is a military term that means commander. We will be looking at a Greek word that appears only once in Hebrews 2:9-10:

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. KJV

This is the word "archegos". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: leading, furnishing the first cause, one that takes the lead, the author, the hero of a city, it's founder and guardian, the originator. In the verse above Jesus is referred to as the Captain of our Salvation! He IS the Author AND the Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)!  We can trust HIM with every aspect of our lives! He will not force Himself on us, but IF we ask, He WILL lead, guide and direct us in keeping with His desire that we walk in John 10:10:

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

What a GOOD, GOOD God He is! And fully qualified to BE our Captain! So, in keeping with that theme, her is Hillsong United with "Captain":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

We LOVE the video you made of Avery on her bike! We're very proud of her! The word for this week is "soul". The verse we'll be looking at is 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. KJV

It takes a little extra study to see what the soul REALLY is because for so many years people have talked about the New Birth as the salvation of souls. The above verse makes it clear that there is a definite distinction between the spirit, the soul and the body. Just as God is a triune being (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), so we are also (spirit, soul and body). We like to say it this way: I AM a spirit. I HAVE a soul. I live in a body (while on the earth). The Greek word for soul is "psuche". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: the breath of life; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: The language of Heb 4:12 suggests the extreme difficulty of distinguishing between the soul and the spirit, alike in their nature and in their activities. Generally speaking the spirit is the higher, the soul the lower element. The spirit may be recognized as the life principle bestowed on man by God, the soul as the resulting life constituted in the individual, the body being the material organism animated by soul and spirit. Here is Hebrews 4:12:

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. KJV

We like to say that the soul is made up of the mind, the emotions and the will. Our spirits were recreated, instantly, at the new Birth, perfectly in the image of God. Our bodies WILL BE changed, instantly, into Resurrection bodies, just like Jesus now has, at the Rapture of the church. That leaves the soul! 3 John 2 tells us that we will walk in prosperity and health, AS our souls prosper! This happens as we renew our minds with the Word of God, and it is progressive! James 1:21 says this:

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. KJV

The Amplified Bible says it like this:

21 So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. AMP

So, by receiving Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, God gave us a brand new spirit. He WILL give us a brand new body when we rise to meet Him in the air. In the meantime, WE must take care of our soul so that we can make those wise choices that line up with the Word of God, putting us in position to have Word of God results! Here is another new song from Hillsong Young and Free called "To My Knees":

[Verse 1]
In the Saviour's love
I find joy beyond compare
Endless peace covers all of me
When You breathe within
You turn winter into spring
Grace dissolves every fear in me

[Chorus]
Your Love brings me to my knees
Brings me to my knees
My King forever
You are all my heart desires
Until the end of time
My soul surrendered

[Verse 2]
In my vacant heart
Lord You came and made a home
You bring light to the dark in me
When I lose my way
I am beckoned into grace
You alone are my everything

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
All the earth sing of mercy never ending
I will worship with all that is within me
Holy Holy, Lord God almighty
King of Heaven, Your's is the glory  (2x)

[Chorus]    [Instrumental Break]     [Chorus]

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!