Hi Brian!

What a GREAT game! The word for this week is "compare". We'll be looking at one Old Testament verse and one New Testament verse. The first is found in Isaiah 40:18:

18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? KJV

This is the Hebrew word "`arak". Strong's Concordance says: to set in a row; to arrange, put in order. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to esteem, to equal, to set forth a legal case. Vine's Expository Dictionary also adds this: to arrange in order makes it possible to compare one thing with another. The dictionary definition of compare is this: estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between. This verse is speaking of trying to draw a comparison between anyone or anything and the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We KNOW that He is beyond compare! But He IS to be our standard! 2 Corinthians 10:12 instructs us in that!

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. KJV

This "compare" is the Greek word "sugkrino". Strong's Concordance says: to judge of one thing in connection with another, to collate one person with another by way of contrast or resemblance. This verse is telling us that we should NOT 'compare' ourselves with anyone else. I should not be your standard, and you should not be mine, even though we both may set good examples for each other. Jesus should be the standard by which we compare ourselves! The Amplified Bible makes this verse clearer!

12 Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. AMP

If we compare ourselves with each other, we will always find something to be satisfied with because there will be someone who isn't quite as good. When we compare ourselves to God, we will never measure up completely until we see Him face to face (1 John 3:2)! This gives us the incentive to keep reaching and growing! YOU are more like Jesus than you were when we first met, and I know that you will be even more so by the time YOU meet HIM! Here is a new song from Hillsong Worship that I REALLY like! It's called "What A Beautiful Name":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "agree". We'll be looking at the same verse that we used last week. Matthew 18:19:

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. KJV

"Agree" here is the Greek word "sumphoneo". Strong's Concordance says: to be harmonious, to accord. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to sound together, to make an agreement. This is a compound word that Rick Renner covers very well in his new "Sparkling Gems From the Greek 2". Here is what he says:

The word "agree" is the Greek word sumphoneo, and it is a compound of sum and phoneo. The word sum means with, and  the word phoneo means to make a sound. As you can imagine by simply looking at its two parts, this Greek word is where we get the word symphony. Thus, when we describe agreement in prayer, it is good to first think of a symphony, which is a musical piece made of different movements, instruments, and parts. The use of this word sumphoneo in the context  of prayer is revealing, for it shows that when two or more believers get into agreement - each of them praying and adding their parts - it creates a supernatural movement that deeply touches the heart of the Father. This action is so powerful, in fact, that Jesus said it would result in the Father fulfilling any issue they addressed through prayer.

I thought you would enjoy this, and that it would have particular meaning for you as a musician! The prayer of agreement is available to every born again believer, but it is particularly powerful for a husband and wife! No one can really care as much for your needs as they do their own, but a husband and wife have the same concerns for their home, their children, their life!  When you and Kristine come into agreement in prayer for any of those things, you have the same goal. When you find the promises from the Word concerning these things, and you each share your own perspective with the other, you will have a strong accord and the combining of your faith will be powerful! You have been making beautiful 'symphonies' together through your prayers, even if you didn't realize it! Here is a fun song I came across by "Planetshakers" called "New Era":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "touching". The verse we'll be looking at concerns the Prayer of Agreement! Matthew 18:19:

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. KJV

This is the Greek word "peri". Strong's Concordance says: through, around, with respect to. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: around, about, concerning, as respects, on account of. The prayer of agreement is a powerful prayer that is especially valuable for a husband and wife! It is so important that I want to take part of it this week and the rest next week. This prayer can be used for any and every promise that is found in the Word of God. Whatever need you may have 'touching', or concerning, or with respect to, or on account of, your family, your home, your life, or anything else, if you find the Scripture that covers that particular need and you both add your faith to that, it WILL be done! The added 'oomph' for that promise is found in the very next verse!  Verse 20:

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. KJV

When you join your faith together in the Word, you are joining with HIM, making a threefold cord (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) that cannot be broken! He is right there with you backing up His Word! We'll continue next week with the word "agree"! In the meantime, here is an older song by Hillsong where the word 'touching' means connecting with! "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "changed". We'll be looking first at 1 Corinthians 15:51-53:

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. KJV

This is the Greek word "allasso". Strong's Concordance says: to make different. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: to cause one thing to cease and another to take its place. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: Basic sense is to make other than it is, to alter, to give in exchange. This promise is getting to mean more to me as I get older! The promise is that at the appearing of Jesus for the Church, we will all rise to meet Him in the air, and in that instant our physical bodies will be changed into a resurrection body such as Jesus now has! We will 'exchange' this old body and have a brand new one that can function on earth AND in Heaven also! Our loved ones who are already in Heaven will be coming back with Jesus and their bodies will also be changed, rising up from the grave before us! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I fully intend to finish my race and fulfill God's calling on my life for very many more years, but knowing that I have this wonderful change to look forward to helps me to stay very positive about getting older and 'changing'! These changes are temporary, but that change that happens at His appearing is forever and glorious! In the meantime, there is another "change" that can take place as we continue to increase our knowledge of Who Jesus is, and who we are because of Him! This one is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18:

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 "metamorphoo". Strong's Concordance says: to transform. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to change into another form. This is referring to our inner man, rather than our physical bodies. While we're waiting for that THAT day, we can continue to be changed everyday from the inside, which will show up on the outside! This change is the one that will draw people to the Jesus in us! That's a GOOD thing! Here is kind of fun early song by Hillsong United called "My Best Friend":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!