Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "travail" There are four different Greek words translated "travail". They are found in these verses:

John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. KJV

Here we have the Greek word "tikto". Strong's Concordance says to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to bring forth, bear, produce. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to beget. This is Jesus explaining to His disciples that they would have great distress when He was crudified, but then they would have great joy when He rose again, giving THEM and US the HOPE of our eternal Salvation! 

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. KJV

Here have the Greek word "odino". Strong's Concordance says: to experience the pains of parturition (child birth). Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: The apostle uses it metaphorically of a second travailing on his part regarding the churches of Galatia; his first was for their deliverance from idolatry v. 8, now it was for their deliverance from bondage to Judaism. This was a fight that Paul was waging to make sure that his disciples did not lose their peace, joy and reliance on JESUS  for their salvation, as there were many who were spreading false doctrine that the new beleivers has to still follow the laws and rules of Judaism. 

1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. KJV

2 Thess 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. KJV

Here have the Greek word "mochthos". Strong's Concordance says: toil; sadness. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: hard and difficult labor, toil, travail, hardship, distress. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: labor involving painful effort, painfulness. This was also Paul letting the disciples in Thessalonica know that they were supporting themselves in the ministry rather than being supported by them, making the Gospel free to them! 

1 Thessalonians  5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. KJV

Here have the Greek word "odin". Strong's Concordance says: pang or throe, espcially of childbirth. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a birth pang, "travail pain," is used illustratively in 1 Thess 5:3 of the calamities which are to come upon men at the beginning of the Day of the Lord; the figure used suggests the inevitableness of the catastrophe. The Theological Dictionary says: NT:5604 adopts the metaphor and uses the singular either collectively or with reference to the first and sudden pang. The point here is that destruction will unexpectedly overtake those who live in self-security.

I all of these instances there is a labor involved, but when we are born again, with the Spirit of God living IN us and the Word of God available to us, we should never be 'travailing' in the flesh and under our own power and ability! Ecclesiastes 5:19 tells us this:

Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God [to him].

Even our "travailing" in prayer in the Spirit is not done under our own power and ability, but by the Spirit of God Who lives IN us! When we find ourselves struggling and straining, it's time to pull aside and examine what we're doing and why we're doing it! When you and Kristine work so hard and put in such long hours providing awesome opportunities for your little ladies to grow and learn and mature, the joy of that labor is very evident in the smiles and hugs and encouragement that you both give. I think that it is pretty safe to say that they will always believe that they can do ANYTHING that they work hard at and take seriously! All the while you are guiding them along the paths that they are most suited for! EXCELLENT parenting! Great rewards ahead! Here are Hillsong Kids with "I Give You My Hallelujah":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "slumber". It's found in these verses in the Old Testament: 

Psalm 121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. KJV

Proverbs 6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. KJV

In Psalm 121 the Hebrew word is "nuwm". Strong's Concordance says: to slumber from drowsiness. To be drowsy. This verse is saying that our God will NOT be caught sleeping or 'dozing off' when we need Him! In Proverbs 6:10 the Hebrew word is "tenuwmah". Strong's Concordance says: From 'nuwm' drowsiness, to sleep. The Theological Dictionary says: The basic use of the noun in Proverbs is in a sense of laziness and inactivity. 

In the first instance we are speaking of the Truth that GOD never sleeps, so we CAN! After all, He DOES "give His beloved sleep" (Psalm 127:2). Kenneth Copeland in one of his books speaks of an older woman who never showed up in the bomb shelters during air raids because she said that since God never sleeps, there was no reason for them both to stay awake! Now THAT is faith! In the second instance we are speaking of the results of laziness and lack of motivation to do what is necessary. The end result of that is always poverty and lack. It is obvious that this is NOT a problem for you and Kristine and your very active little ladies! And I am certain that you have both learned over the years that stressing over something to the point of lack of sleep doesn't ever really help, and that casting that care on the ONE Who NEVER sleeps allows you both to rest easy in Him! There is a song on the Hillsong Worship "Awake" album that says: "Oh wake up you slumbering, It's time to worship Him". If there IS a need in the Church as a whole, it is to be aware of the times we are living in and of what Holy Spirit is doing in the earth right now. There are more people being born again across the world than there has ever been! Things are picking up steam and God is moving all over the earth in glorious ways and great manifestations. All to sweep people into the Kingdom! We certainly don't want to be caught slumbering in that area! Here is that song:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "heirs". We find it in the New Testament in these portions of Scripture:

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; KJV

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. KJV

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. KJV

Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? KJV

These are all the Greek word "kleronomos". Strong's Concordance says: getting by apportionment; a sharer by lot; inheritor; a possessor. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: one who receives by lot; one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship.Vine's Expository Dictionary says: one who obtains a lot or portion, especially of an inheritance. In Romans 8:17 we see the term"joint-heirs". This is the Greek word "sugkleronomos". Strong's Concordance says: a co-heir, i.e. a participant in common. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: a fellow-heir. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a co-inheritor. Because of the New Birth we became children of God, members of His family! Jesus, Who was God the Son, BECAME the Son of God, born as a man. When He took upon Himself the sin of all the world and died, WE died with Him! Because of that, when He rose from death, WE rose with Him! We are now as much a 'son of God' as JESUS is! We are heirs right along with JESUS of all that the Father has! So every good thing that belongs to JESUS also belongs to us! EVERY GOOD THING! The only thing that he doesn't share with us is His GLORY as God the Son! When we meditate on this wonderful TRUTH until it just explodes in us, we will never accept defeat, failure, sickness, disease, sin, condemnation, hatred, bitterness, jealousy or any other evil thing that the enemy tries to unload on us! All of THAT belongs to him, and he can have it! I really love when the Word that we know becomes even bigger and more real to us! 

We can't wait to see all of you again! We love what you and Kristine have done with your home and yard! Your girls are so beautiful, fun and interesting and it is joy to be able to share in your lives! Here is Hillsong Worship with one of my new favorite songs called "Bright As The Sun":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

I want to do something a little different again this week! I want to share Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" devotional!

THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL

Deuteronomy 28:13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath…

One of our church members saw his sales performance hit rock bottom by the middle of the year. As a result, he was ranked 320 out of the 420 financial advisers in his company.

Devastated and on the verge of giving up, he started listening to my messages and claiming God’s promises such as “the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath” and “many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30).

He committed everything to God because he believed that only God could turn things around for him. And God did just that.

By the end of that year, he was ranked second in his branch and 10th in the whole company! He qualified for a trip for two to Barcelona, Spain, worth about $20,000. That was not all. For the first time in his 12 years as a financial adviser, he qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table Award. Only the top six per cent of advisers in the entire industry qualify for this international award.

Beloved, when God makes you the head, you will end up on top of your circumstances. Consider the story of Joseph (see Genesis 39). Even when he was a slave, he was the head and not the tail because God prospered everything that he did.

“But Pastor Prince, when I look at my life, there are times when I am up and there are times when I am down. Yet, the Bible says that I will be above only. I don’t understand this.”

What you are going through is only temporal. Keep believing that you are above only and not beneath, even when you have hit rock bottom. It is God who always causes you to triumph in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 2:14). You cannot cause yourself to triumph. Only God can and He has promised in His Word that you will be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. So believe His Word in spite of your circumstances and expect to see victory!

I believe that this message may not be specifically for you and Kristine, but maybe for someone close to you? I believe that it is a message for you to share with someone who may be at their wit's end over all that has gone on, and may still be going on. The important thing is that GOD has never lost His power or position! He is the same GOD, with the same power and promises. We must keep His Word ever before our eyes and in our mouth! Nothing is too difficult for HIM! I want to share this song from Hillsong Kids again, because it is so simple and so true! "When The World Shakes":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!