Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "youth". We find it these 4 times in the New Testament:

Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. KJV

Luke 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. KJV

Acts 26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. KJV

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. KJV

These are all the Greek word "neotes". Strong's Concordance says: newness, youthfulness. In each of the first three examples here the person speaking had great confidence in what they had been taught and how they had been trained from their youth! Then Paul, who knew Timothy and his family, encouraged Timothy to rely on what he had been taught from his youth and not to allow the opinions of others to affect how he saw and carried himself. Your beautiful, unique, individually gifted and talented little ladies can each have great confidence in the way that they have been taught and trained when it comes to the Word of God. You and Kristine have started them off with such a great foundation that they should never be discouraged when others may not agree with them or even approve of them. That strong foundation will cause them to be unshakeable in their faith and immoveable in what they know and believe! It is so fun to see the real individuality of each of them, especially Georgia and Reagan who are naturally so much alike, but still so uniquely different! My prayer is that you both will have great confidence in them and in God's hand upon them! Well done! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Brighter":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "weary". We'll be looking at Galatians 6:9:

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. KJV

This is the Greek word "ekkakeo". Strong's Concordance says: to be weak or to fail in heart. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted. Another Greek word translated "weary" is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:13:

 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. KJV

This is the Greek word "egkakeo". Strong's Concordance says: to be afraid, to become discouraged, to become weary or tired, to despair, to lose heart, to tire of. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to lose courage, flag, faint. We are exhorted here to NOT become tired, weak or exhausted. We are also exhorted to guard against becoming discrouaged, fearful, depressed or hopeless. Jesus said this 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).

THAT is God's will for us and the choice is up to us! When we begin to feel this way, we must do as David did when he was under pressure and encourage ourselves inthe Lord. Everyone has their own peprsonal method of dealing with this. Mine is always through music and it ususally begins with praise and ends with worship! The last new song from the Hillsong Young and Free album "All Of My Best Friends" is called "Keep On" and it deals with this very subject! 

VERSE 1: When life is a long road There’s One I will follow His mercy will never grow tired Never grow old VERSE 2: There’s grace for the distance His strength for my weakness To throw off the weight of the world And hear You reminding me CHORUS: When you’re weary and you’re worn out Don’t fret now Find rest in open arms Keep on running till the last line Keep your head high Cos I’ve already won VERSE 3: In Your bravest moment For us You were broken And still to the very end Lord You fought for my soul VERSE 4: Your passion unending Your love never failing Jesus You’re all that I want Your life is reminding me BRIDGE: Your love goes on and on and on Your love will never stop So I’ll keep on and on and on Until this race is run

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "wish". One of the new Hillsong Young and Free songs is called "Everything I Could Want". There is a line in the song that says this: "People wishing what they’ve got away. We need a change". Unbelievers and 'unbelieving' believers spend time 'wishing' for things to change or to get better. The Word of God has a different choice! The word "wish" is found in these three Scriptures:

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: KJV

2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. KJV

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. KJV

All of these are the Greek word "euchomai". Strong's Concordance says: to pray to God. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: the indication is that prayer is involved. The Theological Dictionary says: to pray, ask, beseech, prayer, petitionary prayer, invocation. Instead of 'wishing' for something that we need or desire, we find out what the Word says about our situation, and then petition for it! Ask for it! To invoke, according to the dictionary definition means to: use law or rule to achieve something. So we speak the Word over and into our situation, fully expecting God to do for us what He did in Mark 16:20:

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed.]

It certainly seems that God is doing this quicker and more powerfully than ever before in these last months! I expect even more in the days ahead! These are exciting times to be alive, even in the midst of strange things going on! Here is that song mentioned above!

Love and Shalom From the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

This week I want to use Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek Volume 2".

Whatsoever a Man Soweth, That Shall He Also Reap!

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7

It has been my pleasure to stand before my precious Russian congregation many thousands of times over the years and to boldly tell them, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

This principle is so true that Paul begins by telling us not to question its validity! He says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked.…" The word "deceived" comes from the Greek word planao, which means to lead astray; to wander; to stagger; to be led off course; or to be affected by someone's outside influ­ence and led in a wrong direction. The word planao is usually used in the New Testament to depict the activity of false teachers who deliberately lead people from liberty into teaching that enslaves them in some kind of spiritual bondage.

When Paul wrote this verse, the language he used was a command coupled with a very strong prohibition. This means he was forbidding his readers from participating in something that seemed to have already been initiated. Because he spoke so prohibitively, it could correctly be translated, "Stop being deceived." He was rebuking a weakness that was already developing among the Galatians and that he wanted to halt! Could it be that false teachers were trying to tell the Galatians that the law of sowing and reaping didn't really work? It seems so.

We also live in a day and time when the law of sowing and reaping is challenged by those who do not embrace its truth. Many scoff at those who believe that God will multiply their financial seed back to them again; some even try to use their influence to persuade people to abandon their belief in such a doctrine.

Unfortunately, sometimes people who are young and unstable in the Word are caught in the middle of this war of words. A doubt sown here and there makes them question the validity of whether or not the law of sowing and reaping applies to finances. In the end, many of these new believers let go of their grip on this promise and walk away. But those deceivers who blatantly take a stand against the promise of God will one day answer for their actions.

Paul stands firm on the principle of sowing and reaping and lets his voice be heard as he states, "...God is not mocked...." The word "mocked" is the Greek word mukteridzo, and it means to turn up one's nose at someone, as if mocking or laughing at the person. The idea is of someone who arro­gantly says, "Come on, you surely don't believe this stupid principle of sowing and reaping. How dumb can you be to believe that God will multiply what you sow!"

One noted scholar has commented that this type of attitude usually comes from a person who had a sour experience when he tried to apply the law of sowing and reaping to his finances. For some reason, he didn't get the results he expected, so now he acts as though this principle isn't true or applicable to anyone. Thus, he turns up his nose at the law of God, challenging the validity of it and asserting that whatsoever a man soweth is not always what he reaps.

Paul doesn't want this negativism and unbelief to worm its way into the thinking of the Galatian church, so he speaks loudly, firmly, and prohibitively, commanding the Galatian believers to disasso­ciate themselves with anyone who dares to turn up his nose at the law of sowing and reaping.

Then Paul boldly declares what he believes: "…Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The word "soweth" is the word speiro, which refers to any seed that is sown. Notice the empha­sis on any seed that is sown. This immediately alerts us to the fact that this law is not applicable only to finances, but to anything in life. It applies to love, to work, to time, to patience, to kindness, to forgiveness, to bitterness, to selfishness - and, of course, to money. All of these are potential "seeds" that we sow.

Making the definition of "soweth" even broader is the word "whatsoever," which in Greek is the word ean. This word literally throws open the door, for it means whatever; whatever thing; or no matter what a man sows. Again, Paul lets us know that this is a law of God that applies to every sphere of life with no exceptions. It is simply a fact: Whatever you sow, regardless of what it is, you will reap it.

The Greek tense does not denote a single, one-time sowing; rather, it pictures a person who continually, habitually sows. Therefore, it could be translated, "Whatsoever a man sows, sows, sows, and sows - and keeps on habitually sowing and sowing and sowing...." In other words, this describes a constant, steady, perpetual sowing of seed. And if you sow this seed steadily and faithfully, God's promise is that you will reap a harvest. The word for "reap" is in the same Greek tense, meaning that it could be translated, "You will reap, reap, reap, and reap - and keep on habitually reaping and reap­ing and reaping."

The reason most people walked away disgusted and scoffing at this promise is that they never really put it to the test! They sowed once and waited for a harvest. When nothing happened, they threw up their arms and said it didn't work. But those who keep on habitually sowing and sowing and sowing as a manner of lifestyle are the ones who eventually reap and reap and reap as the mani­fold blessings of God come pouring back into their lives.

The level at which you sow determines the level you will reap. Sow a little, and you'll reap a little. Sow a lot, and you'll reap a lot. Sow inconsistently, and you'll reap inconsistently. Sow regu­larly, and you will reap regularly.

Galatians 6:7 could be translated:

"Stop letting people lead you astray from the truth! You might try to turn up your nose at the law of God, but it won't change the law! It remains true that whatever you regularly and habitually sow - regardless of what it is - that is exactly what you will regularly and habitually reap."

Then in Galatians 6:9, Paul takes just a moment to encourage those of us who are waiting for our harvests. He says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Notice that Paul mentions a "due season." Even today, harvest times come at varying times for different areas, depending on the temperature, altitude, and climate of each region. For example, in one low-lying district of Israel, harvest may be in full swing while districts at higher altitudes are still weeks, or even a full month, away from their harvest time.

This principle holds true in every other realm as well. For instance, if the seed you are sowing is financial seed, remember to bathe it in prayer as it leaves your pocketbook and enters the Kingdom of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to create a right atmosphere or climate for that seed to take root and grow. And if it takes awhile for the harvest to come back to you, remember that no farmer plants seed one day and expects to have a full wheat or corn field the next day! It takes time for seed to grow in the natural. In the same way, time may be required for the seed you have sown to spiritually mature so it can come back into your life as a multiplied blessing.

In the meantime, don't be weary in "well doing." That simply means keep it up; don't stop what you are doing; be regular; be consistent; be faithful; or be "well doing" in the sowing of your seed! The last thing you should do is "faint"!

That word "faint" comes from the Greek word ekluo, which means to loosen up; to relax; to faint; and to lose altogether. The devil will say, "This doesn't work. You've tried long enough. It won't hurt if you cut back on your giving. Loosen up a little. Relax from giving so much!"

But according to Galatians 6:9 and the Greek word ekluo, if you loosen up and relax in your giving, you will eventually "faint" - in other words, you'll stop giving completely. And if you do that, you will lose everything! So don't ever let the devil or anyone else ever talk you into backing out of sowing financial seeds into the Kingdom of God.

As I said earlier, the sowing of seeds applies to every area of life. If you constantly and habitually:

 Sow love, you will reap love.

 Sow patience, you will reap patience.

 Sow kindness, you will reap kindness.

 Sow forgiveness, you will reap forgiveness.

 Sow money, you will reap money.

 Sow bitterness, you will reap bitterness.

 Sow strife, you will reap strife.

Friend, like it or not, this is just the way it is! It is the law of God, and there is not one thing you can do to change it. So rather than challenge the system and fail, don't you think it's time that you wise up and get with the program? If you're going to reap what you sow, maybe you ought to figure out what you want to reap. Then you can start planting those same kinds of seeds to assure that you'll get the harvest of your dreams!

One TRUTH that we should  remember is that sowing seeds will ALWAYS be the way to a harvest! Everything that we say or do is a seed that WILL produce a 'crop'! I believe that we will all learn to be better 'sowers", resulting in our becoming better harvesters!  Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Keep On":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "justification". We see the word in a couple of forms in these two passages of Scripture:

Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. KJV

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. KJV

The (red) "justification" in each section is the Greek word "dikaiosis". Strong's Concordance says: aquittal (for Christ's sake). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: the act of God's declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him.Vine's Expository Dictionary says: the act of pronouncing righteous. It's precise meaning is determined by that of the verb "dikaioo" (to justify). "Justified" in Romans 5:1 and the second "justification" in Romans 5:18 is the Greek word "dikaioma". Strong's Concordance says: an equitable deed, a statute or decision. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: that which has been deemed right so as to have the force of law. What has been established and ordained by law; an ordinance. A judicial decision, a sentence. A righteous act or deed. The Theological Dictionary says: The term has varied legal senses. A gound or claim. Written proof, document, validation. A decree, statute, ordinance. A sentence, punishment. Right action. 

So we have been declared by Almighty God as free from guilt, acceptable to HIM, made righteous, legally free of all condemnation. NOT by anything that WE have done, but by EVERYTHING that HE has done to stand in our place. So many believers over the years have been held in bondage by the thinking that they were 'just an old sinner, saved by grace'. We WERE sinners, but we HAVE BEEN saved by GRACE! NOW we are RIGHTEOUS SAINTS, recreated in the image of God, with HOLY SPIRIT living IN us, the ANOINTING of God upon us, the gifts and callings of God available to us and HIS plans and purposes working FOR US! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! I know that you KNOW this, but sometimes a refresher is GOOD for the SOUL and to stir up joy and confidence that we ARE who HE says we are. We CAN DO what HE says we can do. And the BEST is YET TO COME! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "All My Life":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!