Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "adjure". We find it in these verses:

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. KJV

Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. KJV

Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. KJV

In Matthew 26 we have the Greek word "exorkizo". Strong's Concordance says: to exact an oath, conjure. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to cause to swear, to lay under the obligation of an oath. In Mark 5 and Acts 19 we have the Greek word "horkizo". Strong's Concordance says: to put on oath, make swear, to solemnly enjoin. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to force to take an oath, to administer an oath. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to lay under the obligation of an oath. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says THIS about THAT WORD!  This word means "to cause someone to swear" and "to adjure someone by something." In Mark 5:7 the demoniac adjures Jesus by God in an effort to rob him of his power, but to no avail, since Jesus is the Son of God. In Acts 19:13 the exorcists try to cast out demons by adjuring them in the name of Jesus. Using the name as a magical formula, however, has the opposite effect to what they desire, for the name of Jesus has force only when spoken in faith and on his commission. 

"Adjure" is a very strong word that, when used properly by standing on the authority of the Word of God, will not be denied! BUT, where there is no authority to speak or act, there is also no power to be had! God will always confirm HIS WORD with signs and wonders and miracles, but He is not obligated to do anything that is not based on faith in His Word! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word" again which speaks of the results of speaking the Word of God into any situation! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week MUST go along with Christmas, so we will be looking at the Greek word for "manger"! We find it in Luke 2:

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. KJV

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. KJV

These are all the Greek word "phatne". Strong's Concordance says: to eat, a crib (for fodder). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says the same. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: denotes a stall. The Theological Dictionary says: feeding trough. Having grown up on a sheep farm, my picture of a feeding trough is slightly different from the pictures we usually see. It would not have been this neat, cozy little baby sized bed! It would have been big enough for a few to several animals to feed at. It could have been made of wood or may have been carved out of stone. The biggest contrast was that the sitting 'king' of Israel, Herod, would have been sleeping in luxury while the REAL KING of kings slept in a feeding trough, but was welcomed by angels singing and lowly shepherds overjoyed! And now HE is ruling at the right hand of the Father and waiting patiently to come and get US! His Bride! In spite of all that has gone on this year, WE have been MOST BLESSED! But this is nothing compared to what HE has prepared for us then! I believe that our near future is going to be wonderful, but THAT future will be beyond compare! We are SO BLESSED to be HIS! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite Christmas songs! "Born Is The King":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

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

John 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. KJV

John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. KJV

John 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. KJV

John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. KJV

These are all the Greek word "parrhesia". Strong's Concordance says: all out-spokenness, frankness, assurance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, free or fearless confidence, cheerful courage, the deportment by which one becomes consipuous or secures publicity. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: boldness, plainness of speech. During the ministry of JESUS, He told His disciples many things that they could not conceive or understand! The reason they could not was because they did not yet have a recreated human spirit, which is necessary in order to discern the Word of God! 1 Corinthians 2:14:

14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

Once we have receieved JESUS as Lord and personal Savior, THEN, and ONLY then, can we properly discern the Word of the Living God! THEN we will understand "PLAINLY" what we are unable to right now! I LOVE that the TRUTH of the WORD of God is hidden for US! Every single time through the Bible Plan, I discover something I never saw before, or never saw in quite the same way! THAT attitude will take us very far in developing a working knowledge of the Word! Here is another song from Hillsong UNITED which speaks about God's Word! "Say The Word":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "acknowledging". We find it in these three porttions of Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. KJV

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; KJV

Philemon 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. KJV

These are all the Greek word "epignosis". Strong's Concordance says: recognition, full discernment, acknowledgement. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: precise and correct knowledge. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to know thoroughly, to recognize a thing to be what it really is, to acknowledge, to take knowledge of, to perceive. The Theological Dictionary says: The ordinary use is for intelligent comprehension, emphasizes understanding rather than sensory perception. Being a compound word, the first part, 'epi', means: superimposition. If one thing is superimposed on another, it means that they are layering one thing over another so that both are seen. This "knowledge" or "acknowledging" means that we have layer upon layer of understanding, comprehension, perception. That IS how our understanding of the Word of God grows into useable knowledge! Putting the Word into practice! I am certain that after all of these years of you studying God's Word, there are some things that make sense and you understand right away due to the many layers of foundational knowledge you have built up! Part of what Paul was writing about above is that those whom you teach and share the Word with will come progressively to understand and recognize the Word with understanding from observing the Word active in your life! It should be even easier for them than it was for you because they have had years of observing the Word working in you with such positive results! Just how God means for it all to work! I LOVE it! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!