Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "multitude". There are a number of verses with this word in them, but we are concentrating on these this time:

Genesis 16:10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. KJV

Genesis 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "rob". Strong's Concordance says: abundance in any respect. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: greatness, numerous. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: Appears about 150 times in biblical Hebrew, with numerical implications apparent in its first biblical appearance (Genesis 16:10 above). The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament adds: much, many, great. 

In the verses above the Word of God is referring to the descendants of Abraham. There is another area where this idea of multitude is found referring to His thoughts toward us! This is found in the verse below where the word "numbered" is used.

Psalm 40:6 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "caphar". Strong's Concordeance says to tally or record, to enumerate, intensively to recount. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to count, to number, to enumerate. 

Whether our God is speaking of His people or the promises of His Word, He is always a God of abundance! There is no shortage in Him at all! No limits to all that He will do for us when we dare to believe and stand on His Word! Here are Hillsong Kids with "You Know Me" which speaks of the multitude of His thoughts toward us! And they are ALL good! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "speak". We will be looking at this word found three times in Mark 13:11:

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. KJV

This is the Greek word "laleo". Strong's Concordance says: to talk, utter words. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to utter a voice, to emit a sound, to use the faculty of speech, use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts.The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: to speak, to gather with the twofold nuance of repitition and separation. God spoke the world we know into existence with WORDS! We are called to a ministry of "reconciliation". Speaking God's Word into every situation allows HIM to go to bat for you! Never tire of hearing, reading, meditating and devouring the WORD of GOD! He IS your LIFELINE! Here is Hillsong with "So Will I":

Love and Shalom from thwe Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I wanted to share another encouragement for you! I read this for today by Charles Spurgeon in my PC Study Bible software. 

"And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." — Luke 6:12

If ever one of woman born might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect a Lord, and yet none was ever so much in supplication as He! Such was His love to His Father, that He loved much to be in communion with Him: such His love for His people, that He desired to be much in intercession for them. The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us—He hath given us an example that we may follow in His steps. The time He chose was admirable, it was the hour of silence, when the crowd would not disturb Him; the time of inaction, when all but Himself had ceased to labour; and the season when slumber made men forget their woes, and cease their applications to Him for relief. While others found rest in sleep, He refreshed Himself with prayer. The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: thus was He free from Pharisaic ostentation and vulgar interruption. Those dark and silent hills were a fit oratory for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of His pleadings is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill His devotions; the grim darkness did not darken His faith, or loneliness check His importunity. We cannot watch with Him one hour, but He watched for us whole nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after His enemies had been enraged—prayer was His refuge and solace; it was before He sent forth the twelve apostles—prayer was the gate of His enterprise, the herald of His new work. Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial, or contemplate fresh endeavours for the Master's glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.

I LOVE this, and when we combine this message with Hebrews 7:22-25: our confidence in HIM and HIS provision grows so strong! 

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. KJV

Jesus saw us when He created the world that we now know! He knew then that we would be here, where we are, right now! He prayed for us back then, and now continues that prayer and intercession from His place in Heaven! I can't think of another person I would rather have pray for me than JESUS! And He does! Continually! Here is Hillsong with "Alive In Us":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is actually an Aramaic word. It is found in two places in the New Testament:

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? KJV

Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? KJV

Strong's Concordance says: thou has left me, a cry of distress. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: thou hast forsaken me. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: an Aramaic word signifying "Thou hast forsaken Me", recorded as part of the utterance of Christ on the cross. Also a quotation from Psalm 22:1:

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? KJV

I have always looked at these verses as some of the most powerful verses in the entire Bible. What JESUS went through was not a light thing, with the scourging, the crown made of very long, sharp thorns, the mocking and taunting that He endured and the spikes driven through His wrists and feet, causing Him incredible pain and agony as He hung there, dying the death that was needful to be paid for OUR sin! All of that was for the purpose of paying our debt of sin, for providing health and healing to our bodies, and for bringing us back into a position in God that was even better than Adam had known because we now have GOD IN US! That is all so wonderful for us, at HIS expense! But, the hardest of all of that for JESUS to endure was what this week's words reflect! JESUS didn't just TAKE our sin, but He was MADE TO BE sin with OUR sinfulness! God the Father had to turn away from the SON because He could not look upon sin! THAT was the ultimate price that JESUS paid! And He did it of HIS own free will and out of HIS great love for us! Knowing this, we should never, ever forget who HE has made us to be, all because HE desires fellowship with US! HIS FAMILY! What a GLORIOUS SALVATION! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am", in case we are ever tempted to forget! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!