Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "treasures". We will be looking at these portions of Scripture:

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: KJV

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. KJV

These are both the  Greek word "thesauros": Strong's Concordance says: a deposit, wealth. Thayer's Greek Lexison adds: the place in which goods and precious things are collected and laid up, storehouse, repository. The things laid up in a treasury; collected treasures.

The main point in these verses is that we have been BLESSED with more than enough to meet everyone of the needs and desires of GOD'S PEOPLE!  He is SO looking forward to surprising us with manifestations of HIS power and might by His Spirit Who lives IN US! Keep 'looking up' HE is coming soon! Here is Brandon Lake with Graves To Gardens":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

IMPARTATION

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift…. — Romans 1:11

Have you ever been with someone whose mere presence positively affected you, changed you, or took you to a higher level in the Lord? Do you know if your presence has ever affected anyone in that way?

When I think about this question, one particular minister immediately comes to mind. He is a precious and dear friend who has walked with God for decades, and I have known him closely for many years. When I am honored with the opportunity to spend time with him, I always walk away feeling spiritually richer and touched by Jesus. Being in his presence leaves me with the feeling that something spiritual has rubbed off on me and has been imparted to my life.

Similarly, Paul felt this way about the First Century believers in Rome. Even though he had never met the Roman congregation face-to-face, he was sure that if he could spend time with them, he would rub off on them too. In Romans 1:10, he wrote, “Making request, if by any means now at length, I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.” Then in Romans 1:11, he told them, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto some spiritual gift….”

Notice that Paul said, “For I long to see you….” This word “long” tells us how deeply Paul wanted to meet these believers. In Greek, it is the word epipotheo, which has the root potheo, meaning desire. However, it also has the prefix epi attached to it, which gives an extra force to the word, portraying a person who wanted something so much that he intensely longed for it. Very often this word depicts an insatiable appetite or a craving — and in the New Testament it is often translated as the word lust. The fact that Paul used this word to depict his longing to come see the believers in Rome tells us that he was intensely yearning to see them.

In verse 11, Paul provided at least one reason why he wanted to see them. He wrote, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you….” Paul believed he had something spiritual to impart to his brothers and sisters in Rome. The word “impart” comes from the word metadidomi, which means to impart or to transfer something from one to another. Paul believed that if he could see the Romans, spend time with them, or perhaps lay hands on them, there would be an impartation of something spiritual to them. In the same way that I walk away spiritually richer after being in the presence of the man I told you about earlier, Paul was convinced that if he could spend time with the Roman believers, something powerful would be imparted to them. As a result, they would come away from that encounter feeling richer, fuller, and touched by Jesus.

These words of Paul in Romans 1:11 tell me that he was convinced God would use him as a channel to touch these believers in a way they had never been touched before. Paul was so confident about it, he actually wrote that he longed to see them, specifically stating that he wanted to impart something spiritual to them. What did he want to impart? That’s a topic we will look at tomorrow.

But for today, I want to ask you: Who has had this kind of profound influence in your life? Has being in anyone’s mere presence made you feel touched by Jesus? Who was that person? Perhaps the more important question is this: Have you ever made anyone else feel that way? How do you affect people when you are with them? In what condition do you leave them when it’s time for you to say farewell?

There’s no doubt that God wants to use us to positively impact people. Just as the apostle Paul was confident that God would use him to impart something rich and spiritual to the Romans, we need to spend time with the Father and allow Him to pour His presence into our personal lives so that when we are with others, there will be an overflow that rubs off on them and takes them to a higher place in the Lord!

This brought back to my remembrance the time we met you for the first time! Even before you met with your now father-in-law to learn more about Jesus, you were having such a positive impact on Kristine! To see the light in her beautiful eyes again made me SO very happy! And now that you DO know JESUS, you are impacting so many people! Just by being who HE made YOU to be! We love you! Here is Brandon Lake with a song I had not heard before called "Son of Heaven":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "miracles". We find it in these Scriptures:

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. KJV

Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. KJV

Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. KJV

These are all the Greek word "dunamis". Strong's Concordance says: force, miraculous power. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: inherent power, the power of performing miracles. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: "power, ability," physical or moral, as residing in a person or thing; (b) "power in action," as, e. g., when put forth in performing miracles. It occurs 118 times in the NT. It is sometimes used of the miracle or sign itself, the effect being put for the cause, e. g., Mark 6:5, frequently in the Gospels and Acts. In 1 Corinthians 14:11 it is rendered "meaning"; "force" would be more accurate. I like the phrase above that says "power in action"! We have within us as born again believers all the power we need! And then some! We must learn to EXPECT them! Here is Brandon Lake with "House of Miracles".

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share something from Bob Yandian that he shared on social media. He quoted Ephesians 3:20 from the NKJV.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, NKJV

I like it best from the Amplified Bible:

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] —   AMP

Here is the rest of what he shared:

We can never build a cup large enough to contain all that God gives. God still provides ".. exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think" {Ephesians 3:20}. He still supplies "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" {Philippians 4:19}. God desires that the capacity of our cup be sufficient to receive all that we need and want so that we can begin to give our extra blessings to others who are in need. When the widow was told by Elisha "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors, empty vessels; do not gather a few." So much oil was provided by God that every vessel was filled. There was  more than enough oil for the woman and her family and she had enough excess that she sold the rest to her neighbors! God's desire is for you to have your needs met and then be a source of blessing to those who cannot trust God for themselves.

The obedience to God and His Word by you and Kristine and your lovely ladies, added to the overwhelmingly generocity of your family's giving of clothing and other items to us and the families of the church, along with your giving of your time and energy to others with all of the things you are involved in, puts you in the wonderful position where God Himself is searching for more and better ways to BLESS YOU!  I am expecting that the rest of 2024 is going to be AMAZING for you all! Here is Brandon Lake with "Gratitude", another of my favorite songs! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!