Shalom,

I believe that the most important verses that born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should know, before they try to share their faith with others, are found in the third chapter of the Gospel of John. We start with verse 3:

John 3:3 (KJV)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The Amplified Bible says this:

John 3:3 (AMP)
3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.

These aren't just words made up by modern day believers! Jesus Himself said this when He was fulfilling His ministry on the earth! The next most important verses for us to know, BEFORE we share the Gospel with others, are these:

John 3:14-17 (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God sent Jesus for a purpose! He wants us to have Life, His Life! The Amplified Bible says it very well:

John 3:14-17 (AMP)
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], [Num 21:9.]
15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

Notice that these verses tell us that God DID NOT send His Son, Jesus, into the world to judge or condemn the world! And neither should we! We are not sent to tell the world that they are sinners, but that they can have Life! We're not to tell the world how bad they are, but how good God is! Get that on the inside of you until it permeates your being! Understand how very much the Father loves each and every person that He gave His Son for them! He wants that NONE should perish! He wants us to share our enthusiasm for the the things of God, the Life of God, the Word of God, with hurting people so they can know the same hope that we have!

Be a DOER of God's Word today! Tell someone the great Good News! The Good News that God isn't holding ANYTHING against them! Tell them that God SO greatly loved and dearly prized THEM that He sent Jesus so that they could have Life and belong to Him too!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to look today at John 10:10 from several translations. We'll start with the King James Bible:

John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

We see here that Jesus Himself is identifying where all bad and negative things in our life come from! He says that it is NOT God, but THE THIEF who does all of the stealing, killing and destroying that we see taking place. Then He goes on to say that HE, HIMSELF, came for another purpose! That purpose is to bring us life! HIS life! That is the Greek word, zoe, which refers to life as God has it in Himself! His very life! And as if that were not enough, He says that He wants us to have THAT kind of life in abundance! That's the Greek word, perissos, which means: (in the sense of beyond); superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive!
Let's look at some other translations:

John 10:6 (Wuest )
The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I alone came in order that they might be possessing life, and that they might be possessing it in superabundance.

John 10:10 (Complete Jewish Bible)
10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.

John 10:10 (Amplified)
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).

I especially like the Amplified Bible for this verse! Our heavenly Father sent Jesus for the very purpose of providing the means for us to have HIS very life inside of us! And then He wants us to be able to enjoy that life. To have that God kind of life in abundance, to the fullest, until it overflows in our lives! When His life overflows in our life it reaches others! That's God's perfect plan! He wants us reaching others with the great Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, then you have no access to that life. The Bible says this:

1 John 5:11-12 (Amplified)
11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

You have to receive Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour in order to receive this God kind of life in you! Is there any reason you can't receive Jesus as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour right now? Please go the The Spoken Word Church website through the link at the left of this blog and find out how you, too, can receive this life!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We will be looking at the first Epistle of John today:

1 John 1:1-5 (KJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Let's look at a few other translations:

1 John 1:1-5 (The Complete Jewish Bible)
1 1 The Word, which gives life!He existed from the beginning.We have heard him,we have seen him with our eyes,we have contemplated him,we have touched him with our hands!
2 The life appeared,and we have seen it.We are testifying to it and announcing it to you — eternal life!
He was with the Father,and he appeared to us. 3 What we have seen and heard,we are proclaiming to you;so that you too may have fellowship with us.Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Yeshua the Messiah. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!

Here is another:

1 John 1:1-5 (Wuest Translation)
1 1-2 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard with the present result that it is ringing in our ears, that which we have discerningly seen with our eyes with the present result that it is in our mind's eye, that which we gazed upon as a spectacle, and our hands handled with a view to investigation, that which is concerning the Word of the life-and this aforementioned life was made visible, and we have seen it with discernment and have it in our mind's eye, and are bearing witness and bringing back to you a message concerning the life, the eternal life, which is of such a nature as to have been in fellowship with the Father and was made visible to us.
3-4 That which we have seen with discernment and at present is in our mind's eye, and that which we have heard and at present is ringing in our ears, we are reporting also to you, in order that as for you also, you may be participating jointly in common with us [in our first-hand knowledge of the life of our Lord]. And the fellowship indeed which is ours, is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And these things, as for us, we are writing in order that our joy, having been filled completely full in times past may persist in that state of fullness through present time.
5-7 And it is this message which we have heard from Him and at present is ringing in our ears and we are bringing back tidings to you, that God as to His nature is light, and darkness in Him does not exist, not even one particle. (from The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest Copyright © 1961 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)

And here is the Amplified Bible:

1 John 1:1-5 (Amplified)
1 [WE ARE writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.
2 And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers].
3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete].
5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].

As you can see, the Bible was written for US! For those who have received Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour so that we may come to know Him more each day! Our joy will be and stay full when we understand that God's Word is Truth, His promises are sure, His ways are wonderful, His Name is powerful and His plan for us (individually and as the Body of Christ) is perfect! The first step in understanding the nature of God is to realize that HE IS LIGHT! There is NO darkness found in God whatsoever! Therefore the dark things of the world are NOT from God, and He always provides a way of escape for His people.

Continue meditating on the Word of God. It IS our survival manual!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Now that I have my new computer up and running, we can get back to mediating on God's Word through this blog! Let's look at Proverbs 22:6:

Prov 22:6 (KJV)
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

"Train up" is the Hebrew word, chanak, which means: to initiate, to discipline, to dedicate, to train, a child in "the way", the Hebrew word, derek, which means: a course of life, a mode of action, a direction, a manner, a habit, he should go and "when", the Hebrew word, kiy, which means: certainly, when, because that, therefore, indeed, he is old, "he will (not) depart", the Hebrew word, cuwr, which means: to turn aside, to depart, to remove, to take away, to cause to turn aside, to be removed from it. The Amplified Bible says this:

Prov 22:6 (Amplified)
6Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I've always loved how the Amplified Bible says "in keeping with his individual gift or bent". It is very important that parents allow their children to become who and what God intends for them to be! We've all seen parents who try to relive their own lives through their children, sometimes forcing them to be involved in things in which they not only have no interest, but also have no gift for or inclination towards. The very best thing that we who are parents can do is to spend time in prayer daily for our children and to teach and train them in the Word of God. Train them how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and to recognize His leading in their lives. Support them, teach them, train them, encourage them, but most of all, love them! The promise is very clear! They WILL eventually serve the Lord! We have God's Word on that!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I just want to share a passage from today's Bible Reading Plan from the Amplified Bible. It is very powerful and my daily commitment! It's found in Philippians chapter 3:

Phil 3:8-11 (Amplified)
8Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
9And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

I love Paul's prayer and I make it my own. But we can't forget that we are a work in progress:

Phil 1:6 (Amplified)
6And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

The work in us is being done by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us! So don't get discouraged. Remember what Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14:

Phil 3:12-14 (Amplified)
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Even Paul had not attained to his goal, but he never gave up! He continued pressing on every day! Getting to know Jesus more every day! Then at the end of his life he said this:

2 Tim 4:7 (Amplified)
7I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

So keep pressing on in YOUR life! Get to know Jesus more every day! He is WELL worth knowing!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Our selection from The Spoken Word Church Daily Bible Reading plan is found in Proverbs 24:

Prov 24:3-5 (KJV)
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

We find here that the Word of God says that "Through wisdom", the Hebrew word, chakam, which means: to be wise (in mind, word or act), to become wise, to act wisely, to show one's wisdom, is "an house", the Hebrew word, bayith, which means: a house, a habitation, a household, a family, "builded", the Hebrew word, banah, which means: to build, to rebuild, to establish, to cause to continue, "and by understanding", the Hebrew word, tabuwn, which means: discretion, reason, skilfulness, intelligence, insight, "it is established", the Hebrew word, kuwn, which means: to set up, to be fixed, to be stable, to be secure, to be prepared. The Amplified Bible says it very well:

Prov24:3 (Amplified)
3Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

Then the next verse says "And by knowledge", the Hebrew word, da'ath, which means: knowledge, perception, skill, wisdom, discernment, (this word comes from the word yada', which means: to learn to know, to come to know, to find out!), shall the chambers be filled with "all", the Hebrew word, kol, which means: all, the whole, everything, totality, "precious", the Hebrew word, yaqar, which means: valuable, costly, excellent, prized, rare, splendid, glorious, "and pleasant", the Hebrew word, na'iym, which means: delightful, lovely, agreeable, beautiful, "riches", the Hebrew word, hown, which means: wealth, substance, riches, sufficiency.

The next verse says that a wise (the Hebrew word chakam used in verse 3 above) man (person) is "strong", the Hebrew word, 'oz, which means: strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise), boldness, might, power, yea a man of knowledge (the Hebrew word da'ath used in verse 4 above) "increaseth", the Hebrew word, 'amats, which means: to be strong, to be alert, to be courageous, to be steadfastly minded, to be brave, to prove superior to, "strength", the Hebrew word, koach, which means: to be firm, vigorous, power, might, substance. The Amplified Bible says:

Prov 24:5 (Amplified)
5 A wise man is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;

It is better to be wise than strong because wisdom will produce a strength that is beyond natural, human strength! That sounds like the ability and power of God to me!

I hope that you are finding out how much deeper the Word of God is than you think at first glance! Meditation not only deepens our understanding of the Word and what it is actually saying, but it also gets that Word inside of us where the Holy Spirit, Who is our Teacher, can make it even more clear and He will also bring that Word that we have been meditating on back to us when we need it! (John 14:26)

Keep meditating! Your growth is amazing and other people are noticing!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope you've been doing your own meditating on the Word of God and getting to know Him more every day! We want to look at a verse from our Bible Reading Plan from the last few days.

Prov 18:20 (KJV)
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

I find more and more believers who still do not understand that the words of their own mouth are so vitally important to their very life. We see here that the Word of God says that a man's "belly", the Hebrew word, beten, which means: the belly, the body of anything, the seat of mental faculties, "shall be satisfied", the Hebrew word, saba', which means: to be satisfied, to be fulfilled, have enough, have plenty of, be full of, "with the fruit of", the Hebrew word, periy, which means: fruit, reward, produce, offspring, his mouth and with "the increase of", the Hebrew word, tebuw'ah, which means: income, produce, revenue, yield, crops, "his lips", the Hebrew word, saphah, which means: lip, language, speech, "shall he be filled" which is the same Hebrew word, saba, as is translated "shall be satisfied" above. What does this mean? Let's look at the Amplified Bible:

Prov 18:20 (Amplified)
20A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].

This verse is saying that we, by the words of our own mouths, produce the fruit of our lives. The situations we face in our lives today are a direct result of the things we've said about ourselves and the choices we've made previously! God has put us in control of our own lives and then told us exactly what good choices to make so that we can have that abundant life that Jesus came to give us (see John 10:10)! Remember that Jesus said:

John 15:7 (KJV)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

The Amplified Bible is even more clear here:

John 15:7 (Amplified)
7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

The answer for those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour is to get into His Word until His Word gets into us! The more that we meditate on the promises found in the Word, the more real they become to us. When they are that real to us, Jesus says that THEN we can ask what we will (our wills will be in line with His will) and then it WILL be done! That's what Proverbs is referring to! Our lives are the product of our own words and we will have to be satisfied with the results because they are of our own choosing! So make YOUR words line up with HIS WORD and then have happy and joyful results!

Keep meditating!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We're going to look at some verses in Matthew's Gospel today. The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem where Jesus had been teaching his disciples. The Pharisees desired to try to trip up Jesus in His teaching:

Matt 22:15 (KJV)
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

You can read the next few verses for that story, but the result was:

Matt 22:22-23 (KJV)
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him...

So then we see the Sadducees trying the same tactic, with the same results!

Matt 22:34
34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

So here they go again!

Matt 22:35-36 (KJV)
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

The word "lawyer" is the Greek word, nomikos, which means: according to or pertaining to the law, one learned in the law, an expert in the Mosaic law. This was one who had studied the Law of Moses, probably his entire life, and new it inside and out. The word "tempting" is the Greek word, peirazo, which means: to test objectively, to scrutinize, entice, assay, examine, prove, try (it can be in either a good sense with right motives or in a bad sense with bad motives). We want to look at the answer Jesus gave him here:

Matt 22:37-40 (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus said, "Thou shalt love", the Greek word agapao which is referring to the God kind of love. It is the same word used in John 3:16 of God's love for the world that caused Him to send Jesus for us! He says here that WE are to love HIM with that same love! We are to love Him with "all", the Greek word, holos, which means: whole, all, complete, altogether, every whit, completely with all thy (referring to each individual person) "heart" which is the combination of our spirit being and our soul (our mind, emotions and will). Then He breaks it down further to our soul (because that is where we make choices!) and even further to our "mind", the Greek word, dianoia, which means: deep thought, imagination, understanding. That's where it has to start! In order to love the Lord the way we are told to here, we must get to KNOW Him! (Paul reveals his desire to know Him in Philippians 3:8-14. Check it out in the Amplified Bible!) The way we get to know Him is through the Word. Once we KNOW Him, our choice will be whether or not to love Him with the same love with which He loves us! Now don't stop there! The next part is equally as important in the eyes of God! Jesus said that we are to love (agapao) our neighbor even as we love ourselves! He also said that these two commandments are the basis for the entire Law! We don't have to "try" to obey the 10 commandments. If we do these two things, the rest will be taken care of! If we love someone we won't even consider stealing from them or lying about them or any of the other "shalt nots"! And a little secret is this: WHEN we love the Lord like that, loving each other will also fall into place!

We have our instructions! We need to get to know Him to the point of loving Him with our entire being! Then we love each other and the results are found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8! Love (charity, from the same Greek word and SHOULD be translated love!) NEVER fails! I think I want to love like that! How about you?

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The Bible Reading Plan for today included John chapter 17. This chapter of the Gospel of John contains the prayer that Jesus prayed for His disciples before His death, burial and resurrection. As you will see from the portion we will look at today, He also included US! Each one of us who have received Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour! Let's read:

John 17:14-23 (KJV)
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The Amplified Bible says this:

John 17:14-23 (Amplified)
14I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world.
15I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.
16They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
18Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.
20Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
21That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
22I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
23I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

The prayer from the heart of Jesus was that we would be "sanctified", the Greek word, hagiazo, which means: purify, consecrate, separate from profane things (the world) and separate unto God. Then he goes on to tell us HOW the Father will sanctify us: "by the Truth: Your Word is Truth." The Word of God is the ONLY Truth. Anything contrary to the Word of God is NOT the Truth, but a lie. Keep meditating on this passage and let the Holy Spirit build a confidence in the Word of God inside of you that will never be taken away! When God's Word becomes YOUR Truth, you will truly be pleasing to Him and be fulfilling His will for your life!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's Bible Reading Plan included John 15. Let's look first of all at verse 7:

John 15:7 (KJV)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

We're told here that if "ye abide", the Greek word, meno, which means: to stay in a given place, to remain, to continue to be present, to be held or kept continually; and His "word", the Greek word, rhema, which means: an utterance, the spoken word; abides in you, then ye shall ask what ye will and it SHALL BE DONE unto you! The Amplified Bible says:

John 15:7 (Amplified)
7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

Now that is a tremendous promise and very few believers that I have met actually believe this Word enough to act on it! Get the Word of God in you by meditating continually on it until it becomes real to you. Then start doing what you know to do! ASK what you desire and it will be done. GOD SAID SO!!!

The other verse we want to look at is verse 12:

John 15:12 (KJV)
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

We are told here that our Heavenly Father expects us to give the same love to each other that HE has given to us! What kind of love is that? It's the kind of love that is based on a choice and not a feeling. A love that sees everyone as precious and valuable. We who were very unlovely have been loved with an everlasting love by the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! And He expects nothing less from us than that we give that same love to each other! That's a great commandment to obey because we know from 1 Corinthians chapter 13 that love NEVER fails!

Keep reading, studying and meditating the Word of God for the purpose of obeying it. You will be amazed at the affect the Word will have on your life and the people around you will be blessed!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The Spoken Word Church Bible Reading plan for today has so many things that I could share on this blog that it was difficult to decide! If you haven't visited the site yet, please visit The Spoken Word Church website through the link at the left of this blog. The Bible Plan is right on the home page and you can follow along with us! It takes you chronologically through the Bible daily, finishing in 1 year. I am reading this year in the Amplified Bible.

I believe that Holy Spirit wants us to look at these passages today:

John 14:1-6 (Amplified)
1DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.
2In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.
3And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.
4And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.
5Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?
6Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

It is very exciting to me to know that it is within my control whether I walk through life distressed, worried, agitated and fearful OR in the peace and joy that only God and His Word can give! Since He is telling us here NOT to LET our hearts be troubled, then it is our responsibility to find out how to go about it! He says in the very next verse that a stress-free life comes when we put our trust and confidence in HIM! We do THAT by studying His Word, believing His Word and obeying His Word. When Jesus left to go and prepare those wonderful places for us in heaven so that He can return and take us there one day, He also said this:

Mt. 28:18 (Amplified)
18Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Because ALL authority over all the power of the enemy has been given to Jesus, then we, as His body here on the Earth, have that same authority, in His Name, over any distressing situation or circumstance that our enemy, the devil, tries to bring about in our lives! BELIEVE Him! Believe His Word! Believe that His Word will work for you in the same way that it worked for Him when He spoke it in His ministry!

The next thing that Jesus says is very important for believers to know and to share with other people. Jesus said "I am the "Way", which is the Greek word, hodos, which means: a road, the route, the mode, the means; the "Truth", which is the Greek word, aletheia, which means: what is true in any matter under consideration; and the "Life", which is the Greek word, zoe, which means: used of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. He is telling us here that the ONLY way we can come into fellowship with God (to belong to God) and the ONLY way we can know the REAL Truth, and the ONLY way we can have that fullness of Life that God has in Himself is by and through Himself! Through Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One (and His anointing)! 1 John tells us this:

1 John 5:11-12 (Amplified)
11And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

Do YOU possess the Son? Have you ever accepted and received Jesus Christ as your own Lord and personal Saviour? If not, please check out the church website to the left and find out how to make Jesus the Lord of you life and have these promises of God in His Word belong to you, too!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's Bible Reading included Proverbs 3. I want to look at a few of these verses:

Proverbs 3:1-2 (Amplified)
1MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

We're told here to NOT "forget" the law or teaching of the Word of God. This is the Hebrew word, shakach, which means: to mislay, be oblivious of from lack of memory or attention, to ignore, to cease to care. That isn't just referring to our forgetting where a passage is or not remembering the exact words, it is actually talking about our NOT spending time in the Word of God every day, NOT paying attention to the Word, NOT treating the Word of God as precious and valuable, NOT meditating on the Word. We are further told to "let (thine heart) keep" the Word. This is the Hebrew word, natsar, which means: to guard, to protect, to maintain, to obey, to observe, to preserve. Meditate on the Word of God for the purpose of getting to know Him and of obeying what the Word tells us to do. The results? We're told that in verse 2! Length of days (being able to accomplish more in a 24 hour day than we were able to previously!) and years of a life worth living (fullness of life and many years to enjoy that full life!) and tranquility (the KJV says "peace" which is the Hebrew word shalom, which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, friendship with man and God) continuing through old age until we leave this world, THESE shall they (God's Word) add to you! Now those are some awesome results that I know I want in my life!

Continue to meditate on the Word of God EVERY day! Your life, both the quality of your life and the length of it here on this earth, depend on it!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

It's been a while again! Let's get right back into meditating on God's Word. Our Spoken Word Church Bible Reading plan for today included reading Proverbs 2. The first part of that Proverb from the Amplified Bible says:

Proverbs 2:1-11 (Amplified)
1MY SON, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it];
3Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
4If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,
5Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.
6For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,
8That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.
9Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.
10For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.
11Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you

The word "receive" in the first verse is actually the Hebrew word, laqach, which means: to take, to take to or for a person, to take possession of, to fetch, to capture. It's a very active and aggressive word! You don't just sit around and wait for the Word of God to fall on you. Instead you go after the precious promises in the Word in order to make them your own! God has hidden the promises in His Word so that we can find them for ourselves and make them our own! In fact the Word of God tells us this:

Proverbs 25:2 (Amplified)
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

WE are the kings spoken of in this verse! The word "glory" is the Hebrew Word, kabowd, which means: glorious, honor, abundance, copiousness, dignity and reputation. It was very good for God to hide His Word FOR us and it is a very good thing indeed for us to find it out!

Continue meditating on the rest of the verses shown above from Proverbs 2:1-11 in the Amplified Bible. This translation makes it very clear that God wants His people to really know His Word so that understanding will come and we can be doers of that Word, receiving the results He intends for us to receive. Learn to fall in love with the Word of God! You will be glad you did because He says this about His Words:

Proverbs 4:22 (Amplified)
22For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The verses we will look at today will help to explain why we stress the importance of God's Word so much. We will look first at Psalm 138:

Ps 138:2 (KJV)
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

"I will worship" is the Hebrew word, shachah, which means: to bow down, to prostrate oneself in reverence, to pay homage, toward Thy holy temple "and praise", the Hebrew word, yadah, which means: to revere or worship with extended hands, to give thanks, to laud, to praise, Thy name for "thy lovingkindness", the Hebrew word, checed, which means: goodness, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, and for "thy truth", the Hebrew word, emeth, which means: sureness, reliability, faithfulness, trustworthiness, for "thou hast magnified", the Hebrew word, gadal, which means: to become great or important, to promote, to make powerful, to do great things, thy word above all thy name. The Amplified Bible says this:

Ps 138:2 (Amplified)
2I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!

We see here that God Himself is responsible for elevating the Word of God to an even higher place than the Name! And we know how high THAT is!:

Phil 2:9-11 (Amplified)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

EVERY knee will eventually bow to Jesus the Christ as Lord! His Name is above any and every situation we could ever face! We can use the Name of Jesus to overcome every attack! But the REALLY good news is that we have a weapon that is even greater and higher than the Name of Jesus! That would be the Word of God! After all, the Bible tells us that Jesus was given the Name, but He IS the Word!

John 1:1-3 (Amplified)
1IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2He was present originally with God. 3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

And then this verse:

John 1:14 (Amplified)
14And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.

Jesus and His Word are one and the same! He IS the Word and He's been GIVEN the Name. Then He gave the Name AND the Word to us to use to take authority over all the power of the enemy! Do you see how we are MORE than conquerors through Jesus! Keep getting the Word inside of you until it becomes real to YOU. Then speak that Word into every situation you face. You will have the same results Jesus did and God will get all the glory!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Let's look today at one of my very favorite passages of Scripture:

I Jn 5:11-13 (KJV)
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

We see here that it says: And this is the "record", the Greek word, maturia, which means: evidence given (judicially), report, witness, testimony, that God "hath given", the Greek word, didomi, which means: to give, to grant, to supply, to furnish, to endue, to give to someone as his own, to us "eternal", the Greek word, aionios, which means: perpetual, forever, without beginning or end, everlasting, "life", the Greek word, zoe, which means: used of the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God, life as God has it in Himself, and this life is in His Son. (That would be Jesus!) It goes on to say this: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. IF you have the Son, Jesus, if you have been born again, if you have received Jesus as you Lord and personal Saviour, then you already have this God kind of life inside of you!!! What great news that is! But we also see here that if you have NOT received Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour, then you have not received this life. You DO NOT have the life of God inside of you.

We continue with verse 13 here: These things have I written unto you that "believe", the Greek word, pisteuo, which means: to have faith in or upon, to put trust in, to have confidence in, on the Name of the Son of God that "ye may know", the Greek word, eido, which means: to see, to perceive with the eyes, to notice, discern, discover, to experience, to get knowledge of, to understand, that "ye have", the Greek word, echo, which means: to have, to hold, to own, to possess, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere to, eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Soon of God. The Amplified Bible says this:

1 Jn 5:11-13 (Amplified)
11And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.
13I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.

These verses in the Epistle of 1 John were written for our benefit! They were written so that we may know for a certainty that we actually have the God-kind of life inside of us! Thank you, Jesus, for the confidence we can have in Your Word! These things were also written so that we would know, with that same certainty, that those who have never received Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour DO NOT HAVE that life inside of them. That's why we, as believers, need to be sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelievers so that they can become believers and HAVE that life! If YOU have never received Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, I invite you to pray this prayer from your heart, believing, and receive Him now:

Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.

Now you, too, have that God kind of life inside of you! Now you need to get into the Word of God and find out what other wonderful promises are yours because you are "in Him"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Were you able to find the Word in all of the first 88 verses of Psalm 119? Here are the remaining 88 verses:

Ps 119:89-176 (Amplified)
89Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens].
90Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91All [the whole universe] are Your servants; therefore they continue this day according to Your ordinances.
92Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
93I will never forget Your precepts, [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me (granted me life).
94I am Yours, therefore save me [Your own]; for I have sought (inquired of and for) Your precepts and required them [as my urgent need].
95The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies.
96I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].
97Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
98You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.
99I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation.
100I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
102I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
103How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
107I am sorely afflicted; renew and quicken me [give me life], O Lord, according to Your word!
108Accept, I beseech You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your ordinances.
109My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law.
110The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I do not stray from Your precepts.
111Your testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end.
113I hate the thoughts of undecided [in religion], double-minded people, but Your law do I love.
114You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
116Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live; and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually!
118You spurn and set at nought all those who stray from Your statutes, for their own lying deceives them and their tricks are in vain.
119You put away and count as dross all the wicked of the earth [for there is no true metal in them]; therefore I love Your testimonies.
120My flesh trembles and shudders for fear and reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid and in dread of Your judgments.
121I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to those who would oppress me.
122Be surety for Your servant for good [as Judah was surety for the safety of Benjamin]; let not the proud oppress me.
123My eyes fail, watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.
124Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy and loving-kindness, and teach me Your statutes.
125I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies.
126It is time for the Lord to act; they have frustrated Your law.
127Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold.
128Therefore I esteem as right all, yes, all Your precepts; I hate every false way.
129Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
130The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.
131I opened my mouth and panted [with eager desire], for I longed for Your commandments.
132Look upon me, be merciful unto me, and show me favor, as is Your way to those who love Your name.
133Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
135Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
136Streams of water run down my eyes, because men do not keep Your law [they hear it not, nor receive it, love it, or obey it].
137[Rigidly] righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments and all expressions of Your will.
138You have commanded and appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness.
139My zeal has consumed me and cut me off, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140Your word is very pure (tried and well refined); therefore Your servant loves it.
141I am small (insignificant) and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.
143Trouble and anguish have found and taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight.
144Your righteous testimonies are everlasting and Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die].
145I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes [I will hear, receive, love, and obey them].
146I cried to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
147I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word.
148My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word.
149Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O Lord, quicken me and give me life according to Your [righteous] decrees.
150They draw near who follow after wrong thinking and persecute me with wickedness; they are far from Your law.
151You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth.
152Of old have I known Your testimonies, and for a long time, [therefore it is a thoroughly established conviction] that You have founded them forever.
153Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.
154Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Your word.
155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not nor hunger for Your statutes.
156Great are Your tender mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord; give me life according to Your ordinances.
157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from Your testimonies.
158I behold the treacherous and am grieved and loathe them, because they do not respect Your law [neither hearing, receiving, loving, nor obeying it].
159Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness!
160The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.
161Princes pursue and persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words [dreading violation of them far more than the force of prince or potentate].
162I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoil.
163I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law do I love.
164Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees.
165Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.
166I am hoping and waiting [eagerly] for Your salvation, O Lord, and I do Your commandments.
167Your testimonies have I kept [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]; I love them exceedingly!
168I have observed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are [fully known] before You.
169Let my mournful cry and supplication come [near] before You, O Lord; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension) according to Your word [of assurance and promise].
170Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word!
171My lips shall pour forth praise [with thanksgiving and renewed trust] when You teach me Your statutes.
172My tongue shall sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.
173Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight.
175Let me live that I may praise You, and let Your decrees help me.
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek, inquire for, and demand Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.

Verse 89 has always been one of my favorites. "Forever" is the Hebrew word, `owlam, which means: time out of mind (used of past or future), antiquity or ancient (used of the past); forever, always (used of future); perpetual, continuous existence; everlasting; unending future; eternity. God's Word has always been and always will be. You can't find anything more stable and sure than that! And this verse also says that His Word is "settled", the Hebrew word, natsab, which means: to station onself, to stand firm, to be fixed and established. Now that's something we can count on!

When we DO verse 97 (loving the Word and meditating on it) then verses 98-100 are the result! We gain layer upon layer of knowledge of His Word and become wiser than our enemies, gain more knowledge than our teachers and receive revelation of the Word beyond those who've gone before us! That's how God intended for it to be! I would certainly hope that those I teach would take what I share with them and allow the Holy Spirit to add new insight to it and then they surpass me!

Verse 105 should be very familiar to everyone! I also love verses 129-130! His Word is wonderful and way beyond and above ANY thought that man could come up with! When we meditate on the Word we gain understanding and when we OBEY the Word we gain wisdom! And my very favorite verse is 160: The Word IS Truth! It is the ONLY Truth! Anything that does not line up with God's Word is NOT truth! Remember that Jesus said:

John 17:17 (Amplified)
17Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

The Word of God is the only standard we need for any situation we will ever face! Continue to meditate on it. Get the Word inside of you until IT becomes part of you! You'll start thinking like God! Then you'll start speaking like God and acting like God and then you'll be the kind of living witness that He intended you to be!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope you have been finding and meditating on your "in Him" Scriptures. If you have, you've found that there are many more than you thought there were! I want to share something special with you today. In the Bible Reading Plan that we are following at The Spoken Word Church we just finished Psalm 119. We usually read the first 88 verses on one day and the last 88 the next day. I love Psalm 119 because EVERY verse talks about the Word of God! So I am posting the first 88 verses from the Amplified Bible today and the last 88 in the next post. See if you can find the reference to the Word in each verse and allow the importance of the Word of God to get inside of you!

Psalm 119 (Amplified)
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will).
2Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.
3Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways.
4You have commanded us to keep Your precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
5Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]!
6Then shall I not be put to shame [by failing to inherit Your promises] when I have respect to all Your commandments.
7I will praise and give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct].
8I will keep Your statutes; O forsake me not utterly.
9How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].
10With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments.
11Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
12Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.
13With my lips have I declared and recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth.
14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law].
16I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
18Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.
19I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me.
20My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances and judgments at all times.
21You rebuke the proud and arrogant, the accursed ones, who err and wander from Your commandments.
22Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I keep Your testimonies.
23Princes also sat and talked against me, but Your servant meditated on Your statutes.
24Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.
25My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive and stimulate me according to Your word!
26I have declared my ways and opened my griefs to You, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on and talk of Your wondrous works.
28My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.
29Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness [to You], and graciously impart Your law to me.
30I have chosen the way of truth and faithfulness; Your ordinances have I set before me.
31I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame!
32I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing.
33Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly].
34Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart.
35Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.
36Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).
37Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.
38Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You.
39Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good.
40Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life.
41Let Your mercy and loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your promise;
42Then shall I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word.
43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I hope in Your ordinances.
44I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
45And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.
46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be put to shame.
47For I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.
48My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.
49Remember [fervently] the word and promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope.
50This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life.
51The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined in my interest in or turned aside from Your law.
52When I have [earnestly] recalled Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, I have taken comfort.
53Burning indignation, terror, and sadness seize upon me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
54Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55I have [earnestly] remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night, and I have observed Your law.
56This I have had [as the gift of Your grace and as my reward]: that I have kept Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
57You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep Your words.
58I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.
59I considered my ways; I turned my feet to [obey] Your testimonies.
60I made haste and delayed not to keep Your commandments.
61Though the cords of the wicked have enclosed and ensnared me, I have not forgotten Your law.
62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.
63I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, and worship You, and of those who observe and give heed to Your precepts.
64The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy and loving-kindness; teach me Your statutes.
65You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.
66Teach me good judgment, wise and right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments.
67Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
68You are good and kind and do good; teach me Your statutes.
69The arrogant and godless have put together a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70Their hearts are as fat as grease [their minds are dull and brutal], but I delight in Your law.
71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
72The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
73Your hands have made me, cunningly fashioned and established me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74Those who reverently and worshipfully fear You will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in Your word and tarried for it.
75I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76Let, I pray You, Your merciful kindness and steadfast love be for my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.
77Let Your tender mercy and loving-kindness come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight!
78Let the proud be put to shame, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts.
79Let those who reverently and worshipfully fear You turn to me, and those who have known Your testimonies.
80Let my heart be sound (sincere and wholehearted and blameless) in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
81My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
82My eyes fail, watching for [the fulfillment of] Your promise. I say, When will You comfort me?
83For I have become like a bottle [a wineskin blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], yet do I not forget Your statutes.
84How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You judge those who pursue and persecute me?
85The godless and arrogant have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to Your law.
86All Your commandments are faithful and sure. [The godless] pursue and persecute me with falsehood; help me [Lord]!
87They had almost consumed me upon earth, but I forsook not Your precepts.
88According to Your steadfast love give life to me; then I will keep the testimony of Your mouth [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We will look at one last verse in our study of "in Him" Scriptures. Let's look in the Book of Ephesians:

Eph 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

The very first word in this verse is "Blessed", the Greek word, eulogetos, which means: blessed or praised and comes from the Greek word, eulogeo, which means: to speak well of, to bless, to prosper, to celebrate with praises, to invoke blessings, to pronounce a consecratory blessing on, be the God and Father of our "Lord", the Greek word, kurios, which means: supreme in authority, controller, he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding, master, lord, a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence with which servants salute their master, Jesus Christ, Who "hath blessed", again, the Greek word eulogeo, which in this case, with reference to God doing the blessing, also takes on the added meaning of: to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings upon, to be favored of God, us with "all", the Greek word, pas, which means: individually & collectively (each, every, any, all, everyone, all things, the whole, everything, "spiritual", the Greek word, pneumatikos, which means: non-carnal, supernatural, of Godly origin, "blessings", the Greek word, eulogia, which means: fine speaking, commendation, benediction, consecration, benefit, largess, blessing bountifully, a concrete blessing, in heavenly places in Christ. The Amplified Bible says this:

Eph 1:3 (Amplified)
3May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

Do you notice that this verse says that He has ALREADY done it! He has already pronounced His blessing on us! This isn't something He is going to do in the future, when we get to heaven, although that WILL be glorious! NO! This says that He HAS ALREADY put that blessing in motion. From the time that you first received Jesus Christ of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Savior, and on into all eternity, He has already made provision for you! Everything you need or WILL EVER need, He has already made available to you. It is yours. He sees it as yours! Find out what the Word of God says belongs to you as a born again believer and believe it, receive it, expect it and act like it! You should say:

Because I am a born again believer, because I have received Jesus of Nazareth as my Lord and personal Savior, my Father God in Heaven has already provided for everything I will ever need to be successful, prosperous and in control of my life here on earth. He has called me, equipped me, and anointed me to fulfill His plan for my life. I will find out what the Word of God says belongs to me as a believer and I will walk in the light of it, to the glory of God!

Here is a list of more "in Him" Scriptures for you to study on your own:

1. Romans 3:24
2. Romans 8:1-2
3. Romans 12:5
4. 1 Corinthians 1:2
5. 1 Corinthians 1:30
6. 1 Corinthians 15:22
7. 2 Corinthians 1:21
8. 2 Corinthians 2:14
9. 2 Corinthians 3:14
10. 2 Corinthians 5:17 & 19

That's a start for you! There are many more. Begin your diligent study of the Word of God to find more for yourself, if you haven't already done so. Underline them, highlight them, copy them or whatever YOU need to do to get these Truths inside of you. It will change the way you look at yourself! You will begin to see yourself as God sees you and find a boldness for the Gospel that you may never have had before!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Continuing with our "in Him" Scriptures, we will look at Ephesians chapter 2 today:

Eph 2:1 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

The word "And" here is connecting this verse with the verses ending chapter 1. Mediate on those to get the full picture of what this verse is saying. We will start with this verse, though, for our teaching today. "You" is a plural word here, referring to all believers (the church, referred to in the chapter before). "Hath He quickened" is a phrase added by the translators to make the meaning more clear. It has no corresponding Greek word in the text, but the first definition in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary is "made alive". So we see here that we have been made alive, or, reborn, who were "dead", the Greek word, nekros, which means: spiritually dead (destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because of trespasses and sins, destitute of force or power (inactive & inoperative) in "trespasses", the Greek word, paraptoma, which means: a side-slip, lapse or deviation; an unintentional error or a wilfull transgression; fault, offence or sin, and "sins", the Greek word, hamartia, which we have covered before on this blog and means: to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or to go wrong, to violate God's law. The Amplified Bible says this:

Eph 2:1 (Amplified)
1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

This is the state in which each of us find ourselves after we make that first selfish decision or choice to do something our own way instead of God's way. When we choose to disobey God's law, His Word. Then we need a Saviour! The GOOD NEWS is:

Eph 2:4-6 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

But God, Who is "rich", the Greek word, plousios, which means: wealthy, rich, abounding with, abundantly supplied, abounding in material resources, in "mercy", the Greek word, eleos, which means: compassion, kindness or goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted (joined with a desire to help them), the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to mankind salvation through Jesus Christ, "for", the Greek word, dia, which is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act: through, by reason of, by the means of, His "great", the Greek word, polus, which means: abundant, plenteous, many, much, large, love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins "hath quickened (us) together", the Greek word, suzoopoieo, which means: to reanimate conjointly with, to make one alive together with, "Christ", the Greek word, Christos, which means: anointed, the Messiah, the Anointed One (with His anointing!), ("by grace", the Greek word, charis, which means: good will, lovingkindness, favor, benefit, gift, ye are "saved", the Greek word, sozo, which means: to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, make whole, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, to restore to health).

And "hath raised us up together" the Greek word, sunegeiro, which means: to rouse from death in company with, and "made us sit together", the Greek word, sugkathizo, which means: to give or take a seat in company with, to cause to sit down together, in "heavenly places", the Greek word, epouranios, which means: existing in heaven, things that take place in heaven, in Christ Jesus! The Amplified Bible says this:

Eph 2:4-6 (Amplified)
4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
6And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

So what is our confession of faith? We should be saying:

I WAS crucified with Christ Jesus, my Lord. When He was quickened (made alive), I was quickened and made alive WITH Him! I was raised up together WITH Him and was made to sit together IN HIM in heavenly places! Today, positionally, I AM seated in the same heavenly places that Jesus is because I AM IN HIM! My citizenship is in Heaven! My home country is Heaven! I am an ambassador here on earth charged with representing Heaven to a lost and dying world. I am to present the Good News to all that will hear, so that they, too, can be raised up together and made to sit in those same heavenly places IN HIM!

We have been given a wonderful new life and a powerful ministry of sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone we come in contact with! Don't be selfish with what you've been given! Make sure you buy up every opportunity to share Life with those you come in contact with. You'll be storing up rewards in Heaven and be very pleasing to your Heavenly Father, Who wants that NONE should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance! (2 Peter 3:9)

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We'll continue looking at "in Him" Scriptures today, starting with Galatians 2:20:

Gal 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The born again believer, having believed in their heart that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross after being made sin with our sin, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of Father, can make this confession of faith! We are saying that "I am crucified", the Greek word, sustauroo, which means: to impale in company with, to crucify with, and refers to our old sin nature, "with Christ", the Greek word, Christos, which means: the anointed One, the Messiah, "nevertheless", the Greek word, de, which means: but, also, moreover, "I live', the Greek word, zao, which means: to be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong and efficient, to be powerful and have vital power in itself, "yet not", the Greek word, ouketi, which means: no longer, no more, no further, I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh (my human nature), I live by the "faith", the Greek word, pistis, which means: the conviction of truth, belief with the predominate idea of trust or confidence in of the Son of God, Who loved me and "gave", the Greek word, paradidomi, which means: to surrender, to yield up, Himself "for", the Greek word, huper, which means: in behalf of, for the sake of, ME! The Amplified Bible says this:

Gal 2:20 (Amplified)
20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

We WERE crucified WITH Him! When He was made sin, it was with MY sin and YOUR sin! He had no sin of His own and He could not have died a physical death if he had not been made sin! There WAS no death in Him at all until that point! He was absolute life! Jesus Himself said that no one (man or devil!) took His life from Him. They could not, but He GAVE Himself to be made sin so that through His death we could be actually accounted as being crucified with Him! Our old sin nature is dead and we have been given His life! His Spirit in us recreated our dead spirit into His image and now He lives in us ALWAYS! That's where our confidence comes from! We'll see this more in our next Scripture found in Colossians:

Col 1:26-27 (KJV)
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We see here that there is a mystery revealed in the Word of God! Even the "mystery", the Greek word, musterion, which means: a secret, a mystery through the idea of silence, a hidden thing or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding, a hidden purpose, which "hath been hid", the Greek word, apokrupto, which means: to hide, to conceal, to keep secret, from "ages", the Greek word, aion, which means: a period of time (including past), an unbroken age of the world, and from "generations", the Greek word, genea, which means: the time occupied by each successive generation, but now "is made manifest", the Greek word, phaneroo, which means: to render apparent, to appear, to declare, to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to make actual and visible, to make realized, to expose to view, to be plainly recognized, to have thoroughly understood who and what one is, to His "saints", the Greek word, hagios, which means: pure, morally blameless, consecrated, holy (set apart from the world and set apart unto God!): to whom God would "make known", the Greek word, gnorizo, which means: to make known, to certify, to declare, to give to understand, to become known, to gain knowledge of, to have thorough knowledge of, what is the "riches", the Greek word, ploutos, which means: wealth as fulness, possessions, abundance, valuable bestowment, plentitude, abundance of external possessions, of the "glory", the Greek word, doxa, which means: glory as very apparent, dignity, honor, splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, majesty, a glorious condition, a most exalted state, of this mystery among the "Gentiles", the Greek word, ethnos, which means: a race, a nation, a people, a group, which is Christ (the Anointed One and His Anointing) IN YOU the "hope", the Greek word, elpis, which means: to anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation, confidence, faith, of glory! THAT was the mystery that has now been revealed to born again believers! The Amplified Bible says this:

Col 1:26-27 (Amplified)
26The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),
27To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.

When we were born again, God the Holy Spirit came to live inside of each one of us! We have the Anointed One living in us! That's the hope, the expectation, the confidence that we can and should have! We ARE NOW in Him and HE IS NOW in us! The God of all the universe lives in you! The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible lives in YOU!!! You can do everything He calls you to do. Jesus Himself said :

John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

So what should be our confession of faith? We should say:

I am crucified with Christ. My old nature died when Jesus became sin with my sin and I became a partaker of HIS life when I received Jesus the Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour. The Spirit of Almighty God now lives in me! I have HIS life in me! The Anointed One and His Anointing is inside of me and I CAN DO all things through His power in me. It WAS a mystery, but now I know, He lives in me!

Meditate on that Truth until it becomes so real to you that you can't sit still but have to shout praises to God! Then KEEP meditating on it so you never lose the reality of the Truth that He lives in you!

Shalom in Him!