2/12/26

Peace comes from God’s presence, guarded by prayer, gratitude, trust, and hope

Enjoying How to Maintain Peace and Avoid Stress and Anxiety - Bill Johnson Sermon | Bethel Church

Bill Johnson teaches that peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of God, who guards the heart and mind when we stay grounded in prayer, gratitude, and trust. Scripture reinforces this pattern. Jesus gives a peace the world cannot match (John 14:27), and believers are urged to let that peace rule their hearts (Colossians 3:15). Prayerlessness opens the door to temptation and lack (James 4:2; Matthew 26:41), while thankfulness acts as protective armor (Philippians 4:6–7). Worry is misplaced faith (Matthew 6:27), but casting burdens on God restores confidence and strength (1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:10). Fear disrupts intimacy, yet perfect love drives it out (1 John 4:18), enabling us to hear God clearly (John 10:27). Biblical peace restores spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and the God of hope fills His people with joy and peace as they trust Him (Romans 15:13).

Peace is presence, not escape.

God’s peace is His active presence, not the absence of conflict.
• “My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” John 14:27
• “He himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14
• “The God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Keep your peace.
A noisy heart loses what God already gave.
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15
• “In returning and rest you shall be saved.” Isaiah 30:15
• “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Prayerlessness creates lack.
No prayer. More pressure.
• “You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
• “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Jesus warned Peter to “watch and pray… so you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41

Thankfulness is a guard.
Gratitude is armor.
• “Present your requests… and the peace of God will guard your hearts.” Philippians 4:6–7
• Jesus “gave thanks” on the night He was betrayed. Luke 22:19
• “Give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Worry is misplaced faith.
Anxiety trusts the wrong kingdom.
• “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour…?” Matthew 6:27
• “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
• “Do not fear… I will strengthen you.” Isaiah 41:10

Guard peace to hear God.
Noise blunts discernment. Peace sharpens it.
• “My sheep hear my voice.” John 10:27
• “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
• “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Fear breaks connection.
Fear disrupts intimacy with God.
• “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
• “Perfect love drives out fear.” 1 John 4:18
• “The Lord is my light… whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

Peace restores spirit, soul, and body.
Peace is whole-person restoration.
• “May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “The God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

Hopelessness is a spiritual attack.
Reject it. Replace it with resurrection hope.
• “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Hope in God.” Psalm 42:5
• “By His great mercy… a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” Romans 15:13

Breakthrough requires standing.
Hope activates when we respond.
• “Stand firm… and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring.” Exodus 14:13
• “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” James 4:7
• “Call to me, and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3

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2/11/26

Forgotten Maker, Building Their Own Greatness

 Core Theme

The cyclical pattern of prosperity → forgetfulness → self-reliance → judgment → restoration


I. THE PATTERN OF FORGETFULNESS

A. Prosperity Breeds Amnesia (Deuteronomy 8:11-20)

The Warning Cycle:

  1. God delivers and provides (v.14-16)
  2. People become satisfied (v.12)
  3. Hearts become proud (v.14)
  4. Attribution shifts from God to self (v.17)
  5. Worship follows attribution (v.19)

Cross-references:

  • Hosea 13:6 - "When they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me"
  • Deuteronomy 32:15 - "Jeshurun grew fat and kicked... he forsook God who made him"
  • Proverbs 30:8-9 - "Give me neither poverty nor riches... lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'"

B. Historical Amnesia (Psalm 106:13, 21)

Speed of Forgetting: "But they soon forgot his works"

Pattern in Israel's History:

  • Egypt's deliverance → Golden calf (Exodus 32)
  • Wilderness provision → constant grumbling (Numbers 11-14)
  • Conquest victories → Canaanite compromise (Judges 2:10-13)
  • Kingdom glory → idolatrous division (1 Kings 11-12)

Jeremiah 2:32 - The absurdity: A bride never forgets her wedding attire, yet God's people forget Him "days without number"

Additional References:

  • Judges 8:33-34 - "As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God"
  • Nehemiah 9:16-17 - "But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them"

II. SELF-MADE MONUMENTS

A. Building Without God (Psalm 127:1)

The Futility Principle: Human effort apart from divine blessing = vanity

Three Applications:

  1. Households - Family legacy built on human wisdom alone
  2. Cities/Nations - Civilizations that exclude God (Psalm 33:12)
  3. Personal Achievement - Career, reputation, wealth as self-constructed towers

Isaiah 22:11 - The condemnation of Jerusalem: intricate waterworks and defenses, but "you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago"

B. The Tower Syndrome (Genesis 11:1-9)

Babel's Characteristics:

  1. Unity in rebellion - "Let us make..." (not "Let God make...")
  2. Self-glorification - "Make a name for ourselves"
  3. Fear-driven building - "Lest we be dispersed" (rejecting God's command to fill the earth, Gen 9:1)
  4. God-replacement - Tower reaching to heaven (usurping divine position)

Modern Babel Parallels:

  • Corporate empires without ethical foundation
  • Personal brands built on self-promotion (Isaiah 14:13-14 - "I will... I will...")
  • Theological systems that exclude God's revelation
  • Technology worship - Habakkuk 1:16 applied: "he sacrifices to his net"

Additional References:

  • Isaiah 5:21 - "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!"
  • Obadiah 1:3-4 - "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock... who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'"

C. The Rich Fool's Delusion (Luke 12:16-21)

Five Fatal Mistakes:

  1. Monologue with self - "I will say to my soul" (v.19) - God never consulted
  2. Ownership delusion - "My crops, my barns, my goods" (v.17-18)
  3. Security in things - "You have ample goods laid up for many years"
  4. Temporal focus - "Relax, eat, drink, be merry" (no eternal perspective)
  5. Death's interrupt - "This night your soul is required of you" (v.20)

The Verdict: "Not rich toward God" (v.21)

Cross-references:

  • James 4:13-16 - Boasting about tomorrow without "If the Lord wills"
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 - Wealth acquired, wealth lost; "naked he shall return"
  • Matthew 16:26 - "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

III. PRIDE'S TRAJECTORY (Proverbs 16:18)

A. The Downward Spiral

PrideDestruction
Haughty SpiritFall

Biblical Examples:

  1. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37) - "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built...?"
  2. Herod (Acts 12:21-23) - Accepted worship, struck down immediately
  3. Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16) - "When he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction"

B. Self-Worship in Disguise (Habakkuk 1:16)

"He sacrifices to his net" - Worshiping the instrument of our success

Modern Idols:

  • Education/credentials - "My degree earned this"
  • Work ethic - "My hustle built this empire"
  • Strategy/intelligence - "My brilliant plan succeeded"
  • Networks - "It's all about who you know" (whom I know)

Romans 1:21-25 - The exchange: Truth of God → lie; worship of Creator → worship of created things (including ourselves)

Additional References:

  • Ezekiel 28:2-5 - "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god'... yet you are but a man"
  • 1 Corinthians 4:7 - "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"

IV. THE ANTIDOTE: REMEMBERING AND REBUILDING RIGHTLY

A. Commanded Remembrance

Deuteronomy 8:18 - "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth"

Memory Mechanisms in Scripture:

  1. Passover - Annual reenactment (Exodus 12:14)
  2. Feast cycles - Regular rhythm of remembering (Leviticus 23)
  3. Stones of testimony - Physical memorials (Joshua 4:6-7)
  4. Lord's Supper - "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19)
  5. Teaching children - Generational transfer (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Psalm 103:2 - "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"

B. God-Centered Building

Proper Attribution:

  • 1 Chronicles 29:11-14 - David's prayer: "All that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours... Both riches and honor come from you... But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you."
  • James 1:17 - "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above"
  • Philippians 2:13 - "God... works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure"

Proper Building:

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - Building on the foundation of Christ with gold/silver/precious stones (not wood/hay/stubble)
  • Matthew 7:24-27 - Wise builder on rock (God's Word) vs. fool on sand (self-will)
  • Colossians 3:17 - "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"

C. Humility's Protection

Proverbs 3:5-7 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding... Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD"

Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

1 Peter 5:6 - "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you"


V. PRACTICAL APPLICATION

A. Daily Questions for Self-Examination

  1. Attribution audit: When I recount success today, who gets the credit?
  2. Building inspection: What am I building—and whose glory does it serve?
  3. Memory check: What has God done that I'm tempted to forget?
  4. Idol inventory: Where am I "sacrificing to my net"?
  5. Eternal perspective: If God required my soul tonight, would I be "rich toward God"?

B. Specific Action Steps

  1. Establish remembrance rhythms - Weekly gratitude journaling specifically noting God's provision
  2. Reframe success narratives - Practice saying "God enabled me to..." instead of "I accomplished..."
  3. Preach to yourself - Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5 - "Why are you cast down, O my soul? ...Hope in God"
  4. Build with eternal materials - Regular evaluation: Will this matter in 100 years? 1,000? Eternity?
  5. Practice dependence - Begin projects/decisions with prayer, not just planning

C. Warning Signs of Forgetfulness

  • Decreasing prayer life despite increasing success
  • Irritation when God gets credit for your achievements
  • Anxiety about losing what you've built (revealing where security lies)
  • Difficulty celebrating others' success (competition rather than stewardship mindset)
  • Trajectory toward luxury while ministry/generosity plateaus

Revelation 3:17-18 - Laodicean delusion: "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (not knowing spiritual bankruptcy)


VI. THE ULTIMATE CONTRAST

The Two Builders:

Self-Made Builder:

  • Forgets Creator → Becomes own creator
  • Builds monuments to self → They burn (1 Cor 3:15)
  • Trusts in own strength → Falls (Prov 16:18)
  • Rich in things → Poor toward God (Luke 12:21)
  • Dies → "Fool!" (Luke 12:20)

God-Dependent Builder:

  • Remembers Creator → Reflects Creator's glory
  • Builds on Christ → Work endures (1 Cor 3:14)
  • Trusts in God's strength → Stands firm (Psalm 125:1)
  • Rich toward God → True riches (Luke 12:21)
  • Dies → "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:21)

Final Word - Jeremiah 9:23-24: "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.'"


Closing Challenge

Two paths lie before every achievement:

  1. Amnesia → Self-glorification → Destruction
  2. Remembrance → God-glorification → Enduring fruit

The choice is made not once, but daily—in how we narrate our stories, allocate our resources, and direct our worship.

Your move: What monument are you building today? And whose name will be carved at the top?

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The Discipline of Daily Repentance (Hebrews 3:13)

The verse "as long as it is called today" comes from Hebrews 3:13, which urges believers to encourage one another daily to prevent hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It emphasizes immediate, daily action in faith, as "today" represents the current opportunity to follow God before it's too late. 

  • Key Verse (NIV): "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness".
  • Context: The passage warns against repeating the rebellion of Israel in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:12-15).
  • Key Phrase: "As long as it is called 'Today'" highlights the urgency of faith and obedience while there is still time (or opportunity)

Common Translations of Hebrews 3:13:

  • NIV/NLT: "encourage one another daily," "warn each other every day".
  • KJV/ESV: "exhort one another daily".
  • AMP: "continually encourage one another every day".

Daily repentance keeps the heart soft before God. Scripture presents repentance as a continual returning, not a one-time event. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray "forgive us our sins" as part of daily communion with the Father in Matthew 6:12. The very structure of the Lord's Prayer assumes ongoing need for confession, placing it alongside daily bread as a fundamental rhythm of kingdom life.

Paul urges believers to "put to death" the deeds of the flesh in Romans 8:13, which assumes a rhythm of honest self-evaluation. This is present-tense, continuous action—not a past accomplishment but a daily practice. Similarly, in Colossians 3:5-10, Paul instructs believers to "put to death" and "put off" the old self while "putting on" the new self, using language that implies regular, repeated action.

David models continual repentance in Psalm 139:23-24 when he asks God to search him, expose any offensive way, and lead him in the way everlasting. This prayer becomes even more powerful when placed alongside Psalm 19:12-14, where David asks, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins." David recognizes both known and unknown sin, both conscious rebellion and unconscious offense. His response is not despair but invitation, asking God to do the searching work the human heart cannot do alone.

First John 1:9 frames confession and forgiveness as an ongoing relational practice: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The conditional "if" paired with the present tense "confess" establishes confession as a continuing practice for believers who walk in relationship with a faithful God.

Repentance is the steady turning that keeps a disciple aligned with Christ. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God's mercies "are new every morning," which implies the need for daily grace and daily return. Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross daily in Luke 9:23, establishing the rhythm of death to self as a daily spiritual discipline. Proverbs 4:18 describes the path of the righteous as "like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"—a progressive journey requiring daily realignment toward the light.

The prophets consistently call God's people to return. Hosea 6:1 says, "Come, let us return to the LORD," and Hosea 14:1 echoes, "Return, Israel, to the LORD your God." Joel 2:12-13 calls for return "with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Jeremiah 3:22 offers the invitation and the promise: "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." God never tires of the returning heart.

Confession as Spiritual Hygiene

Confession functions like regular cleansing that keeps the inner life healthy. The Psalms show the consequences of withholding confession. Psalm 32:3-5 describes David wasting away in silence until he confessed his transgressions and found release: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long... Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity... and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Physical deterioration accompanied spiritual concealment. Relief came through honest speech.

Psalm 51, David's great confession after Nathan confronted him about Bathsheba, reveals the comprehensive nature of true confession. David doesn't minimize ("I have sinned against the LORD," 2 Samuel 12:13) or deflect. Instead, he asks for thorough cleansing: "Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (v. 7). He recognizes sin's deep roots: "Surely I was sinful at birth" (v. 5). He asks for internal transformation: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (v. 10). Confession becomes the gateway to comprehensive renewal. "Create In Me" from Rend Collective

James 5:16 instructs believers to confess sins to one another so they may be healed, connecting confession with communal health and restored relationships. This assumes a community of grace where confession is safe, not weaponized. It also recognizes that hidden sin festers while exposed sin can be addressed and healed.

Hebrews 4:16 shows that confession thrives in a culture of bold access to the throne of grace: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." The context (Hebrews 4:12-13) reminds us that God already sees everything: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Since God already knows, confession is not informing Him but agreeing with Him about reality.

Confession removes what corrodes intimacy with God. First John 1:7 says, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Walking in the light, living with transparency before God and others, maintains fellowship. Verse 6 warns that claiming fellowship while walking in darkness makes us liars. Verse 8 warns against claiming to be without sin. Verse 10 warns against claiming we have not sinned. The entire passage establishes that healthy relationship with God requires honest acknowledgment of sin combined with confidence in Christ's cleansing.

Confession restores clarity. It prevents the gradual buildup of compromise that blinds the conscience. Hebrews 3:13 warns believers to "encourage one another daily... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Sin deceives. It promises what it cannot deliver and conceals its true cost. Regular confession exposes deception and maintains spiritual sensitivity. Ephesians 4:17-19 describes what happens when conscience becomes dulled: people become "darkened in their understanding," "separated from the life of God," "having lost all sensitivity," and given over to "sensuality." Confession prevents this progressive hardening.

Staying Mission-Ready

A repentant, cleansed heart is ready for the mission Christ gives His people. Isaiah's commissioning shows the pattern. Isaiah experiences cleansing ("your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for," Isaiah 6:7) before he hears God's call and responds, "Here am I. Send me!" in Isaiah 6:8. The sequence matters: conviction of sin (v. 5), cleansing (v. 7), commission (v. 8). Isaiah could not bear the mission while carrying unaddressed guilt.

This pattern repeats throughout Scripture. When Joshua prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land, God commanded him to circumcise the people at Gilboa, symbolically removing "the reproach of Egypt" before the conquest began (Joshua 5:2-9). The people had to be consecrated before they could advance.

3 Days, 21 Days, 40 Days, 7 years, 49 years

Before Pentecost, the disciples waited in prayer for ten days (Acts 1:14). This period of preparation preceded the outpouring of the Spirit and the launch of the church's mission. Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power (Acts 1:4-5). Spiritual readiness preceded mission effectiveness.

The Old Testament priesthood required ritual cleansing before service. Exodus 29:4 describes Aaron and his sons being washed with water before being clothed and anointed for service. Leviticus 16:4 requires the high priest to bathe before putting on sacred garments to enter the Most Holy Place. These physical cleansings pointed to the spiritual reality that those who serve God must be cleansed.

Jesus ties purity of heart to clarity of vision in Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Purity enables perception. Sin clouds spiritual sight. First Timothy 1:5 identifies "a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith" as the goal of Paul's instruction. Second Timothy 2:22 tells Timothy to "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Paul tells Timothy to "cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable" so that you will be a vessel "useful to the Master and prepared for every good work" in 2 Timothy 2:21. The image is of household vessels, some for noble purposes, some for common use. The difference is cleanliness. A cleansed vessel is ready for the Master's use.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for one another, love one another deeply, from the heart." Purification enables authentic love. Sin undermines genuine fellowship and ministry effectiveness.

Spiritual readiness grows when sin is not ignored but addressed quickly. Ephesians 4:26-27 warns, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Unresolved sin creates openings for the enemy. Quick confession and repentance close those gaps. Hebrews 12:1 instructs believers to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" before running the race marked out for them. You cannot run well while entangled.

Biblical perspective on Active Listening (Luke 6:27-49, 8:8,18)

Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

Restoration Versus Condemnation

God's goal in repentance is restoration, not shame. Condemnation is the enemy's counterfeit. Romans 8:1 states emphatically, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This follows Paul's honest struggle with sin in Romans 7 and precedes his description of life in the Spirit in Romans 8. Conviction of sin leads to confession and restoration. Condemnation leads to despair and hiding.

Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night." His voice condemns. God's voice convicts and restores. John 10:10 contrasts the thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" with Jesus who came that "they may have life, and have it to the full." Condemnation steals joy, kills hope, and destroys purpose. Conviction leads to abundant life.

Jesus restores Peter after failure, not by rehearsing his sin, but by reaffirming his calling in John 21:15-19. Three times Peter denied Jesus. Three times Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" and gives Peter mission: "Feed my sheep." The conversation happens over breakfast, an intimate, nourishing moment, not a courtroom interrogation. Restoration leads to renewed mission.

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 reveals the Father's heart. The son returns prepared to confess and ask only for servant status (vv. 18-19). The father runs to him, embraces him, kisses him, and interrupts his confession to restore him fully as a son (vv. 20-24). The father throws a party. He gives a robe, a ring, shoes - symbols of full restoration, not probationary status. This is God's response to repentance.

Second Corinthians 7:10 separates godly sorrow, which produces repentance leading to salvation and leaves no regret, from worldly sorrow, which produces death. Godly sorrow acknowledges sin, turns from it, and receives forgiveness. Worldly sorrow wallows in guilt without turning to God. Judas experienced worldly sorrow and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). Peter experienced godly sorrow and was restored to leadership.

Condemnation locks people into regret and fear. First John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." God's love casts out the fear that condemnation produces.

God's pattern is always restorative discipline, as taught in Hebrews 12:5-11. Verse 6 says, "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Verse 10 explains that "God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." Verse 11 acknowledges that "no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." His correction reestablishes relationship and strengthens endurance.

Joel 2:25 promises restoration: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Even when sin has brought devastating consequences, God's heart is to restore. Psalm 103:10-12 declares, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

When Jesus encounters the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, He refuses to condemn: "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin" (v. 11). He offers both grace ("neither do I condemn you") and truth ("leave your life of sin"). This is the gospel pattern, full forgiveness paired with a call to transformation.

Condemnation is never God's voice. Romans 2:4 asks, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" It is God's kindness, not His condemnation, that draws us to repentance. His goodness melts hard hearts. His mercy creates space for honest confession. His faithfulness guarantees forgiveness. His love completes restoration.

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Modern examples of the Spiritually Gifted.

 Talking with a friend about Spiritual Gifts I thought about Corrie Ten Boom, Tamp for the Lord and Charlie Kirk, Stop in the name of God

I appreciate the question: Do I read what I believe, or do I believe what I read? When we stay anchored to Scripture, we stay grounded in truth. Lately I’ve been convicted that many of today’s false prophets are not Old Testament-style figures, but influential voices and entertainers who draw people away from God and exalt self, the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Christ has already given the church true prophets. Paul names them among the gifts Christ gives for building up the body (Ephesians 4:7–13; 1 Corinthians 12–14; Romans 12). The difference between true and false prophets is visible in the fruit of their lives.

False prophets operate under the spirit of anti-Christ. Their fruit is predictable. Death. Destruction. Debauchery. Delusion. Distance from God. Devil-worship. Addiction. Disorder. Their influence pulls people toward darkness, not toward life.

True prophets live by the Spirit of Christ. Their fruit is equally obvious. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. Their lives and even their deaths point people to Jesus.

Corrie Ten Boom is a powerful example. In Tramp for the Lord, she describes visions, guidance, and miraculous provision that carried her far beyond the horrors of the concentration camp. Charlie Kirk offers another example in a different vein. In Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life, he shows how Sabbath rest is not outdated. It is an act of resistance against frantic modern life and an invitation back to peace, presence, and communion with God.

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2/10/26

Biblical References for the Ascension-Pentecost Prayer Period

 The Timeline and Command to Wait

Acts 1:3-5 - The 40-day period and command

"After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'"

Luke 24:49 - Jesus' instruction before Ascension

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

The Promise of Power

Acts 1:8 - The purpose of waiting

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Ascension and Prayer

Acts 1:9-14 - The Ascension and devoted prayer

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight... Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem... They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

Key detail in verse 14: "They all joined together constantly in prayer" (or "devoted themselves with one accord to prayer")

The Fulfillment at Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4 - The coming of the Holy Spirit

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

The Count: 50 Days Total

  • Resurrection to Ascension: 40 days (Acts 1:3)
  • Ascension to Pentecost: 10 days (Acts 1:3 + Acts 2:1)
  • Resurrection to Pentecost: 50 days total (Pentecost = "fiftieth day" in Greek)

The 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost became the model for concerted, unified prayer in expectation of God's power—approximately 120 believers (Acts 1:15) waiting in obedience and prayer for the promised Holy Spirit.

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