Fear God’s eternal authority with awe, confidence, obedience, and bold trust.

The three most important attributes of God are Holy, Creator, Lord. He is distinct from everything (Holy), has beginning authority (Creator) and ending authority (Lord). The biblical teaching on the fear of the Lord establishes a foundational distinction between improper fear of temporal human threats and proper reverential awe of God's eternal authority. These passages reveal that while humans can only harm the physical body, God alone possesses authority over eternal destinies, both soul and body. Yet this "fear" is not servile terror but rather a healthy recognition of God's holiness and justice that exists within the security of His loving providence.

Servile terror means being afraid of God like a slave who's terrified of a cruel master.

It's the kind of fear where you:

• Cower and tremble, just trying not to get punished
• Obey only to avoid getting hurt, not out of love or respect
• Want to run and hide rather than draw close
• See God as an angry tyrant ready to strike you down
• Have no trust, no relationship, just dread

In contrast, the biblical "fear of the Lord" is more like:

• Deep respect mixed with love (like healthy respect for a loving but just parent)
• Awe at His greatness and holiness
• Awareness that He's incredibly powerful and judges sin, but also trustworthy and loving
• Reverence that draws you closer, not pushes you away

Think of it this way: servile terror makes you want to avoid God; proper fear of the Lord makes you want to worship God and live in a way that honors Him. One is the fear of a beaten slave; the other is the respectful awe of a beloved child toward a good but holy Father.

The same God who can cast into hell also numbers the hairs on our heads and notices every sparrow that falls. This dual reality (sovereign Judge and tender Father) produces transformative results: believers gain eternal perspective that prioritizes soul over body, develop boldness against human opposition, pursue obedience rooted in reverence rather than manipulation, and worship God with appropriate awe. 

Ultimately, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and encompasses the whole duty of humanity (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It redirects our anxieties from horizontal human threats to vertical divine accountability, while paradoxically providing confident assurance that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). This "perfect love" doesn't eliminate fear but rather perfects it, transforming dread into devoted reverence and producing lives marked by courageous faithfulness in the face of opposition.

These passages redirect fear. They warn against fearing people with temporary power and call us to fear God who holds eternal authority. This fear is not panic. It is reverent awe before the One who judges, protects, and rules forever.

1. Proper vs. Improper Fear
Jesus draws a sharp line. Do not fear those who can kill the body. Fear the One who determines eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28. Luke 12:4-5). True fear shifts our attention upward, not outward.

Additional references: Proverbs 29:25. Isaiah 51:7-8. Ezekiel 2:6. Jeremiah 1:8.

2. God the Judge and Protector
Scripture holds both truths. He judges sin with final authority (Hebrews 10:31. Revelation 20:11-15). Yet He guards His people with intimate care (Luke 12:6-7. Psalm 139:13-16). Fear and trust coexist in proper proportion.

Additional references: Psalm 103:11-17. Malachi 3:16-17. Romans 8:28.

3. Eternal Over Temporal
Physical death is not the final threat. Eternal judgment is (2 Corinthians 5:10. Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Bible reframes fear by lifting our sight to the age to come. Present pressure becomes small in comparison (Romans 8:18. Revelation 14:7).

Additional references: Matthew 16:26. Luke 16:19-31. Acts 17:31.

4. Fear Produces Wisdom
Fearing God leads to knowledge, wisdom, and obedience (Proverbs 1:7. Proverbs 9:10. Deuteronomy 10:12). It is the starting point of a life aligned with His will.

Additional references: Proverbs 14:26-27. Ecclesiastes 12:13. Revelation 14:7.

5. Love Perfects Fear
Believers do not fear punishment. God’s perfect love removes dread (1 John 4:18). His love holds us so securely that nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39). The fear that remains is reverent awe, not terror.

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Practical Implications

Persecution: Do not compromise truth because of pressure or threats.
Evangelism: Eternal stakes outweigh temporary discomfort.
Priorities: Align values with what lasts forever, not what fades.
Worship: Approach God with awe, not casual indifference.
Obedience: Respond to the God who commands with holy authority.
Confidence: Trust His care for every detail of life even as He rules with justice.

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Summary
The fear of the Lord is reverent awe rooted in His holiness, authority, justice, and love. It produces obedience, courage, and trust. It frees us from fearing man and fixes our eyes on eternal reality.

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The Final Debrief: What We Carry Into Glory

Every believer stands on the same foundation, Jesus Christ. But what each one builds upon that foundation is tested by fire at the Bema seat of Christ. Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 3 is not about salvation but about legacy: wood, hay, and stubble represent the self-serving, the superficial, and the temporally motivated, while gold, silver, and precious stones represent faithful obedience built for God's glory. The judgment seat described in 2 Corinthians 5 is not a courtroom of condemnation but an accounting of stewardship. every deed done in the body examined not for guilt, but for faithfulness. The reward of that faithfulness is heard in the simplest words imaginable: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). But the teaching does not end with the reward, it ends with worship. Revelation 4 reveals that the crowns given to the elders are not kept as trophies; they are cast before the throne of the One who alone is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. The whole arc of the teaching presses a single question: What are you building, and for whom? What survives the fire will be laid at His feet and that changes everything about how we live today.

Works That Follow Us: What we do in this life has eternal weight.

• Revelation 14:13: our works follow us beyond death.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10–15: Christ tests the quality of our work; only what is fireproof remains.
• 2 Corinthians 5:10: every believer appears before Christ for reward.
• Colossians 3:23–24: work done “unto the Lord” becomes inheritance.
• Ephesians 6:7–8: the Lord repays the good we do.
• Hebrews 6:10: God is not unjust to forget faithful labor.

Character That Carries Forward: Sanctification is not discarded at death. It is completed.

• Romans 8:29–30: God’s endgame is Christlikeness.
• 1 John 3:2: we will be like Him when we see Him.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18: the transformation happening now continues into what is revealed then.
• Philippians 1:6: He finishes what He starts.
• Colossians 3:10: renewed into the image of the Creator.
• Jude 24: He keeps us and presents us blameless with joy.

Souls Won and Discipled: People, not possessions, cross into eternity.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20: believers Paul invested in are his crown.
• Philippians 4:1: people are lasting fruit.
• Daniel 12:3: leading many to righteousness shines forever.
• John 4:36: the sower and reaper rejoice together.
• Proverbs 11:30: the one who wins souls is wise.

Rewards, Faithfulness, and Stewardship

The Parable Framework: Jesus ties eternal reward to faithfulness in ordinary responsibility.

• Matthew 25:14–30: talents judged; reward proportional to faithfulness.
• Luke 19:11–27: faithfulness over “very little” leads to authority over cities.
• Matthew 25:34–40: serving “the least of these” is serving Christ.

Crowns as Specific Rewards

• 2 Timothy 4:8: crown of righteousness for loving His appearing.
• James 1:12 / Revelation 2:10: crown of life for endurance.
• 1 Peter 5:4: crown of glory for faithful shepherds.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24–27: imperishable crown for disciplined service.
• Revelation 3:11: hold fast so no one takes your crown.

Stewardship Principles

• Luke 16:10–12: faithfulness with what is small reveals readiness for true riches.
• Matthew 6:19–21: treasure in heaven, not on earth.
• Luke 12:42–48: much given, much required.
• Romans 14:12: each gives an account to God.
• Hebrews 4:13: nothing hidden before Him.

Accounting for Time and Gifts

• Ephesians 5:15–16: redeem the time.
• 1 Peter 4:10: steward spiritual gifts for others.
• Matthew 12:36: account even for careless words.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13–14: every deed brought into judgment.

Hearing “Well Done”

The Direct Words

• Matthew 25:21, 23: “Well done… enter the joy of your Master.”
• Luke 19:17: faithfulness in little brings kingdom authority.

Approval From God, Not Men

• 2 Timothy 2:15: present yourself to God as one approved.
• 1 Corinthians 4:3–5: the Lord examines motives.
• Galatians 1:10: seek His approval, not applause.
• John 5:44: desire the glory that comes from God.

The Joy of the Master

• Matthew 25:21: reward includes shared joy.
• Hebrews 12:2: Jesus endured for the joy ahead; we follow that pattern.
• Zephaniah 3:17: God rejoices over His people.

Standing Before the Judge-King

• Revelation 22:12: Christ returns with rewards in hand.
• Isaiah 40:10: His recompense is with Him.
• Hebrews 11:6: He rewards diligent seekers.
• Romans 2:6–7: He renders according to works.

The Crown Returned in Worship

• Revelation 4:10–11: every crown is cast at His feet. Reward becomes worship.

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Being humble enough to agree with God

Enjoying the thought of God's fertilizing work during this final season of grace. Specifically being humble to take a lower position and waiting for the call (Luke 14:7–11)

Direct Teachings on Humility

• Philippians 2:3-8 - "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves... Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who... humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death"
• James 4:6, 10 - "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you"
• 1 Peter 5:5-6 - "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another... Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you"
• 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?"
• Proverbs 11:2 - "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom"
• Matthew 18:3-4 - "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest"

Examples of Humble Actions

• John 13:3-5, 14-15 - Jesus washing disciples' feet: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet"
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven"
• Luke 18:9-14 - Tax collector vs. Pharisee: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
• Numbers 12:3 - "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth"
• Acts 20:19 - Paul: "serving the Lord with all humility and with tears"

God's Response to Humility

• Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up... 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit'"
• Isaiah 66:2 - "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word"
• Psalm 25:9 - "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way"
• Proverbs 3:34 - "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor

Warnings Against Pride

• Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"
• Proverbs 29:23 - "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor"
• Daniel 4:37 - Nebuchadnezzar: "Those who walk in pride he is able to humble"
• Luke 1:51-52 (Mary's Magnificat) - "He has scattered the proud... he has exalted those of humble estate"

These passages connect well with Luke 14:11, the pattern of divine reversal where God lifts the humble and brings low the proud appears throughout Scripture.

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God's fertilizing work during this final season of grace

Wonderful SALT Praise and Encouragement this morning. Karo talked how good SALT is for the manure pile, reminding me about the barren fig tree parable and Not outward reformation but inward transformation

The Barren Fig Tree Context (Luke 13:6-9)

• Israel/humanity has been given time to bear fruit but hasn't
• The gardener (Jesus as intercessor) pleads for "one more chance" Among the weeds of my heart with the Master Gardener
• He promises to "give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer"
• This represents the season of grace before judgment

The Salt Teaching (Luke 14:34-35)

• "Salt is good for seasoning" Tasteful, sunny disposition brings glory to God (Psalm 34:8, Matthew 5:13-16)
• "But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?"
• "Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile"

The gardener needs fertilizer (manure) to enrich the soil so the fig tree can produce fruit. But what makes fertilizer effective? Salt! Good salt enriches the soil and makes fertilizer potent.

So believers who maintain their "saltiness" (authenticity, holiness, witness, repentance) become part of the enriching environment that helps others bear fruit during this season of grace. We're the salt mixed into the fertilizer that the Master Gardener uses to cultivate fruit in barren lives.

But if we lose our saltiness through:

• Hypocrisy (the yeast of Pharisees - Luke 12:1)
• Greed and materialism (the rich fool - Luke 12:16-21)
• Unrepentant hearts (Luke 13:3, 5)
• Self-exaltation instead of humility (Luke 14:7-11)

Then we become "good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile" - useless for the very mission of helping others bear fruit before time runs out.

This ties the warning passages together: Be genuine salt, not tasteless pretenders, because you're meant to be part of God's fertilizing work during this final season of grace.

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Theme of God removing sin from His people (Zechariah 5:5-11)

Zechariah’s ephah vision aligns with a consistent biblical storyline. God does not tolerate wickedness among His people. He actively removes, judges, and ultimately destroys sin so His people can live in His presence.

Babylon becomes the symbolic destination where human rebellion is gathered for final judgment.

Zechariah: 5:1-4 (God's judgement of sinners), thieves who swear falsely by my name. 

Salvation in Christ: Romans 3:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13

Zechariah 5:5–11 communicates God’s removal of sin

The vision shows an ephah (a measuring basket) containing a woman who symbolizes Wickedness. A lead cover seals her inside. Two winged women lift the ephah and carry it to Shinar—the historic center of organized rebellion against God.

The message is direct. God does not just forgive His people. He removes the presence and influence of sin from among them. Wickedness is quarantined, transported away, and “set on a pedestal” in the land that represents human arrogance, idolatry, and self-exaltation.

This matches the broader biblical pattern: God restores His people by removing, judging, and banishing sin to preserve holiness.

Genesis 10:9–10 — Nimrod and Shinar’s foundation

Nimrod is described as a “mighty warrior before the Lord,” a phrase implying defiance. His kingdom includes Babel in Shinar, the birthplace of organized human rebellion. This passage connects Shinar with a culture that elevates human power over God’s authority.

Genesis 11:1–9 Tower of Babel

Humanity gathers in Shinar to build a tower “to make a name for ourselves.” God disrupts their rebellion by scattering them. The episode defines Shinar as the symbol of collective pride and self-salvation. Zechariah’s vision sends wickedness back to where it belongs.

2 Chronicles 36:15–21 Judah’s sin leads to exile in Babylon

Judah repeatedly rejects God’s warnings. God finally brings judgment by sending Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and carry the people into exile for seventy years. Babylon/Shinar represents the moral rot that comes from persistent disobedience. Zechariah’s audience knew this history. Wickedness must be removed or it corrupts the whole community.

Revelation 17–18 The fall of “Babylon the Great”

Babylon is the final, climactic symbol of human arrogance, false religion, exploitation, and sin. God judges and destroys it to purify the world before the final kingdom arrives. This completes the arc that began in Genesis. Sin is quarantined, judged, and eliminated.

God removes sin completely from His people. Psalm 103:10–12 “removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west.”

God purifies the unclean so they can stand in His presence. Isaiah 6:5–7 coal from the altar, removing guilt before commissioning him

God calls His people to separate from what defiles. Isaiah 52:11“Depart… touch no unclean thing.”

God removes obstacles and restores the contrite. Isaiah 57:14–15 "God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity. The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts."

God cleanses His people and gives them a new heart. Ezekiel 36:25–27

God removes iniquity and clothes His servant in purity. Zechariah 3:1–5: Rags to Riches, how the Holy Spirit changes us everyday

God refines His people and burns away impurity. Malachi 3:2–3

Jesus removes the sin of the world. John 1:29 Jesus is the Lamb “who takes away the sin of the world,” not merely forgives it.

Believers are freed from the dominion of sin. Romans 6:6–7

Sin no longer rules those led by the Spirit. Romans 8:1–4

God transfers His people from darkness to Christ's kingdom. Colossians 1:13–14

Christ cancels the record of sin and disarms spiritual powers. Colossians 2:13–15

Nothing impure will enter the new creation. Revelation 21:27

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Ice in a cold windy city.

Enjoying Knowing God yet living in sin leads to destruction (Hosea 8-9) and thinking about the current moment the culture of Minneapolis finds itself with fraud, waste, and abuse. It's a good time to repent from sin, return the the Lord and pray for all people to receive a fresh start. 

 “They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. The stalks of grain wither and produce nothing to eat. And even if there is any grain, foreigners will eat it. Hosea 8:7 (NLT)

My pastor had a good word this last Sunday, Be focused on Jesus not the current story but the greater story God is telling. As Stephen was killed, Saul approved - but later become the apostle Paul. Stephen models a legacy worth following. Live with clear mission, share the gospel. Desire forgiveness for sinners, not judgment. See people through eternity, not politics. Stand bold at death. Stephen dies praying, forgiveness and confident in Christ. Acts 7:59-60 He confessed to feeling "nuclear till they glow" in his heart toward people rather than, forgive them as we give up our lives as a heart attitude. 

I've been reminded lately of my friend Don Z, "the best thing I can do for those I'm leading is stay holy to the Lord." Hosea 8-9 captures why this is true. 

A) The Problem with "Knowing God" yet Living in Sin (Hosea 8)

8:1-3) Alarm! Covenant-Breaking Despite Claiming to Know God

Additional References:

• Titus 1:16 - "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."
• Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father... I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
• 1 John 2:3-4 - "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar."
• James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?... faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
• 2 Timothy 3:5 - "Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
• Jeremiah 11:1-10 - The covenant curse for those who don't obey the covenant terms
• Deuteronomy 28 - The blessings for obedience and curses for covenant-breaking

Application: True faith isn't a crisis hotline to God—it's a covenant relationship that transforms how we live daily.

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8:4-10) Planting Wind, Harvesting Whirlwind

Additional References:

• Galatians 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
• Job 4:8 - "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."
• Proverbs 22:8 - "Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail."
• 2 Corinthians 9:6 - "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
• Romans 6:21-23 - "What fruit were you getting from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death... the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life."

Application: Every choice is a seed—you cannot plant rebellion and expect to harvest righteousness.

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8:11-14) Forgotten Maker, Building Their Own Greatness

Additional References:

• Deuteronomy 8:11-20 - "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God... Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'"
• Psalm 106:13, 21 - "But they soon forgot his works... They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."
• Jeremiah 2:32 - "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number."
• Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."
• Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
• Luke 12:16-21 - The parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns but wasn't rich toward God
• Genesis 11:1-9 - Tower of Babel: humanity's attempt to "make a name for ourselves"
• Isaiah 22:11 - "You did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago."
• Habakkuk 1:16 - "Therefore he sacrifices to his net... for by them he lives in luxury" (worshiping our own efforts)

Application: When we forget God is our Creator, we become our own creators—building monuments to ourselves that will burn.

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B) Wasted Life Ends in Destruction (Hosea 9)

9:1-6) The Wasted Life: Spiritual Pollution and Homesickness

Additional References:

• James 4:4 - "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
• Ezekiel 16 & 23 - Extended metaphors of Israel's spiritual adultery
• Jeremiah 3:1-20 - "Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful."
• Romans 1:21-25 - "For although they knew God, they did not honor him... but became futile in their thinking... they exchanged the truth about God for a lie."
• Ephesians 2:1-3 - "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked... carrying out the desires of the body and the mind."
• Philippians 3:19 - "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."

On the Elder Brother (Luke 15:25-32):

• Matthew 20:1-16 - Workers in vineyard who complained about grace to latecomers
• Jonah 4 - Jonah angry at God's mercy to Nineveh
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - Without love, even right actions are nothing

Application: You can waste your life in two ways—the prodigal's reckless rebellion OR the elder brother's resentful religion. Both are far from the Father's heart.

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9:7-9) Payday for Sin: Hostility to God's Messengers

Additional References:

• Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
• 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - "The LORD... sent persistently to them by his messengers... but they kept mocking... until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy."
• Matthew 23:29-37 - Jesus condemns those who kill prophets: "You serpents, you brood of vipers!"
• Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen: "You stiff-necked people... you always resist the Holy Spirit... Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?"
• 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 - Those "who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets... displeasing God and opposing all mankind"

On Sin as Default Occupation vs. Vocation:

• Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
• Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Since sin pays death but God gives eternal life, present yourself to Him and live as one freed from sin and bound to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-23)

• Reject sin’s rule. You are dead to sin and alive to God, so do not let sin control your body. Under grace, offer yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness and live out the Law of Love.
• Renounce old patterns. Sin’s power has been broken. Leaving impurity behind protects you from increasing wickedness and from the shame that sin produces.
• Offer yourself fully to God. Obey from the heart. Become a servant of righteousness that leads to holiness and ends in eternal life through Christ.

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9:10-14) From Fresh Grapes to Barrenness

Additional References:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard: "He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!"
• Jeremiah 2:21 - "Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?"
• John 15:1-6 - "I am the vine; you are the branches... If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers."
• Luke 13:6-9 - Parable of the barren fig tree given one more year
• Matthew 21:18-19 - Jesus curses the barren fig tree
• Deuteronomy 32:32-33 - "For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom... their grapes are grapes of poison."

Application: God plants us to bear fruit for His kingdom. Barrenness isn't neutrality—it's judgment.

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9:15-17) Rejected for Disobedience: Homelessness

Additional References:

• 1 Samuel 15:23 - "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."
• Jeremiah 6:19 - "Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words."
• Hebrews 12:25 - "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape."
• Proverbs 1:24-31 - Wisdom rejected leads to calamity: "Because you have ignored all my counsel... I also will laugh at your calamity."
• Lamentations 1:1-3 - Jerusalem's desolation: "How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow... she weeps bitterly in the night."
• Duet 32:52 - "So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."

On Listening and Obeying (Jesus' Teaching):

• James 1:22-25 - "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
• Matthew 7:24-27 - Wise builder builds on rock (hearing + doing); foolish builder builds on sand (hearing only)
• John 8:31-32, 47 - "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples... Whoever is of God hears the words of God."
• Luke 6:46-49 - "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
• Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door..."

On Salt and Light (Luke 8-14 themes):

• Matthew 5:13-16 - "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world."
• Luke 8:16-18 - "No one after lighting a lamp covers it... For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest."
• Luke 11:33-36 - "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light."
• Philippians 2:15 - "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

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Summary Cross-References on the Central Theme:

The Danger of Empty Religion:

• Isaiah 29:13 / Matthew 15:8 - "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
• Amos 5:21-24 - "I hate, I despise your feasts... let justice roll down like waters."
• Micah 6:6-8 - "What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

The Path to Life:

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 - "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil... Choose life!"
• Joshua 24:15 - "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
• John 14:6 - "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Final Application: Knowing about God means nothing without knowing and obeying God. The fruit reveals the root.

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We are Co-laboring with God (2 Cor 6:1-2)

As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation! 2 Cor 6:1-2

Enjoying themes from God's Word carried in ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7) and Christ’s yoke reshapes the heart through the Spirit, not self-regulation (Matthew 11:29-30) 

The Bible presents salvation as a work that begins, continues, and is completed by God’s grace, yet it never portrays grace as passive or inert. From Genesis to Revelation, God initiates redemption, empowers His people by His Spirit, and then invites them to participate meaningfully in His purposes. This participation is not about earning favor, but about responding faithfully to what God has already given.

To co-labor with God is to live in active cooperation with the Holy Spirit. God supplies the power, direction, and growth, while believers supply obedience, faithfulness, and action. Scripture holds these truths together without tension. God works in us, and we therefore work. Grace saves us, and grace trains us. Christ reconciles the world, and we are sent as His ambassadors.

This calling carries both privilege and responsibility. Grace received but not lived out is described as grace received in vain. The biblical witness consistently warns against spiritual passivity and delayed obedience, emphasizing that God’s call is always present-tense. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of faithful response.

In this way, co-laboring with God becomes the lived expression of a transformed life. It is grace embodied through obedience, faith expressed through action, and love made visible through service. God remains sovereign. Humanity remains dependent. Yet in His wisdom and kindness, God chooses to accomplish His work through willing, surrendered partners who walk with Him in purpose and faith.

1. Explicit Language of Co-Laboring

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth… For we are God’s fellow workers.” 1 Corinthians 3:6–9
Core truth: God produces the outcome, yet human labor is genuinely involved. Responsibility and dependence coexist.

“God… gave us the ministry of reconciliation… We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors.” 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
Core truth: God reconciles the world, yet He chooses to work through human agents to carry His appeal.

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2. Grace That Produces Action

“By the grace of God I am what I am… yet I worked harder than all of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Core truth: Grace does not replace effort. Grace empowers effort.

“The grace of God… trains us to renounce ungodliness… and to be zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11–14
Core truth: Grace is formative and active, not passive or merely positional.

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3. God Works In and Through Us

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” Philippians 2:12–13
Core truth: Divine initiative and human obedience operate together, not in competition.

“[God] equips you with everything good for doing His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight.” Hebrews 13:20–21
Core truth: God supplies the capacity, but expects faithful execution.

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4. Stewardship and Accountability

Matthew 25:14–30 (Parable of the Talents)
The servants are judged not on possession, but on faithfulness with what was entrusted.
Core truth: Grace given is grace expected to be used.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” Luke 12:48
Core truth: Receiving grace creates responsibility, not exemption.

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5. Participation in God’s Ongoing Work

“Remain in me… apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4–8
Core truth: Fruitfulness requires abiding. Action flows from union, not independence.

“Saved by grace… created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance.” Ephesians 2:8–10
Core truth: Salvation is by grace alone, but salvation is never alone.

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6. The Present Urgency of Obedience

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7–8, 15
Core truth: God’s call always carries a time-bound response.

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
Core truth: Grace received without obedience becomes self-deception.

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Summary Insight

Scripture consistently teaches this balanced truth:

• God initiates salvation by grace alone
• God sustains transformation by His Spirit (Rags to Riches, how the Holy Spirit changes us everyday)
• God invites believers to actively participate
• God holds His people accountable for faithful response

Co-laboring with God is not earning salvation, it is honoring it.

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Soli Deo Gloria! To God alone be the glory - Johann Sebastian Bach

Enjoying Johann Sebastian Bach: The Fifth Evangelist | Music Documentary (Bachfest Leipzig 2013)

Bach read the Bible daily, taught it to his children, and treated composition as a theological vocation. On many manuscripts he wrote Soli Deo Gloria and Jesu Juva. That was not pious decoration. It was intent. Music was an offering. Craft was obedience.

“To God alone be the glory” This phrase comes directly from Scripture’s logic, especially Romans 11:36 and Psalm 115:1. It declares that the final purpose of the work is not the composer, the performer, or the audience, but God.

For Bach, SDG meant:

• Excellence was an act of worship, not self-expression.
• Beauty was not self-justifying. It pointed beyond itself.
• Success did not belong to the artist. It was returned.

That is why his music can be technically astonishing without sounding vain. The glory is offered upward, not claimed inward.

“Jesus, help” or “Jesus, assist” This was typically written at the beginning of a manuscript. It is a prayer before the first note exists.

For Bach, JJ meant:

• Dependence before confidence.
• Invocation before execution.
• Grace before effort.

He did not assume inspiration. He asked for help.

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Together: A theology of work

Jesu Juva at the beginning.
Soli Deo Gloria at the end.

That sequence matters.

It says:

• I cannot do this without You.
• If anything good comes from it, it is Yours.

This is why Bach’s music feels grounded rather than performative. The work begins in humility and ends in surrender. Everything in between is faithful craftsmanship.

The Bible shaped his imagination, not just his texts.
Even when there are no sung words, Bach thinks biblically. His music moves like Scripture moves. Creation to order. Order to tension. Tension to suffering. Suffering to resolution. Not shallow happiness, but earned joy. That arc is everywhere.

Why loss sounds like BWV 106.
Acts 2 and Ecclesiastes sit behind it. “God’s time is the best time.” Death is real. Grief is not rushed. Yet eternity presses in quietly. That is biblical lament. Honest sorrow held inside trust.

Why joy sounds like BWV 1006.
Think Psalm 98. Skill offered with gladness. Joy that is structured, not chaotic. Discipline does not crush delight. It gives it shape. That is a deeply biblical idea.

Why his music feels human.
The Bible never denies pain to reach truth. Neither does Bach. Sin, mortality, longing, hope, love, fear. They are all allowed to speak. Then they are gathered into something ordered and meaningful. That is why his music does not sentimentalize emotion. It redeems it.

Why your life fits inside his music.
Because Scripture fits inside real life. Weddings. Loss. Memory. Growth. Love across generations. Bach gives sound to what the Bible gives language to. That is why his music can carry a father, a son, a marriage, and grief without breaking.

1. BWV 546

Title: Präludium und Fuge in c-Moll
English: Prelude and Fugue in C minor
Instrumentation: Organ
Date: c. 1723–1730
Notes: Monumental in scale and architecture. Often associated with gravity, resolve, and moral weight.

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2. BWV 846

Title: Präludium und Fuge Nr. 1 in C-Dur
English: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major
Collection: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Teil I
English: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Instrumentation: Keyboard
Date: 1722
Notes: Foundational work in Western music. Frequently used in weddings due to its clarity and ordered joy.

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3. BWV 54

Title: Widerstehe doch der Sünde
English: “Stand firm against sin”
Type: Church Cantata for solo alto
Instrumentation: Alto voice, strings, continuo
Liturgical Use: Oculi Sunday (Lent)
Date: c. 1714
Biblical Basis: Romans 6
Notes: Introspective, morally weighty, and deeply personal. Often experienced as inward struggle made musical.

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4. BWV 1043

Title: Konzert für zwei Violinen in d-Moll
English: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor
Instrumentation: Two violins, strings, continuo
Date: c. 1717–1723
Movement Referenced: Second movement (Largo ma non tanto)
Notes: One of Bach’s most intimate slow movements. Often chosen for its sense of dialogue, unity, and tenderness.

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5. BWV 106

Title: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit
English: “God’s time is the very best time”
Nickname: Actus Tragicus
Type: Early funeral cantata
Instrumentation: Voices, recorders, violas da gamba, continuo
Date: c. 1707
Biblical Sources: Acts 2, Isaiah 38, Psalms, Luke 23
Notes: One of Bach’s most direct musical meditations on death, time, and eternity.

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6. BWV 1006

Title: Partita Nr. 3 in E-Dur für Violine solo
English: Partita No. 3 in E major for Solo Violin
Movement Referenced: Prelude
Date: c. 1720
Notes: Radiant, athletic, and expansive. Often described as pure musical joy shaped by discipline.

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Closing insight

Taken together, these works span organ, keyboard, violin, concerto, and sacred vocal music, as well as joy, grief, discipline, and love. That range is not accidental. It mirrors a biblical view of life as ordered, honest, and redeemable.

You really can tell a life story through Bach because Bach believed life itself belonged to God and therefore deserved to be told truthfully and beautifully.

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God's Word carried in ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Enjoying God Wants His Word to Become Flesh Again - Bill Johnson

Reminds me that we are fragile Jars of Clay (2 Cor 4:7)

• Genesis 2:7 (Creation): Alludes to humanity being formed from dust (clay) by God, the Master Potter. 
• Isaiah 64:8 (The Potter and the Clay): Reinforces the idea of God as the Creator shaping His people, linking to the clay imagery. 

In essence, "jars of clay" serves as a powerful reminder for believers to rely on God's strength, find purpose in their weaknesses, and recognize that the divine message they carry is far greater than their own fragile selves. 

Our life continues after our body goes into the ground. "With my own eyes I will see my redeemer" is a famous declaration of faith from the Book of Job (19:25-27) in the Bible, expressing Job's profound belief that even after his physical suffering and decay, he would personally see God, his divine Redeemer, stand on the earth. It signifies ultimate hope, personal revelation, and vindication, finding deeper meaning in Christian theology as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ's return. 

God’s Word Is Living, Creative, and Sustaining. God’s Word is not information. It is force, life, and order. Creation by the Word: God spoke, and reality obeyed. Heb 4:12; Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6, 9

• Sustained by the Word: All things hold together by Christ’s spoken authority. Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:3
• Life through the Word: We live spiritually by what God speaks, not merely by provision. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4
• Faith comes from hearing: Faith is generated, not manufactured. Romans 10:17
• Principle: God’s Word already contains power. The question is not capability, but reception.

God Chose Partnership, Not Automation. God sovereignly chooses to work through people. Co-laborers with God: He involves us in the fulfillment of His purposes. 1 Corinthians 3:6–9; 2 Corinthians 6:1

• The Parable of the Sower: The same seed produces different results based on the condition of the heart. Mark 4:14–20
• Principle: The Word is perfect. The soil determines the yield.

God’s Word Can Be Rendered Ineffective. Not because it lacks power, but because it is resisted or replaced. Tradition over truth: Human systems can nullify divine power. Mark 7:6–13

• Unbelief limits fruitfulness: Not God’s willingness, but human trust. Matthew 13:58; Hebrews 4:2
• Principle: Unbelief does not cancel God’s Word. It disconnects us from its benefit.

Zacharias and the Mercy of Silence. Zacharias believed God was able, but doubted He was willing for him. Muted to protect destiny: God silenced what could sabotage promise. Luke 1:18–20

• God’s mercy in restraint: Silence preserved what speech would have destroyed. Luke 1:64
• Principle: Sometimes God limits our voice to protect our future.

Mary and the Power of Agreement. Mary models perfect stewardship of promise. Total surrender: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

• Treasure before understanding: She pondered, not pressured, the promise. Luke 2:19
• The Word performs itself: God’s spoken Word carries its own ability. Isaiah 55:10–11; Luke 1:37
• Principle: Agreement creates space for incarnation. The Word becomes flesh where it is welcomed.

Stewardship of Promise Is Active. God’s promises are not decorations. They are assignments. Meditation brings fruit: What you dwell on shapes what you carry. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1–3

• Confession displaces lies: Truth spoken replaces deception believed. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Proverbs 18:21
• Guarded sharing: Holy things require holy environments. Matthew 7:6
• Principle: What you protect, you preserve. What you steward, you multiply.

Personal Responsibility and Invitation. Every believer carries promises meant to shape real life. Promises for every domain: Health, family, calling, provision. 2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 4:19

• Testimony follows obedience: God confirms His Word with power. Mark 16:20; Revelation 12:11
• The ultimate invitation: Christ Himself is the living Word. John 1:1, 14; Romans 10:9–10
• Final Call: Prepare the heart. Receive the Word. Steward it well. When the Word is honored, it becomes flesh again.

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The Church: Helping or Hurting?

I'm always looking for resources to learn from that support Biblical counseling, discipleship, and "evidence alternatives to self-help." Looking at Genesisprocess.org I saw a book for sale that offers the founder's life story about experience in the Church. The more I grow the more I realize that prayer of intercession is Lost and Found God's way (Isaiah 65:1, Romans 10:20)

Today we planned on going to the Catholic church Pax Christi but my friend canceled. I've latched onto the idea that every church has "true believers, make believers, and non-believers." I can enjoy every church where Christ is evident and enjoy conversations that reveal what we believe rather than arguing about topics with little value (2 Tim 2:19-26)

The Church: Helping or Hurting is described as;

A guide to practical Christianity, making individuals and churches safe and effective for helping wounded people heal. 

This book provides the understanding for individuals, churches, and agencies to help people who want to change actually be able to change. Michael’s primary question in writing this book was this: how can we assist the church at being safe and effective at helping hurting people heal?  This book is a synopsis of what he has learned over the past 45 years in his efforts to help wounded and addicted people.

If you have a heart to help hurting people, this book will aid you in understanding—“what helps and what hurts”.

The book argues that while the Church is God’s design for spiritual growth, it has often wounded people through hypocrisy, legalism, abuse of power, and lack of love, driving many away from Christ rather than toward Him.

One-Sentence Biblical Summary

“The Church may wound through human sin, but Christ still heals through His bride when she walks in truth, humility, and love.”

• Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. - John 17:17

• Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. - Ephesians 4:15

• Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. - Colossians 1:18

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PROS

Ways the Book Faithfully Reflects Biblical Truth

1. Calls the Church to Self-Examination

Biblical Alignment:

• Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. - 2 Corinthians 13:5

• Search me, O God, and know my heart, point out anything that offends you and lead me into the way of everlasting - Psalm 139:23–24

• Revelation 2-3, Jesus emphasizes perseverance, truth and love for Ephesus and Smyrna (2:1-11), Jesus emphasizes repentance for Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis (2:12-3:6), Jesus emphasizes perseverance and discipline for Philadelphia and Laodicea (3:7-22)

Value:
The book confronts complacency and calls the Church to repentance. This reflects Christ’s repeated warnings to the churches to examine fruit, motives, and faithfulness.

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2. Amplifies the Reality of Church Hurt

Biblical Alignment:

• Ezekiel 34:2–4, Matthew 23:4, Romans 2:24, Shepherds who don't feed sheep, leave unbearable burdens without helping, leaving the world to blaspheme God's name as a result. 

Value:
It exposes how spiritual abuse and hypocrisy push people away from God. Scripture clearly condemns shepherds who exploit or neglect the flock.

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3. Emphasizes Love Over Legalism

Biblical Alignment:

• John 13:34–35, Matthew 22:37–40, Galatians 5:6, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Love God, Love People, a circumcised heart = "faith expressing itself in love."

Value:
The book highlights relationship over rigid rule-keeping. This reflects the heart of the gospel, faith working through love.

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4. Encourages Authentic Community

Biblical Alignment:

• Acts 2:42–47, Romans 12:9–16, Hebrews 10:24–25, Everything in common,  Love each other with genuine affection, enthusiastic hope, confidence hope, patient in trouble, and keep on praying, ready to help those in need. Encouraging ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Not neglecting our meeting together.

Value:
It affirms that genuine Christian community heals rather than harms when built on humility, truth, and shared life.

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5. Gives Voice to the Wounded Without Silencing Them

Biblical Alignment:

• Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 12:20, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Jesus, the Holy Spirit of the Sovereign Lord anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Christ has set me free, from negativity from impossibility - Rend Collective "blessed is a bruised reed" - Jesus caused Justice to be victorious: Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. (Heb 12:24) Alleluia you have saved me, so much better your way!

Value:
The book models compassion toward those hurt by spiritual leadership. God never dismisses broken voices.

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CONS

Where the Book Can Drift from Full Biblical Balance

1. Risk of Generalizing the Entire Church

Biblical Tension:

• Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 5:25–27, 1 Timothy 3:15, Jesus church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Christian code of conduct in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Concern:
The tone can imply the Church as a whole is primarily harmful. Scripture affirms the Church as Christ’s bride and the pillar of truth, even in its weakness.

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2. Heavy Focus on Institutional Failure Over Personal Sin

Biblical Tension:

• Romans 3:23, James 1:14–15, John 16:8, Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Temptation from desires, 1) enticed, 2) dragged away. 3) sinful actions, 4) allowed to grow, 5) gives birth to death. It's visible by the Holy Spirit, poured out on all people, He convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

Concern:
The book can over-emphasize leadership failure while under-emphasizing individual accountability for sin and repentance.

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3. Limited Emphasis on Church Discipline

Biblical Tension:

• Matthew 18:15–17, 1 Corinthians 5:12–13, Hebrews 12:11, Conflict should be handled person to person, person to group, person to church, if that doesn't work love them like a pagan or tax collector (Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 9:9-13)

Concern:
In seeking to avoid legalism, the book can soften the biblical necessity of corrective discipline, which Scripture frames as loving and restorative.

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4. Potential to Encourage Deconstruction Without Reconstruction

Biblical Tension:

• Jeremiah 1:10, Ephesians 4:11–16, Titus 1:5, 2 Cor 10:4-5, We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God. Pastors and elders are given to build up the church, the body of Christ, maturing people united in the special work each is appointed. 

Concern:
It is strong at tearing down broken systems but sometimes less clear on how to biblically rebuild healthy church structures. Christian Code of Conduct for the Church Militant

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5. Emotional Narrative Can Eclipse Doctrinal Clarity

Biblical Tension:

• Colossians 1:28, 2 Timothy 1:13, Jude 3, So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. Wholesome teaching shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Defend the faith that God has entrusted to us. 

Concern:
Personal stories are powerful but must remain anchored in sound doctrine to avoid shaping theology primarily through experience.

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The Biblical Tension the Book Surfaces Well

The Church is both:

• Holy and flawed

• Spirit-filled and still sinful

• God’s instrument and man’s responsibility

Key Scripture Holding This Tension:

• Ephesians 2:19–22, 1 Peter 2:5, 2 Corinthians 4:7

God places His treasure in jars of clay so His power, not ours, is seen.

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Bottom-Line Assessment

Where the book is strongest:

• Naming real wounds

• Calling for humility and repentance

• Re-centering love as the primary witness

Where discernment is required:

• Avoiding anti-church sentiment

• Holding both justice and grace

• Rebuilding with biblical structure, not just emotional healing

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Idolatry, selfishness, and hurt feelings provoke judgement and brokenness (Jer 18:18-19:15)

"This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will bring disaster (devastation) upon this city and its surrounding towns as I promised, because you have stubbornly refused to listen (and obey) to me.’" - Jer 19:15

Jeremiah 18:18-23

A) Hurt Jeremiah turns from intercesor, to provoking God's judgement against them.

18) People plot to stop Jeremiah with variety, rumors, and ignorance

19) Jeremiah pleads with Lord: hear, help/intercede, listen what enemies say

• 20) good (intercesion, protection) repaid with evil (dug a pit to kill)
• Intercessory Faith, believe in God on behalf of another
  
• 21-22) let children starve, die by sword, plague, screams of terror because of raiders

23) Knowing the plot, don't forgive crimes/wickedness, or blot out sins, let them die from your anger.

Application: When we are hurt, feeling rejected, disappointed we can feel like giving up on people and pushing a self centered agenda. We want to be proven right in our peers eyes. I'm reminded of Cain, Abel, and Seth. 

Our lives speak long after we've died. What will our life testimony be about? Accomplishments on Linked In, vacations on Facebook, family, friends, and ministry?  

Jeremiah 19

B) God responds with broken jar illustration and devastating prophecy against stubborn disobedient people.

19:1-3) buy clay jar, ask leaders/priest to broken pots dump, listen to this message from Lord

4-6) Israel rejected me, made this place valley of slaughter, incense, blood of innocent, child sacrifice to Baal against Lord's will

• God's point in asking Abraham to sacrifice his son (Gen 22:2, Rom 12:1-3)
• Biblical view on abortion

7-9) Lord will upset plans, allowing slaughter, ruin, destruction - resulting in cannibalism and despair.

10-13) Smash clay jar, Lord of Heaven's Armies shatters people, not mended, beyond hope of repair, homes of idol worshipers like this garbage heap, like Topheth

• Isaiah 30:33: “Tophet” is another name for “the valley of the children of Hinnom” (II Kings 23:10), where the idolatrous Jews made their sons and daughters “to pass through the fire” as an offering to the pagan god Molech. King Josiah “defiled” it, by converting it into the constantly burning refuse dump for Jerusalem.
• Rescued, kept.. so now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light (Psalm 56:13 Coram Deo))
  

14-15) At Temple of the Lord, proclaimed all these cities and towns devastated because you stubbornly refused to listen and obey my words.

Application: our lives are consequential, how we treat one another in word and deed can bring life or death. Choose life. 

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Relationship with Jesus is how life is lived to the fullest (John 10:10)

I've been enjoying Bill Johnson - How to Discern the Movement of the Holy Spirit. He talks about "more at any cost - with Biblical parameters." I'm praying to communicate Love is how we know Jesus and that Knowing Jesus, the will of God. Love is our nature when we believe and accept Jesus. God is our natural environment. 

"...Philadelphia...I have opened a door for you that no one can close...Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand..." Rev 3:8-13

The Biblical parameters are 1) What do you do with the Person of Jesus, 2) Absolute authority of scripture, 3) Accountability of the Body of Christ (that you live as family). 

When people separate themselves they seek there own desire. (Proverbs 18:1)

Mark a devisive person (Titus 3:10), they have a root of bitterness that will affect people. 

• The phrase "root of bitterness" refers to a person or doctrine that can cause trouble and defilement. It can also refer to a person who holds a wrong view of eternal security.
• People who worship other gods while believing they belong to God because of their heritage.  "Beware lest there be among you a root [of idolatry] bearing poisonous and bitter fruit". Deuteronomy 29:18 AMP
•  See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15 AMP
• Bitterness comes from unresolved suffering and brought me to these ideas: Endurance during unbearable suffering (root cause analysis)

1) What do you do with the Person of Jesus

Once you fail the test of what do you do with Jesus you open yourself up to "the angel of light" who will reveal thing to you but there is a partnership literally with the demonic realm. ( 2 Corinthians 11:14‭-‬15, know Satan's tactics)

2) Absolute authority of scripture is designed in the context of relationship with Jesus. You must have ongoing relationship to have understanding. 

• Example: Jesus said go into all the world (Mark 16:15), yet the apostle Paul was redirected (Acts 16:6). 
• The apostle Paul was obeying the general will of God and was given the specific will for his life and time. This is a critical distinction. You can't validate a vision that takes you away from the love of God and love of people and say "God's spirit is leading me." 
• As we say in Alpha Film Series Episode 06 How and Why Should I Read the Bible, if it's not loving it's not from God. 
• Another example: Proverbs 26:4-5: Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
• Take these verses in context of Proverbs 26, I see this is not getting sucked into every lie but to respond with truth from scripture. I've had to remind myself that the Lord knows those who are his very often (2 Tim 2). 
• You can't read the Bible separate from God and know what to do. Rags to Riches, how the Holy Spirit changes us everyday

3) Accountability of the Body of Christ (that you live as family)

• body of Christ give an example that we stay alive according to what every joint in the body supplies. If you cut off blood flow, the arm will fall of and die. If you decide to led the blood flow back from a dead member, it will kill the body. Hebrews 12:15b says, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Bitterness corrupts, divides, and devastates; it damages and destroys.
• Spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ (1 Cor 12), we belong to eachother (Romans 7:4), in Christ, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. (Romans 12:1-21)

Acts 2:1-7,12; Great move of God comes with outsiders being confused and perplexed. When God filled believers with the Holy Spirit, devout Jews from every nation 1) heard, 2) came running, 3) bewildered to hear their own language, 4) completely amazed and perplexed (what does this mean, others mocked - they're drunk). 

• You can't judge a move of God by the reaction of people. Jesus healed ten lepers' but only one came back (a foreigner). Luke 17:11-19. There reaction doesn't negate that God healed them, yet Jesus said,  Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Lord give me courage today to bring John to church, let him come into your presence in Spirit and in truth. 

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him... Luke 17:15-16

Geysers, planters and pruners: How people are born into and matured in the Faith

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