Danger of persistently refusing God's offer of salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4)

 A friend pointed out to me the truths from Hebrews 2:1-4 that was in the new believers bible.

Summary: The danger is not merely committing isolated sins but persistently refusing God's offer of salvation.

The Big Idea

Hebrews 2:1-4 calls every reader to a decisive response:

• Listen carefully to God's Word.
• Do not drift into spiritual neglect.
• Receive the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
• Trust the gospel God confirmed through Christ, the apostles, miracles, and the Holy Spirit.
• Persevere in faith rather than ignoring God's gracious invitation.

The passage presents both God's grace and human responsibility. God has spoken through His Son, provided complete salvation through the cross, confirmed that message with signs and wonders, and continues to call people through the Holy Spirit. The question Hebrews asks every reader is simple: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3). The implied answer is that there is no greater rescue than the one God has already provided in Christ.

Key Theme: Don't Drift. Respond to God's Salvation.
Primary text: Hebrews 2:1-4

The warning in Hebrews is not primarily against ignorance, but against neglect. Spiritual drift is usually gradual. The writer urges believers to pay close attention to Christ because the salvation He offers is greater than anything that came before.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Hebrews 3:12-15: Guard your heart against unbelief that slowly pulls you away from God.
• James 1:22: Be doers of the Word, not merely hearers.
• John 5:24: Whoever hears Christ and believes has eternal life.
• Romans 10:9-13: Salvation is received by believing and calling on Christ.

Summary: God has spoken clearly through His Son. The proper response is faith, obedience, and perseverance.

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Key Theme: God Desires Everyone to Be Saved

God's heart is consistently revealed as one of mercy and invitation rather than condemnation.

Supporting Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 3:9: God is patient, not wishing that any should perish.
• 1 Timothy 2:3-4: God desires all people to be saved.
• Ezekiel 33:11: God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires repentance.
• John 3:16-17: Christ came to save the world, not condemn it.

Summary: God's desire is universal salvation, but His invitation must be personally received.

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Key Theme: God's Invitation Requires a Human Response

Salvation is God's work, yet Scripture consistently calls people to respond.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Matthew 11:28-30: Jesus invites the weary to come.
• Revelation 22:17: Whoever is thirsty may freely receive the water of life.
• Acts 2:38: Repent and be baptized.
• Acts 17:30: God commands all people everywhere to repent.
• Isaiah 55:6-7: Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Summary: Grace is freely offered, but faith and repentance are genuine responses that God calls every person to make.

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Key Theme: Salvation Is Entirely God's Work

People cannot save themselves. Forgiveness, justification, and new life come only through Christ.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Ephesians 2:8-9: Salvation is by grace through faith, not works.
• Titus 3:5: God saved us because of His mercy.
• Romans 3:23-24: We are justified freely through Christ's redemption.
• John 14:6: Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Summary: Salvation is accomplished by Christ alone and received through faith.

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Key Theme: Human Responsibility Is Real

God does not coerce belief. Scripture repeatedly presents people with a genuine choice to accept or reject Him.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Joshua 24:15: Choose this day whom you will serve.
• Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose life.
• John 1:11-13: Some rejected Christ, while others received Him.
• Romans 1:18-21: Humanity is accountable because God has made Himself known.

Summary: God's sovereignty does not eliminate human responsibility. Every person is accountable for how they respond to Christ.

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Key Theme: God Confirmed the Gospel Through Signs and Wonders

Hebrews emphasizes that the gospel was not based on human opinion. God authenticated it through miraculous works.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Mark 16:20: The Lord confirmed the message with accompanying signs.
• Acts 2:22: Jesus was accredited by miracles, wonders, and signs.
• Acts 5:12: Many signs and wonders occurred through the apostles.
• 2 Corinthians 12:12: Apostolic ministry was authenticated by signs and miracles.
• John 20:30-31: Jesus' signs were recorded so people would believe.

Summary: Miracles did not replace faith, but they confirmed God's revelation concerning Jesus Christ.

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Key Theme: Ignoring the Gospel Has Eternal Consequences

Hebrews presents one of the New Testament's strongest warnings against neglecting salvation.

Supporting Scriptures:

• John 3:18: Whoever does not believe stands condemned already.
• John 3:36: Whoever rejects the Son remains under God's wrath.
• Matthew 25:46: Jesus describes eternal life and eternal punishment.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9: Judgment comes upon those who reject the gospel.
• Hebrews 10:26-31: Deliberately rejecting God's provision leaves no other sacrifice for sins.

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Mercy defines the Sabbath day, discover how to "delight in the Lord" (Isa 56:1–7,Isa 58:13–14)

This is what the Lord says:

“Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.

“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people. And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’

For this is what the Lord says: 

I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me...“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-25) and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer (1 Corinthians 6:19). I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. Isa 56:1–7

Over the past few months I've been looking at Stop in the Name of God with guys from Teen Challenge Portland house. I wanted to share with the guys that resting in the Lord is a great way to spend Saturday, healing and new paths open up as we rest in the Lord and focus on "seeking his face." in community. 

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!” - Isa 58:13–14

Sabbath is mentioned 154 time in the NIV. The "mercy defines the day" theme is perhaps the most continuous. Deuteronomy's Exodus-grounded rationale for Sabbath rest, "you were slaves, therefore your servants and animals rest" is not overturned by Jesus but drawn out to its logical conclusion. The healings are Deuteronomy in action, performed by the One who authored the Exodus.

The most surprising convergence is the mission column. Isaiah 56's vision of foreigners keeping the Sabbath at the mountain of prayer is so specific that Paul's synagogue strategy in Acts looks like deliberate fulfillment. He was not accommodating Jewish custom for pragmatic reasons, he was standing inside Isaiah's prophetic picture and announcing its arrival.

And the eschatological rest column shows the most sophisticated typological argument in the canon. Hebrews 4 is not proof-texting; it is reading Genesis 2, Psalm 95, and the Conquest narratives together and showing that the open-ended seventh day was always waiting for an antitype that only Christ's finished work could supply.

Theme	Old Testament foundation	New Testament fulfillment
Lord of the Sabbath God's sovereign ownership of the day	Gen 2:2–3 · Ex 20:8–11 · Deut 5:12–15 · Ezek 20:12,20 The Sabbath belongs to YHWH — "a Sabbath to the LORD." God himself rested, blessed, and hallowed the seventh day. Ezekiel calls it his personal sign between himself and Israel. Sovereignty over the Sabbath is an exclusively divine attribute, not delegated to any human authority.	Mark 2:28 · Matt 12:8 · John 5:17–18 Jesus claims the identical sovereignty: "the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." This is not a relaxation of the law but a Christological claim. John 5:17 makes the logic explicit — the Father's ongoing work grounds the Son's Sabbath activity. He who created the Sabbath now fulfills it in person. Type fulfilled in Christ's person
Mercy defines the day Liberation and rest for the powerless	Ex 23:12 · Deut 5:15 · Isa 58:13–14 · Lev 25 Deuteronomy grounds the Sabbath in the Exodus: "you were a slave in Egypt." Rest must therefore extend to servants, animals, and foreigners. The Sabbath year releases debts; the Jubilee restores land. Isaiah 58 redefines true Sabbath as justice. The day is structurally a liberation institution.	Matt 12:12 · Luke 13:16 · Luke 14:5 Jesus draws out the mercy logic already embedded in Deuteronomy. Calling the bent woman a "daughter of Abraham" deliberately echoes covenant identity and Exodus liberation. His ox-in-the-pit argument (Luke 14:5) appeals to mercy his opponents already practiced and extends it to a human being. OT humanitarian law → christological healing
Custom & practice The Sabbath as covenant identity	Ex 16 · Ex 31:12–17 · Num 15:32–36 · Neh 13:15–22 The manna narrative pre-Sinai established the weekly pattern before the law was given. Ex 31 makes the Sabbath a perpetual covenant sign. Violation was a capital offense in the wilderness (Num 15). Nehemiah enforced it at Jerusalem's gates as a marker of post-exilic covenant fidelity.	Luke 4:16 · Luke 23:56 · Matt 24:20 Jesus attended the synagogue "as was his custom" the covenant-keeper embodying the covenant sign. The women rested on the Sabbath even in their grief, honoring the commandment. Jesus' instruction to pray the flight not be on the Sabbath shows the rhythm still shaping his disciples' future. Covenant sign kept perfectly by the covenant Lord
Shadow & substance Critique and universalizing of observance	Isa 1:13–14 · Isa 56:2–7 · Amos 8:5 · Jer 31:31–34 The prophets already anticipated a deeper fulfillment. Isaiah condemns hollow Sabbath-keeping while simultaneously opening Sabbath participation to foreigners and eunuchs (Isa 56) — universalizing what Israel had privatized. Jeremiah's new covenant inscribes law on the heart, relativizing external observance as its ultimate form.	Col 2:16–17 · Rom 14:5 · Gal 4:10 Paul declares the Sabbath a "shadow" of the substance that is Christ (Col 2:17). The prophetic critique of empty observance is resolved: the reality the day pointed toward has arrived. Sabbath keeping becomes a conscience matter rather than a salvific one the OT itself prepared this trajectory. Prophetic anticipation → Pauline declaration
Eschatological rest The open-ended seventh day	Gen 2:2–3 · Ps 95:7–11 · Deut 12:9 · Lev 25The seventh day in Genesis uniquely has no closing formula ("evening and morning") — it is open-ended rest. Psalm 95 uses "my rest" as a future threat written after the Conquest, showing Canaan did not exhaust the promise. The Promised Land was called "rest" (Deut 12:9), but a greater rest still lay ahead. The Jubilee projects Sabbath rhythm onto a cosmic scale.	Heb 4:1–11 · John 19:30Hebrews weaves Genesis, Psalm 95, and Canaan into one typological argument: three Sabbath-rests (creation, land, Ps 95's future promise) converge on a single antitype — the rest believers enter by faith in Christ's finished work. "It is finished" is the ultimate Sabbath declaration. The rest that remains is eschatological, inaugurated now and consummated at the resurrection. Three OT types → one NT antitype
Mission platform All nations at God's Sabbath	Isa 56:2–7 · Isa 66:23 · Ezek 46:1–3 Isaiah 56 is striking: foreigners who keep the Sabbath will be welcomed at God's holy mountain, "for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Isaiah 66 envisions all flesh coming to worship on new moons and Sabbaths in the new creation. Ezekiel 46 pictures the Sabbath as the rhythm of restored, universal worship.	Acts 13:14,42–44 · Acts 16:13 · Acts 17:2 · Acts 18:4 Paul built his entire Gentile mission around the Sabbath synagogue assembly. Isaiah's vision — foreigners gathering at God's house on the Sabbath — is precisely what Paul exploited across Antioch, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi. The Sabbath gathering became the first and most natural platform for announcing that the One the Scriptures promised had come. Isaiah's vision → apostolic mission strategy

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Gut reaction, the lamp of the LORD (Proverbs 20:27)

I enjoy the Bible references found in biblehub.com and was brought to Proverbs 20:7 through Spirit's power blesses us with understanding. My wife and I were talking about the Body keeps the score and anxiety that impacts our physical being. Last week I was talking with my brother about psychology. Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, exploring mental processes, emotions, motivations, and human actions. We talked about cognitive, and behavioral psychology, about methods to study how humans think and behave, aimed at improving mental health, understanding behavior, and supporting well-being. This is all God's design. 

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” (KJV)

“The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.” (NIV)

God has placed within every person an inner witness: the human spirit, conscience, and moral awareness. He uses this inner “lamp” to expose motives, reveal truth, convict of sin, and guide us toward wisdom and repentance.

This verse teaches personal accountability before God, spiritual self-awareness, and the need for our conscience to be formed by God’s truth.

Proverbs 20:27 teaches that God has placed within us an inner lamp, our spirit and conscience, through which He searches, exposes, and reveals the true condition of our hearts. That light is meant to lead us to wisdom, repentance, integrity, and dependence on Christ.

God uses the inner life He created in us to reveal what is really going on within us, so we can walk in truth, not self-deception.

1) God searches the hidden places of the heart

God is not limited to outward behavior. He examines what is deep, private, and unseen.

• Psalm 139:23–24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart…”
• Jeremiah 17:10 – “I, the LORD, search the heart and examine the mind…”
• Hebrews 4:12–13 – God’s Word discerns “the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Key insight: God’s light reaches deeper than reputation, words, or performance.

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2) The human spirit functions like a lamp

Our inner spirit is a God-given capacity for moral awareness, discernment, conviction, and reflection.

• Genesis 2:7 – God breathed life into man.
• Job 32:8 – “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.”
• Zechariah 12:1 – God “forms the spirit of man within him.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God has placed eternity in the human heart.

Key insight: Human beings are not merely physical or instinct-driven. We are spiritually accountable creatures made to respond to God.

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3) Conscience is a gift, but it must be trained by truth

The conscience can accuse, excuse, warn, or become distorted. It is a lamp, but not an infallible one unless shaped by God.

• Romans 2:15 – Conscience bears witness.
• 1 Timothy 1:5 – Love comes from “a pure heart and a good conscience.”
• 1 Timothy 4:2 – A conscience can become “seared.”
• Titus 1:15 – A defiled conscience affects perception.
• Hebrews 9:14 – Christ cleanses our conscience.
• Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet…”

Key insight: Conscience is not enough by itself. It must be illuminated by Scripture and purified by Christ.

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4) God calls us to honest self-examination

Proverbs 20:27 invites us not to hide from God’s light, but to welcome it.

• Lamentations 3:40 – “Let us examine and test our ways…”
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves…”
• Galatians 6:4 – “Each one should test their own work.”
• Psalm 26:2 – “Test me, LORD, and try me…”

Key insight: Spiritual maturity grows where there is humility, honesty, and repentance.

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5) God’s light exposes sin in order to heal, not merely condemn

When God searches us, His purpose is not only exposure, but restoration and cleansing.

• Proverbs 20:30 – Deep correction can cleanse evil.
• John 3:19–21 – Light exposes deeds so truth may be seen.
• 1 John 1:7–9 – Walking in the light brings cleansing and fellowship.
• Psalm 51:6 – God desires truth “in the inward being.”
• James 4:8 – “Purify your hearts…”

Key insight: God shines light into the soul because He loves us enough to transform us.

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6) True light is ultimately found in Christ

The inner lamp of conscience is real, but it is not the final light. Jesus is the Light of the world who fully reveals God and ourselves.

• John 1:4–5 – “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
• John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world…”
• John 3:20–21 – Coming to the light reveals whether our works are in God.
• Luke 11:34–36 – Be careful that the light in you is not darkness.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 – God shines in our hearts through Christ.

Key insight: Conscience may awaken us, but Christ must redeem and lead us.

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7) The Holy Spirit works with our spirit

In the New Covenant, God does not merely inspect the heart from the outside. He dwells within His people by the Holy Spirit.

• Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit…”
• 1 Corinthians 2:10–12 – The Spirit reveals what is from God.
• Ephesians 1:17–18 – God enlightens “the eyes of your heart.”
• Philippians 2:13 – God works in us “to will and to act.”
• Ezekiel 36:26–27 – God gives a new heart and Spirit.

Key insight: The believer’s inner life is not only examined by God, but also indwelt and renewed by Him.

Practical Application

Ask:

• What motives are driving me right now?
• Where am I rationalizing sin?
• Is my conscience shaped by God’s Word or by culture, emotion, or pride?
• Am I bringing hidden things into Christ’s light?

A healthy response to Proverbs 20:27 is:

1. Invite God to search you
2. Submit your conscience to Scripture
3. Confess what He reveals
4. Walk in the light daily

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Short devotional takeaway

Your heart is never dark to God.
He sees what you avoid, what you fear, and what you hide. But His light is not merely to expose you. It is to heal, purify, and lead you into truth.

“Search me, O God… and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24)

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Dying to Self, Living for God (Galatians 2:20)

Because Jesus died and rose again, nothing will ever be the same. The old you does not have to run your life anymore. Sin does not have to win. Death does not get the last word. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive in every person who belongs to him. This is not just a story from long ago. Today, right now, in this year of our Lord, the risen Christ is calling people to stop living for themselves and start living for him. He says: give me your life, pick up your cross, follow me. Lose yourself and you will find something far greater. The seed that falls into the ground and dies does not stay dead. It rises and bears fruit that lasts forever. Resurrection Sunday is the proof that dying to self is not the end. It is the beginning. If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, today is the day. If you have been holding back, today is the day. The tomb is empty, grace is real, and the door is wide open. This is the day of salvation.

🌱 The Old You Must Go

• Your old sinful self was nailed to the cross with Jesus, so sin no longer has to control you. Romans 6:6
• Get rid of your old self. It was full of wrong desires. Put on your new self, made to be like God, good and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24
• You have died, and your life is now hidden safely with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

✝️ Follow Jesus, Take Up Your Cross

• If you want to follow Jesus, say no to yourself, pick up your cross every day, and follow him. Luke 9:23-24
• If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give your life up for Jesus, you will save it. Mark 8:35
• Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Jesus cannot be his follower. Luke 14:27

🌾 Dying Brings New Life

• A seed must fall into the ground and die. If it does not die, it stays just a seed. But if it dies, it grows and makes lots of fruit. John 12:24
• If anyone belongs to Christ, he is brand new. The old is gone. The new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

💧 Buried With Jesus, Raised to New Life

• When we were baptized into Jesus, we shared in his death. And just like Jesus rose from the dead, we get to walk in a brand new life. Romans 6:3-4
• If we have died with Christ, we will also live with him. Romans 6:8

🔥 Stop Letting Sin Be the Boss

• Think of yourself as dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus. Romans 6:11
• Sin does not have to be in charge of you anymore. You are not under the old rules. You are under God's grace. Romans 6:14
• Do not let the sinful parts of your body do wrong things. Instead, give yourself to God as someone brought back from death to life. Romans 6:13
• Put to death the wrong things in your life: bad desires, greed, and all that belongs to your old self. Colossians 3:5

🙌 Live for God, Not for Yourself

• Give your whole body to God as a gift, a living sacrifice. Do not copy the world. Let God change the way you think. Romans 12:1-2
• Those who belong to Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to the cross. Galatians 5:24
• Walk by the Spirit, and you will not do what your sinful self wants. Galatians 5:16
• He must become greater. I must become less. John 3:30

💪 Christ Lives in You

• I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live. Christ lives in me. The life I live now, I live by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
• For me, living is Christ. Dying is even better. Philippians 1:21
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

🤝 Put Others First

• Do not be selfish or try to look important. Be humble. Think of others as more important than yourself. Philippians 2:3-4

🏆 Nothing Is Worth More Than Knowing Jesus

• I count everything else as worthless compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8
• What good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Luke 9:25

🕊️ Nothing Can Separate You From God's Love

• Not death, not life, not anything in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

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"Jesus, where are we going?" Matthew 11:29-30

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29-30

Enjoyed dinner with my brother yesterday and prayer on the way home for Alpha, Teen Challenge with our prayer team. Tuesday was great with just Dan and Heather, the big idea was How am I going to get through this?” In this session we address questions of the heart: seeking to find purpose in pain and strategies for dealing with disappointment.

The session illustrated Jesus in the garden of praying with people he trusted, with his pain, he trusted God's purpose... like making olive oil through pressing the Olives. The oil both anoints and gives light.

At the end of the session we clenched our fists with the thing we've been disappointed about and then opened our hands in prayer. 

We reminded each other that we understand our situation, community, and loved ones better when we come into the presence of God in prayer. 

This as well as our doctrine for BSF prepared me perfectly for my conversation with my brother. I got to share my eternal life in heaven as we sat together in a booth at a restaurant. God does immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, yet he invites us to ask and imagine. Halleluiah! 

Core Themes from Matthew 11:29-30 and related scriptures 

1. Exchanging Burdens — Not Eliminating Them Jesus doesn't promise an absence of load — He offers a different yoke. The contrast with Matthew 23:4 is sharp: religious leaders pile on weight they won't carry themselves. Christ carries His yoke with you. The burden is real; the bearer changes.

2. Rest as Relationship, Not Escape The rest Jesus offers isn't passive withdrawal — it's found by learning from Him (v.29). Hebrews 4:9-11 connects this to Sabbath rest, and Jeremiah 6:16 roots it in ancient paths. Rest is the fruit of walking rightly with God, not stepping away from life.

3. Humility as the Gate to Rest Christ describes Himself as "gentle and humble in heart." The men who find no rest are often the ones too proud to admit they're exhausted, too self-sufficient to ask for help. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 inverts this completely — weakness becomes the access point for Christ's power.

4. Misplaced Labor Leads to Emptiness Isaiah 55:2-3 cuts at the root: men exhaust themselves on things that don't satisfy. The yoke of ambition, approval, and achievement is heavy precisely because it never delivers what it promises.

5. Community as Part of the Design Galatians 6:2 ties burden-bearing to fulfilling the law of Christ. Rest isn't purely individual — it's experienced in part through men who carry weight together.

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Practical Applications for Christian Men

Stop performing, start learning. "Learn from Me" is the command. Men tend to act before they listen. Build a regular rhythm — Scripture, prayer, silence — that is about formation, not productivity.

Name what you're actually carrying. 1 Peter 5:7 assumes you know what your anxiety is before you cast it. Sit with that question honestly: What burdens are self-imposed? What came from others' expectations? What is genuinely yours to carry?

Reclaim Sabbath as conviction, not inconvenience. Hebrews 4 treats rest as something you must "make every effort to enter." Most men treat rest as what's left after everything else is done. Protect a day. Treat it as obedience, not luxury.

Let weakness be honest, not hidden. The culture of men — especially in professional life — rewards the appearance of strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 calls this a loss. Find at least one man you can be genuinely weak with.

Audit what you're laboring for. Isaiah 55:2 is the diagnostic question every man needs to ask annually, if not monthly: Is what I'm spending my energy on actually satisfying? If the answer is no, that's not a life problem — it's a worship problem.

Carry someone else's burden this week. Galatians 6:2 is a practice, not a principle. Identify a man in your circle who is heavy-laden. Show up. The rest you find in Christ should overflow into others.

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Three Days: A Biblical Pattern for Heart Change

Problem: Our hearts often cling to bitterness, sin, or worldly desires. This keeps us from God’s presence and healing.

Empathy: Like Saul, we sometimes need a season of blindness and waiting to truly see.

Answer: Scripture shows a recurring theme: three days as a turning point for blessing, obedience, and restoration.

Saul’s Three Days Blind, fasting, waiting for Ananias (Acts 9:9). A time of surrender, repentance, and preparation for healing. Other “Three Days” Patterns Blessing or curse: Joseph interprets dreams (Gen 40:12-19). Darkness vs. light: Egypt vs. Israel (Ex 10:21-23). Jonah: Three days in the fish, then obedience (Jonah 1:17; 3:3). Jesus: Three days in the earth (Matt 12:40). Fasting crowd: Fed after three days (Matt 15:32). Mocked for prophecy: Jesus and resurrection promise (Matt 26:61; 27:40,63).

Healing and Restoration James 5:15-16 reminds us: Prayer of faith restores and forgives. Confession brings healing and reconciliation. Persistent prayer is powerful and dynamic. God uses seasons of waiting, like Saul’s three days, to: Heal spiritual blindness. Restore broken hearts. Prepare us for mission.

 

Reflection Questions

1. When will I set aside time to truly listen to God?

 

2. What distractions or desires keep me from His presence?

 

3. How can I apply Saul’s example of fasting, prayer, confession to experience healing and restoration?

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God defines victory by persistent faith and obedience

 Enjoying God Is Restoring You and Fulfilling His Promises in Your Life - Bill Johnson. Great reminder that God calls us into battle and loss because character growth comes when our response is prayer and obedience. He gives what we can handle (John 16), the weight of his glory.

God restores. That is the heartbeat of Johnson’s message. Victory is defined by faith, not comfort. Israel lost twice in Judges 20 yet God still called their obedience victory. God is drawn to weakness to display His strength. He often answers in “seed form” because the process prepares us for the weight of blessing. The sermon ends with a call to breakthrough, reversal, and Jubilee-level restoration. Corporate faith matters. Pray boldly. Expect God to finish what He promised.

This sermon by Bill Johnson focuses on God’s heart for restoration and the fulfillment of His promises, even when life has delivered disappointment or loss (0:00-0:04, 1:46-1:50). Johnson teaches that God defines victory not by the absence of struggle, but by persistent faith and obedience (13:00-13:20). This aligns with Hebrews 10:36, which reminds believers that endurance is required to receive what God has promised.

God’s Attraction to Weakness and Need

Johnson explains that God is drawn to weakness, need, mourning, and even sin, not to affirm brokenness but to reveal His strength, comfort, and redeeming grace (3:44-7:06).
Scripture affirms this:

• Joel 3:10 — “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”

• James 2:5 — God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith.

• Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — God’s power is made perfect in weakness.

• Matthew 5:4 — Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God is attracted to the spaces where we feel defeated because those spaces reveal His nature most clearly.

Israel’s Battles in Judges 20

The core story comes from Judges 20, where Israel asks God whether to go to battle. God says yes, yet they lose two battles despite obeying His word (Judges 20:18-25).
Johnson notes that God still calls their obedience “victory,” because victory is measured by courage, endurance, and willingness to obey again (Judges 20:26-28).
This mirrors Galatians 6:9, urging believers not to grow weary in doing good because in due time they will reap.

God’s Process and Character Development

Johnson teaches that God is deeply committed to the process that forms Christlike character (19:05-19:16). This echoes:

• Romans 5:3-5 — suffering produces endurance, character, and hope.

• James 1:2-4 — trials produce maturity.

• Mark 4:26-29 — God often answers in “seed form,” growing the answer over time (18:37-18:41).

God prepares hearts to handle the weight of blessing before He releases it.

Breakthrough and Reversal

The sermon builds toward a call for breakthrough and reversal of hardship (20:44-21:37). Johnson proclaims a Jubilee season (Leviticus 25:10) where God restores what was lost and releases miraculous provision (24:25-25:00).
This reflects promises like:

• Isaiah 61:7 — “Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion.”

• Joel 2:25 — God restores the years the locust has eaten.

Importance of Corporate Faith and Prayer

The message ends with bold, united prayer for breakthrough, healing, restoration, and renewal (27:07-30:16).
This is supported by:

• Matthew 18:19-20 — agreement in prayer invites God’s action.

• Acts 4:31 — corporate prayer shakes places and fills believers with power.

• Hebrews 10:24-25 — encourage one another toward faith.

The “offering reading” (30:57-32:50) underscores how natural obedience and spiritual expectancy work together (Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:38).

---

Reflection Questions

1. Where have I mistaken struggle for failure instead of seeing it as part of God’s forming process?

2. What area of weakness do I need to invite God into so His strength can be revealed?

3. What breakthrough or restoration am I being called to pray for with renewed faith and persistence?

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Baptism is uniting in Christ death and resurrection (Romans 6-8)

Being a Christian involves an honest encounter with God. We listen to instruction and obey, leading to righteousness, purity and abundance - or we go our own way and fail. A Friend once said a discontented heart is the result of the ideal values you hold not matching the real values you live. When feeling discontented it's important to review who you aspire to be and make a commitment to live from those values today. 

• Good input leads to good output (TrustEdge on Character)
• Lord help me to move from values to virtues
  

Today is my last day of being in my forties and yesterday I watched "Alice Through The Looking Glass" on the airplane (It was the only film not watched after traveling to and from AZ all year). It's a story about time travel, wanting to go back and change what's happened. The moral of the story is that we can't change the past but we can learn from it. 

• The Mad Hatter lives in his head and the Queen of Hearts lives in her heart. 
• The Hatter was dying because Alice didn't "believe him" and is stuck in a minute before tea time. 
• The Queen had, locked people up in her hate filled heart. She shrunk down a whole family and treated them like ants. 
• Time stops for the Queen of Hearts when she goes back to the moment when she felt betrayed by her sister. Alice puts time back in its place of power, where time heals all wounds. 
• Back in the the real world, Alice "gives up the ship" to have a positive relationship with her family and in return her family believes in her. Her heart and mind, in sync - no longer needing to go through the looking glass. 

We had a wonderful walk around the Veterans Oasis Park then we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" with John. When we get caught up in ourselves we lose sight of the big picture. But when we open ourselves up to what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy... When we think about these things and put them into practice we enter into God's peace, wholeness and feeling together. I had these scriptures read at my Baptism in 2005 (Phil 4:4-19). I'm grateful for our "Relationships Matter" group in BSF and all the lives. We watch Christmas Eve at Cornerstone Chandler and Pastor Lyn gave a good message about not opening the greatest Christmas gift of all time. "A Savior." The Savior is the only one who can connect the Ideal to the real. Everything else comes up empty. 

This morning I'm reminded of Romans 7:14-15,18,19,21,23. Sin is still at work in my body and mind. Romans 7:25, "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."

• Dying to Self, being made alive for God (Luke 9; Gal 2:20,5:24; Romans 6, 12; 1 Peter 4)
• Sets us free to live righteously in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-6), no longer hostile to God (Romans 8:7-8), He lives in us (1 Cor 12:8-10, Romans 8:9-11), Holy Spirit's trans-formative power in the world and in the individual (Romans 8:14-17), God transforms all things with his glory (Romans 8:28-30)
• Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)
  

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What happens when we trust God with everything (Isaiah 30:15-25)

Reading God becomes like clothing to me (Job 30:18, Matthew 16:24-28) and thinking about Christ is greater in the rest he gives (Hebrews 3:7-4:13) the Lord brought me to see the blessing in Isaiah 30:15-25

This is what the Sovereign Lord,

    the Holy One of Israel, says:

“Only in returning to me

    and resting in me will you be saved.

In quietness and confidence is your strength...(yet we run from God in terror)

...So the Lord must wait for you to come to him

    so he can show you his love and compassion.

For the Lord is a faithful God.

    Blessed are those who wait for his help. - Isaiah 30:15,18

Jesus said, "come to me with your burdens and I will give you rest for your souls." if we come to him burdened and leave still burdened we haven't prayed, we've only complained. 

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, (Zion can also refer to those who are "pure in heart")

    you will weep no more.

He will be gracious if you ask for help.

    He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food

    and suffering for drink,

he will still be with you to teach you. (the Lord disciplines those he loves Heb 12)

    You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Your own ears will hear him.

    Right behind you a voice will say,

“This is the way you should go,”

    whether to the right or to the left. (absolute clarity - be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray, above all love each deeply because love covers a multitude of sins)

Then you will destroy all your silver idols

    and your precious gold images.

You will throw them out like filthy rags,

    saying to them, “Good riddance!”

Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock. The oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. In that day, when your enemies are slaughtered and the towers fall, there will be streams of water flowing down every mountain and hill.

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Life within reach (John 15:7)

Wow, Andrew Murray - what grace that's lasted over 100 years! I'm excited to start this series of books by him. Andrew Murray Collection on Prayer Humility, Absolute Surrender, the Ministry of Intercession, the Power of the Blood of Jesus and Others

In The-Ministry-of-Intercession-Andrew-Murray He confesses on behalf of every minister a general failure to believe God and simply live completely surrendered to him. 

Christ waits to fit us by His Spirit to pray as He would have us. This call, of course, brings me back to what I spoke of in connection with the former volume: that there is life in the Spirit, a life of abiding in Christ, within our reach, in which the power of prayer both the power to pray and the power to obtain the answer can be realized in a measure which we could not have thought possible before. Any failure in the prayer-life, any desire or hope really to take the place Christ has prepared for us, brings us to the very root of the doctrine of grace as manifested in the Christian life. It is only by full surrender to the life of abiding, by the yielding to the fulness of the Spirit's leading and quickening, that the prayer-life can be restored to a truly healthy state. 

In John 14-16 Jesus explains how he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in response to Thomas' question, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5,6)

THE TRUTH:

• The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. (John 14:10)
• Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11) - Key Christian Doctrine: Jesus is God's son (John 3:16)

THE PROMISE:

• anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works (John 14:12)
• You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13)
• Question: Are you living in this reality of asking anything in Jesus' name and it's done? Have you asked God for something and witnessed him doing it? If not keep reading.

THE WAY:

• “If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15 has a few conditions, "If you love me" is not followed by then I will give you the Holy Spirit. It is followed by "Obey my commandments"
• Question: if your prayer life is weak, repetitive, boring, or non-existent. Consider getting to know what Jesus has commanded but know that Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit
• Love for Jesus is the way

THE TRUTH:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

The Advocate, Helper comes alongside and leads into ALL truth. Think of all the great truths that have been discovered since Christ rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit onto all people. 

Question: Have you experienced God in your heart as you've discovered the truth in your own life? Do you receive divine truth and recognize that it's not you but God showing you? 

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. 

Question: Why must we receive the Holy Spirit? Do you know the difference between other spirits and the Holy Spirit? Will you take the time to find out? Holy Spirit tactics vs the devil tactics 

THE LIFE:

But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17). 

Question: Have you ever known someone who demonstrated the love of God to you? Where they authentically love you on behalf of God and you knew it was true? Or maybe you had an experience where some terrible calamity was upon you and "for some reason" you were spared by some force outside yourself? Or some benevolent thing happened to you or your family that was life-giving or life-saving? This is the Holy Spirit who is with you. The life Jesus talks about is allowing the grace of God into your life. 

Christ changes me, my relationships benefit (Col 3)

Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Relational Grace: Loving kindness of Christ in me

Live the New Life in Christ

God promises to help me obtain the promises

Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

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Fill your heart with love today (Psalm 91:14-16)

Psalm 91:14-16 came to me during healing night at Alpha TC. We sang Holy Spirit and build my life and prayed for protection, deliverance, and faith. I believe generations were healed by God that night. Jon heard a good word at church; "The devil knows our name and calls us by our sin. God knows our sin and calls us by our name." The Lord is worthy of honor and praise, in him is satisfaction and we see his salvation. Alleluia you have saved me, so much better your way, Alleluia great defender - so much better this way. 

 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

    I will be with him in trouble,

    I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

    and show him my salvation.”

Enjoying my study of Hosea, Innocent protected, haughty brought low, restoration being God's goal (Hosea 2-3)

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Innocent protected, haughty brought low, restoration being God's goal (Hosea 2-3)

 Hosea 2-3 

focus verses (the Gospel):

“In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord...(like a force of nature)...I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’” - Hosea 2:21-23

 ...people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness. - Hosea 3:5

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Exodus 33:18-19 NIV

A) Innocent protected, guilty and proud brought low 

2:1) Hoseah to brothers (Ammi) and sisters (Ruhamah) - my people, loved/pitied/obtained mercy

2) Charges against mother (Israel), not Lord's wife, He's no longer husband - remove prostitutes makeup, clothes

3-5) else, Lord will expose her as day she was born helpless, alone, children of prostitution without mercy

 - pregnant shameful way; said "I'll sell myself for food, water, nice clothes and drinks"

6) For this, she's fenced in with thornbushes, wall against her, can't find her way

 - Gen 3:24) Devilish doubt and shortsightedness brings sin and death into the world (Genesis 3), in our sin God protects us from making things worse.

 - 7) (Protection so that) She won't be able to party anymore and will come back to the Lord

8-13) She didn't notice/understand all God did, abundant blessings, so he'll take it away/uncover shame/punish/devoured/end

B) Restoration is God's goal in calamity

14) Lord allures, wilderness speak tenderly, reconciled

15) Gifts: vineyard, Valley of Achor, door of hope/expectation, sing and respond like youth

16-18) Then you'll say "my husband" instead of "my master", covenant, peace with animals/mankind

19-20) wife forever, righteousness, justice, unfailing love, compassion, faithful - you'll know LORD

21-22) God will answer; sky, earth, produce answers "Jezreel" "God plants"

23) God will plant a crop of Israelites for himself, love to those called "not loved", "you are my people" who reply "You are our God!"

LORD answers the sky as it pleads for clouds, the sky answers the earth with rain (Hosea 2:21, 10:12, Luke 8:15,18)

God's call for repentance if obeyed, brings joyful restoration to His land and people (Joel 2:12-27)

Doctrine of Election is God's irrevocable call for everyone (Genesis 25:23)

C) Salvation pictured in loving an unfaithful wife

1)  Lord to Hosea, "go and love your wife again, adulterer illustrates Lord loves Israel though worship other gods"

2-3) Bought her 15 silver, 5 bushels barley, measure wine. many days abstinent of sex

4) Shows Israel long time without king, sacrifices, pillars, priest

5) but after will return devote selves to Lord their God and David's descendant their king, in awe of Lord and his goodness

- Peter reminds us God is able to His fulfill his promises, patiently (2 Peter 3)

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Promise of restoration, freedom and adoption (Matthew 11:28-30, Exodus 6:6-7)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:6-7

Don't go back:  

• Gal 5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
• 2 Cor 6:14) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Acts 15:8-11) God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

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Justification is evidenced by Peace of God (Gen 15:6, Rom 5:1, Phil 4:4-7)

 Genesis 15:6 is one of the most important verses in all Scripture, for by it we learn that all people in all ages are justified by grace through faith. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Second Day: 5 a) What did Abram believe? B) what’s connection between belief and righteousness today?

In Genesis 15, God gave His promises to Abram. Abram’s belief, his faith in what God had promised, was the basis upon which God declared him righteous – justified. (Rev 12:11 blood of the lamb, word of testimony)

Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of a person, concept or entity (John 11:25-26; 12:44; Hebrews 11:1). Abram believed God’s Word, His promise. Righteous means in right standing or morally upright behavior. God declared Abram to be in “right standing” before Him. 

When I believe God’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ, God declares I am “right with Him.”

Being Right with God is the Shalom that transcends all understanding Gen 15:6, Rom 5:1, Phil 4:4-7

Personal faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for sins, not works or signs (Romans 3-5) 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)”

 - Justified: Romans 4:25 says, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."

 - through faith: Romans 3:28 - "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

 - we have peace: Christmas time peace, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.“ Jesus our Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), Jesus took my sin to the Cross, "the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed. (Isa 53:5)“

Peace: the gift from God we are commanded to seek

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Justice That Restores (The Lord is my shepherd...He restores my soul Psalm 23)

Over the past month, I've gotten involved with Prison Fellowship. I wanted to invite you to a six-week study to learn about the criminal justice system and the potential for reform from a Christian perspective. This is a "no homework" study, 6-7:15 pm every Wednesday evening via Zoom, starting July 15th. Each session will have a 20-minute video followed by a group discussion. I like this study because they have small, medium, large action steps after each session. 

1. JUSTICE THAT RESTORES, 7/15, 6-7:15 pm

2. JUSTICE THAT RESPONDS, 7/22, 6-7:15 pm

3. JUSTICE THAT LISTENS, 7/29, 6-7:15 pm

4. JUSTICE THAT FITS, 8/5, 6-7:15 pm

5. JUSTICE THAT TRANSFORMS, 8/12, 6-7:15 pm

6. JUSTICE THAT REDEEMS, 8/19, 6-7:15 pm

Memory Verse:
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. —Isaiah 42:3-4, Matthew 12:19,20-21
 - I added Psalm 23:1,3 to see "Restores" within the Bible. Psalm 23 is the second most looked up Bible verse on Google (second to John 3:16-21)

Open:
Is there something you have seen in the news, or an incident that happened to you or a friend, that has made you second-guess justice in America?
 - George Floyd, Breonna Taylor
Tell about a time when you felt you were unfairly punished by a parent, teacher, or boss. What happened? How did that feel?
 - shocking, humiliating, thinking about it makes my heart beat faster even now.

Readings:

• But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24 NIV
• “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19 NIV

Respond:
1. In the video, you heard the story of Marlyn, a mom who ended up in jail because she didn’t have $200 to pay a traffic ticket. How do you think a person’s economic status affects their interactions with the justice system?
 - The poorer the person the greater the perception as wayward and deviant. It's not just wealth but what one does with their wealth that adds to the perception (taking the day off work, getting intoxicated, not supporting themselves). 

2. In the video, Craig said that even though we’re created in the image of God and loved by God, we all fall short. The Romans 3 passage echoes this same truth. What does it mean to “fall short”? What are some ways that ordinary people often fall short?

 - Falling short is missing the mark or not crossing the finish line. I thought of this as praying to God for the courage to forgive someone, then once given courage you decide it's "done" and don't give that person the forgiveness. This is because the world says forgiveness is "to no longer be angry" but the Bible says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). 

3.a) In the video, Craig said, “What we call the problems in our culture are actually our solutions. …To take a violent act against another human being is to solve for the problem of fear, jealousy, or anger. To divorce our wife, to lie or get drunk, is the solution to the problems that are within us.” In other words, we try to solve our problems by acting out. What we think is the “solution ultimately causes pain for ourselves and others.” Tell about a time when you tried to solve a problem in a way that made things worse.

 - Interventions that require broader collaboration or skills I don't have. In my impatience, I try to do it alone.  The end results leave property more damaged than before (or "half-done") and drifting/damaged relationships. 

3.b) What does Romans 3:21-24 say about how we can attain righteousness? In other words, how can we satisfy God’s justice and be made right with Him? (Romans 3:22)

 - God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ's redemption, it's the gift of God given to all who believe (trust and acknowledge God's Son). AMP Bible, "But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,"

4) What does it mean to be “justified freely by grace”? (Romans 3:24)

I like the AMP version: 

being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,"

MSG version:

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity, he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

5) Through the prophet Isaiah, God told His people that He “loves justice” but “hates wrongdoing (robbery and iniquity)” (see Isaiah 61:8, quoted at the opening of this session). God offers grace but hates wrongdoing and crime. Is this inconsistent? How do these two ideas fit together?

 - Justice is the plumb line, wrongdoing is everything else. "Do Justice (Micah 6:8)", God did this (grace) for all who believe. 2 Cor 5:19: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God

 - Justice Defined:  1. The state or characteristic of being just or fair. 2. The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing. 3. Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.

 - Wrongdoing Defined: 1. uncountable Violation of standards of behavior. 2. countable An instance of doing wrong.

Countable Example Robbery:

-  Robbery Define: The offense of taking or attempting to take the property of another by force or threat of force.

Uncountable Example Iniquity

 - Iniquity Defined: 1. Deviation from what is right; wickedness, gross injustice. 2. An unfair act or unconscionable deed. 3. Hostility, malevolence, lawlessness.

6) In Luke 4, Jesus is reading aloud from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, not only to define His mission, but to make it clear to His listeners that He was the Messiah. Looking at His words, what do you think He would say to the children of incarcerated parents? Or the parents of incarcerated young people? 

 - Jesus would say, you can have freedom with me and you can bring that freedom to your family. Jesus is one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:1-11:18 shows example of this with Cornelious and Peter). 

7) I've been to Lino Lakes, St. Cloud, and Mooselake visiting friends and family.

8) Jesus mentions the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. What does Jesus say He will do for each of these groups? How do these groups overlap? As Jesus’ followers, what are some practical ways we can continue His mission? 

 - Proclaim (announce, declare) good news, freedom, recovery of sight, set free, year of the Lord's favor.

 - Receive and apply these messages to my heart, mind, and soul. Then find ways to speak into their lives, build relationships with them, and proclaim the truth of Jesus. 

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