Preach quietly and see the world change one relationship at a time

Had a wonderful time this weekend sharing the gospel with my brother and then recreation with Scott and Carolyn at their cabin with Kim. Encouraged to get into OKF and OSI for tri-bible.ai this week and my conversation with Michele to translate her study into Spanish. 

Today our church gave a report of growth in every area. Troy preach this message and I gravitated to Acts 19:9-10, Paul's two years at the hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus. Here are the core themes with cross-references to deepen each one. Great week with Troy Dobbs:  Riot | Acts 19:21-41 - Grace Church

1. Faithful, unglamorous ministry over time
Paul preached "quietly" and "daily" for two years (Acts 19:9-10). No spectacle, just steady proclamation. The fruit came from persistence, not a single dramatic event.

• 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (Paul planted, God gave the growth)
• Colossians 1:28-29 (working hard with the energy God supplies)
• 2 Timothy 4:2 (be ready in season and out)
• Galatians 6:9 (don't get tired of doing good)

2. Conversion first, then renounced sin
The order on the slide is the gospel order. People were saved, and changed living followed. Behavior change is the fruit, not the root.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (turned from idols to serve the living God)
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 (anyone in Christ is a new creation)
• Titus 2:11-12 (grace teaches us to turn from godless living)
• Ephesians 2:8-10 (saved by grace, then created for good works)

3. Power of the Spirit, not human strategy
The slide credits the Spirit for the social impact. Paul's method worked because God's power was behind it.

• Romans 1:16 (the gospel is the power of God to save)
• 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (not clever words but the Spirit's power)
• Zechariah 4:6 (not by force or strength, but by my Spirit)
• Acts 1:8 (you will receive power when the Spirit comes)

4. The gospel reshaped the economy as a byproduct
Paul never targeted Artemis or the silver trade. Changed hearts changed spending, and the ripple hit the whole regional economy.

• Acts 19:18-19 (new believers burned magic books worth a fortune)
• Acts 19:23-27 (Demetrius admits the gospel is hurting their trade)
• Acts 17:6 (these men have turned the world upside down)
• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (gospel weapons tear down strongholds)

5. Preach Jesus, not a culture war
The slide's main point. Paul aimed at the person of Christ, not at smashing idols. The idols fell because Jesus rose higher in people's hearts.

• 1 Corinthians 2:2 (I decided to know nothing except Christ crucified)
• 2 Corinthians 4:5 (we don't preach ourselves, but Jesus as Lord)
• Acts 17:16-31 (in Athens Paul reasoned and pointed to God, didn't vandalize altars)
• Colossians 2:15 (Christ disarmed the spiritual powers)

The throughline for teaching: lift Jesus high, stay faithful over the long haul, and trust the Spirit to handle the culture. 

Read More ->>

Connecting to the Divine Light: God’s Action and Human Response

Thinking about Darkness in the human condition. Jesus Christ is the Light who entered our darkness to save us, and we truly receive that light only when we stop living for ourselves and begin living in alignment with Him as Lord, Savior, and Logos.

The message of the gospel is that people do not move from darkness to light by self-improvement alone. Connection to the divine light requires God’s saving action in Christ and a personal response of faith, surrender, and alignment to Him.

---

1) God’s Action: Christ entered our darkness and bore our judgment

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Light of God who entered a world of darkness, yet was rejected by the very people He came to save. Instead of abandoning humanity, He willingly took upon Himself the judgment that sin deserves. On the cross, He experienced abandonment and suffering so that sinners could be brought back into the love and life of God.

This means salvation begins not with human effort, but with God’s initiative, mercy, and sacrifice.

Key Bible references:

• John 1:9–11 – The true Light came into the world, but the world did not receive Him.
• Isaiah 53:3–6 – He was rejected, pierced, and bore our iniquities.
• Mark 15:33–34 – Jesus enters the darkness of forsakenness on the cross.
• Matthew 27:45–46 – Darkness covers the land as Christ bears judgment.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Christ was made to be sin for us so we might become righteous in Him.
• Galatians 3:13 – Christ became a curse for us.
• 1 Peter 2:24 – He bore our sins in His body on the tree.
• Romans 5:8 – God showed His love in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
• Colossians 1:13–14 – Through Him we are rescued from the domain of darkness.
• 1 John 4:9–10 – God’s love is revealed in sending His Son as the atoning sacrifice.

Core idea:

Jesus did not simply come to teach about light. He came to absorb the consequences of our darkness so that we could be reconciled to God.

---

2) Human Response: We must align our lives with Christ as the Logos

The second part of connecting to the divine light is human response. If Jesus is the Logos—the divine reason, truth, wisdom, and ordering principle behind all creation—then He cannot be treated as a mere idea, moral teacher, or spiritual option. He must become the center and meaning of life.

To receive the light is to trust Christ, follow Him, and reorder one’s life around Him. This means repentance, faith, obedience, and surrender. We do not simply admire the Light. We come into it and live by it.

Key Bible references:

• John 1:1–5 – Jesus is the eternal Word (Logos), through whom all things were made.
• John 8:12 – Whoever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness.
• John 3:19–21 – Coming to the light requires honesty, repentance, and openness to God.
• John 14:6 – Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
• Colossians 1:15–17 – All things were created through Him and for Him.
• Acts 17:28 – In Him we live and move and have our being.
• Romans 12:1–2 – True response involves surrender and transformation of mind.
• Galatians 2:20 – The believer’s life is now centered in Christ.
• Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ.”
• Luke 9:23–24 – Following Christ means self-denial and daily surrender.
• Matthew 7:24–25 – A life built on Christ stands firm.
• 1 John 1:5–7 – Walking with God means walking in the light.

Core idea:

Jesus is not merely someone to believe in intellectually. He is the One by whom life itself makes sense. To reject Him is to remain disordered; to receive Him is to be rightly aligned with reality.

---

Big theological takeaway

Connecting to divine light is not achieved by human wisdom or religious striving alone.

It happens through:

• God’s grace: Christ enters our darkness, bears our sin, and opens the way back to God. 
• Works the Holy Spirit does in the believers life
  
• Our response: we trust Him, follow Him, and make Him the defining center of our lives.
• resurrection and the Kingdom of Heaven
  

---

Strong concluding Bible synthesis

These verses tie both themes together beautifully:

• John 1:12 – Those who receive Him are given the right to become children of God.
• John 12:46 – Whoever believes in Him will not remain in darkness.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 – God shines the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Christ.
• Ephesians 5:8 – “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” 

God brings us into the light through the sacrifice of Christ, and we remain in that light by surrendering our lives fully to Him.

King of Kings, prepares our heart to receive the good news about the Kingdom

Read More ->>

Darkness in the human condition

Enjoying Advent: The Word – Timothy Keller [Sermon]. Darkness in Scripture means both the brokenness around us and the blindness within us, and Jesus Christ is the only true Light who can heal both.

1) Darkness as evil, suffering, and the brokenness of the world

Darkness points to the tragic condition of life under sin. It includes violence, injustice, grief, oppression, fear, and death. The Christmas story itself is set against this backdrop, seen in the cruelty of Herod the Great and the sorrow surrounding Christ’s coming. Jesus entered a world that was not neutral, but deeply fractured.

Key Bible references:

• Matthew 2:16–18 – Herod’s slaughter of the children reveals the darkness surrounding Christ’s birth.
• Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”
• Psalm 82:5 – “All the foundations of the earth are shaken” when justice fails.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1 – oppression and tears characterize life in a fallen world.
• Romans 8:20–22 – creation groans under the effects of sin and decay.
• John 3:19 – people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
• Ephesians 5:8–11 – darkness is tied to sinful works and moral corruption.

Core idea:
Darkness is not merely “bad circumstances.” It reflects a world disordered by rebellion against God.

---

2) Darkness as ignorance, blindness, and human inability

Darkness also describes humanity’s spiritual blindness. People do not naturally see God, themselves, or reality rightly. We are not only surrounded by darkness, we are also unable to overcome it by our own wisdom, morality, politics, or effort.

Key Bible references:

• Isaiah 59:9–10 – people grope like the blind because truth and justice are absent.
• Jeremiah 17:9 – the heart is deceitful and not self-correcting.
• Proverbs 14:12 – what seems right to man can still end in death.
• John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
• John 8:12 – Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:4–6 – unbelief is described as blindness, and only God can shine light into the heart.
• Ephesians 4:17–18 – fallen humanity is darkened in understanding and alienated from the life of God.
• Colossians 1:13 – believers are delivered from the domain of darkness.
• 1 Peter 2:9 – God calls His people “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Core idea:
Humanity does not merely need better information. We need divine illumination and rescue.

---

Big theological takeaway

The Bible presents darkness as both:

• the condition of the world (evil, suffering, injustice), and
• the condition of the human heart and mind (blindness, sin, inability).

That is why Christmas is such good news. Jesus did not come merely to inspire people in a dark world. He came to confront darkness, expose it, and overcome it.

Christ-centered conclusion

• Luke 1:78–79 – Jesus comes “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
• John 1:9 – He is the true Light coming into the world.
• John 12:46 – whoever believes in Him will not remain in darkness.

Read More ->>

Walking circumspectly without dissipation (Ephesians 5:15-20)

So be careful how you live (walk circumspectly kjv). Don’t live like fools (in dissipation), but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-20

In the Bible, "walking circumspectly," primarily from Ephesians 5:15, means to live with extreme care, watchfulness, and wisdom, like someone looking closely around them to avoid stumbling in darkness or folly, making the most of every opportunity in evil days, and understanding God's will, not as fools but as the wise. It involves deliberate, accurate steps, being alert to dangers, and diligently guarding against sin, often empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Key Meanings and Implications

• Careful & Precise Living: Not rushing or being clumsy, but taking deliberate, thought-out steps in life and behavior. 
• Awareness & Watchfulness: Being alert to your surroundings, guarding against surprise, and being watchful in every direction. 
• Wisdom vs. Folly: Acting wisely by understanding and following God's will, in contrast to foolishness (dissipation). 
• Redeeming the Time: Making the most of every moment because the days are evil, buying back wasted time for good. 
• Spiritual Discernment: Living in the light, understanding God's plan, and being guided by the Holy Spirit to do good works. 

The passage moves from posture (how you walk) → urgency (why you walk carefully) → content (what you walk toward) → power (by what you walk). It is Paul's integrated vision of sanctification: attentive, urgent, discerning, and Spirit-empowered. The children of light do not drift — they choose, reclaim, understand, and yield.

The word circumspect also appears in Exodus 23:13 which commands Israelites to be diligent (circumspect) in following all of God's instructions, specifically forbidding them from invoking, mentioning, or letting the names of other gods be heard from their lips, emphasizing exclusive worship of Yahweh. 

Key Aspects of Exodus 23:13:

• Context: It concludes a section of laws, including the Sabbath rest, separating Israelites from pagan practices.
• The Command: To not just avoid worshipping other gods, but to avoid even speaking their names (e.g., Baal).
• Significance: This command prohibited elevating or validating foreign deities by mentioning them in a respectful or formal manner, reinforcing the first commandment.

In the Bible, dissipation refers to a reckless, wasteful, and dissolute lifestyle marked by self-indulgence, excess, and a lack of self-control, often leading to spiritual and moral ruin. Derived from the Greek asotia (meaning "unsaved" or "wasteful"), it represents the scattering of life, resources, and focus away from God and toward harmful worldly pleasures:

• Prodigal Living: The "wild living" or "dissipation" of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:13 demonstrates the wasteful squandering of resources on selfish, temporary pleasures.
• Lack of Self-Control: It is linked with drunkenness, revelry, and immorality, often described as a "flood of dissipation" in 1 Peter 4:4 and 2 Peter 2:13
• Spiritual Obstacle: Jesus warns in Luke 21:34 that dissipation (along with drunkenness and anxieties) can weigh down hearts, distracting believers from spiritual readiness and God's kingdom.
• Contrast to Virtue: It opposes biblical virtues like temperance, sobriety, and diligence, as noted in Proverbs 21:17 and Ephesians 5:18
• Opposite of Spiritual Filling: Ephesians 5:18 contrasts being "drunk with wine" (a form of dissipation) with being filled with the Spirit. 

Ultimately, dissipation represents a life focused on worldly lusts rather than godly pursuits, often associated with a rejection of divine discipline.

Ephesians 5:15-18 Themes

1. The Contrast of Two Ways Paul structures the passage as a series of sharp antitheses — wise/foolish, circumspect/reckless, Spirit-filled/drunk. The believer's life is defined by choosing, not drifting.
2. Urgency Rooted in Cosmic Context "The days are evil" is not pessimism — it is situational awareness. Wise living is always eschatologically aware. Time is not neutral; it is contested.
3. Wisdom as Active Discernment Understanding God's will is not passive reception but active pursuit. Wisdom involves the mind, will, and renewed spiritual perception.
4. Spirit-Filling as the Alternative Governing Power The wine/Spirit contrast is not merely about sobriety — it is about what controls a person. The Spirit-filled life produces community, worship, and gratitude (vv.19-20), which drunkenness destroys.

---

I. Walk Wisely — The Posture of the Disciple (v.15)

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise"

• "See then" (βλέπετε) — a call to conscious, attentive living; not sleepwalking through life
• "Walk circumspectly" (ἀκριβῶς) — precisely, carefully, with exact attention
• exactly, accurately, carefully, or diligently. It stems from a root meaning to ascertain, inquire diligently, or to know to the last point. 
• The fool assumes life is safe; the wise person knows it is not
• The walk is public witness — outsiders observe how believers navigate the world

Additional References:

• Proverbs 4:26 — "Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways"
• Psalm 119:9 — "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word"
• Galatians 5:16 — "Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh"
• Luke 16:8 — Jesus notes that worldly people are sometimes shrewder than the children of light in their generation

---

II. Redeem the Time — The Urgency of the Disciple (v.16)

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil"

• "Redeeming" (ἐξαγοραζόμενοι) — buying back, reclaiming what is lost; a marketplace metaphor
• Time (καιρός) — not chronological time but appointed opportunity, the decisive moment, a "season" or "appointed time"
• "The days are evil" — not escapism but realism; the age is under hostile spiritual influence (cf. 2:2; 6:12)
• Every believer lives in a window of opportunity that will close
• The Christian Code of Conduct for the Church Militant (Ben Lorence)
  

Additional References:

• Colossians 4:5 — "Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time"
• John 9:4 — "We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work"
• 1 Peter 4:2-3 — contrast of former life vs. life lived for the will of God
• 2 Timothy 4:2 — "Be ready in season and out of season"
• Psalm 90:12 — "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
• 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 — "The time is short... the form of this world is passing away"

---

III. Understand God's Will — The Mind of the Disciple (v.17)

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is"

• "Do not be foolish" (ἄφρονες) — without reason, mindless; to drift is to be foolish
• "Understand" (συνίετε) — to bring together, to comprehend by synthesis; moral and spiritual intelligence
• Understanding God's will requires: Scripture (Col. 3:16), prayer (Col. 1:9), community (Heb. 10:24-25), and the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12-16)
• This is the hinge verse — wisdom about time leads to discernment of will

Additional References:

• Romans 12:2 — "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind... that you may test and approve the will of God"
• Colossians 1:9-10 — being filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom
• James 1:5 — asking God who gives wisdom generously
• Proverbs 2:1-6 — the diligent pursuit of wisdom
• Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your Spirit lead me on level ground"
• Hebrews 5:14 — mature believers have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil

---

IV. Be Filled with the Spirit — The Power of the Disciple (v.18)

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit"

• The contrast is one of governance: what controls you? Wine diminishes judgment; the Spirit sharpens and empowers it
• "Reckless indiscretion" (ἀσωτία) — wastefulness, dissipation; the prodigal's lifestyle (Luke 15:13)
• "Be filled" (πληροῦσθε) — present passive imperative: continuous, ongoing, not a one-time event; it is a command, not a feeling
• Spirit-filling is evidenced communally (v.19 — speaking, singing), vertically (v.20 — thanksgiving), and relationally (vv.21ff — mutual submission)

Additional References:

• Acts 2:4, 13 — at Pentecost, observers mistook Spirit-filling for drunkenness (the comparison Paul may be invoking)
• Acts 4:31 — "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly"
• Galatians 5:22-23 — the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of Spirit-control
• 1 Corinthians 14:15 — singing with both spirit and mind
• Colossians 3:16 — the parallel passage: "let the word of Christ dwell richly" produces identical outcomes to Spirit-filling (songs, gratitude, mutual instruction)
• Luke 1:41, 67 — Spirit-filling in the nativity narratives as models of Spirit-governed speech and praise
• Romans 8:5-6 — setting the mind on the Spirit produces life and peace

Read More ->>

"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.

---

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.

Read More ->>

Consistent Obedience: Holiness Requires Practice, Not Theory (Leviticus 19:37)

Holiness is not a theological position we hold but a practiced reality we live. It's the daily choice to obey all of God's commands (Lev 19:37), fulfilled through Christ (Matt 5:17-19), demonstrated through action (James 1:22), and proven through consistent walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Theory without practice is self-deception; consistent obedience is the mark of genuine faith.

Foundation in the Law

"Keep all my decrees and laws. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:37)

This command concludes the holiness code of Leviticus 19, which covers everything from caring for the poor to honest business practices. The emphasis is on "all"—selective obedience is not holiness.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reinforces this daily practice: God's commands should be on our hearts, taught to children, discussed at home and on the road, bound as symbols, written on doorframes. Obedience isn't occasional—it's woven into the fabric of life.

Jesus Affirms Ongoing Obedience

Matthew 5:17-19: Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He warns that anyone who sets aside even "the least of these commands" and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom. Righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (v. 20)—not in external rule-keeping, but in heart transformation that produces genuine obedience.

John 14:15, 21, 23: Jesus repeatedly connects love with obedience: "If you love me, keep my commands." This isn't legalism—it's the natural outflow of relationship. The one who has Jesus' commands and keeps them is the one who truly loves Him.

Doers, Not Hearers Only

James 1:22-25: "Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says." James compares mere hearing to looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you look like. Consistent practice makes the difference between self-deception and blessing.

James 2:14-26: Faith without works is dead. Abraham was considered righteous for what he did when he offered Isaac (v. 21). Rahab was justified by what she did (v. 25). Theory and profession mean nothing without corresponding action.

Knowing God Through Keeping His Commands

1 John 2:3-6: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." The one who claims to know God but doesn't keep His commands is a liar. But whoever obeys his word—in that person God's love is truly made complete. We prove we're in Christ by walking as Jesus walked.

Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:17)

1 John 3:7: "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous." Action reveals identity.

Holiness as Pursuit and Practice

1 Peter 1:15-16: "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This quotes Leviticus 11:44-45, connecting Old Testament holiness to New Testament living.

Hebrews 12:14: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Holiness requires effort—it's pursued, not passively received.

Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you." We work because God works in us—divine empowerment meets human responsibility.

Meditative, Daily Practice

Joshua 1:8: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Success comes from doing what's written, not just knowing it.

Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) celebrates God's law with phrases like:

• "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin" (v. 11)
• "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts" (v. 45)
• "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long" (v. 97)

Transformation Through Consistent Action

Romans 12:1-2: Present your bodies as living sacrifices—daily, ongoing surrender. Don't conform to the world's pattern but be transformed by renewing your mind. Transformation happens through practiced obedience.

2 Peter 1:5-8: Add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These qualities, in increasing measure, keep us from being ineffective. Growth is incremental and practical.

Read More ->>

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Protected Living

 Righteousness that comes from God

The breastplate protects the heart. Paul roots that protection not in our performance but in God’s righteousness given through Christ.

• “Stand firm… with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” (Ephesians 6:14)

• “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22)

• “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• “Not having a righteousness of my own… but that which is through faith in Christ.” (Philippians 3:9)

Righteousness is a gift before it becomes a lifestyle.

---

Ephesians 1–3: Foundations

Paul spends three chapters telling believers who they are before he tells them how to live. Identity fuels obedience.

Key foundations:

• Chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

• Adopted as sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5).

• Redeemed through His blood (Ephesians 1:7).

• Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14).

• Made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:4–5).

• Saved by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• God’s workmanship, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

• Strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner person (Ephesians 3:16–19).

The breastplate rests on these truths. Righteous living grows from secure identity.

---

Ephesians 4–6: Evidence in daily life

Chapters 4–6 shift from identity to evidence. Righteousness becomes visible.

Paul outlines the lifestyle:

• Put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24).

• Speak truthfully (Ephesians 4:25).

• Control anger (Ephesians 4:26–27).

• Work honestly and share generously (Ephesians 4:28).

• Build others up with your words (Ephesians 4:29).

• Forgive as God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).

• Walk in love as Christ loved (Ephesians 5:1–2).

• Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8–10).

• Submit to one another in reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).

• Stand firm against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10–12).

This is righteousness in action. Identity produces integrity.

---

Guarding the heart through obedient living

The heart is the command center. Righteousness shields it.

• “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

• “Above all else, keep your heart with all diligence.” (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV/NIV)

• Jesus warned that sin flows from an unguarded heart (Mark 7:20–23).

• Obedience strengthens the armor: “If you love Me, keep My commands.” (John 14:15)

• “Blessed are those who walk in obedience… who seek Him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:1–2)

Righteousness lived out closes the gaps where the enemy seeks entry.

Read More ->>

History reveals God’s kingship, faithfulness, mercy, and power (Psalm 145)

A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. / Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2

According to Psalm 145, history matters because it is the primary way God’s character is remembered, taught, and trusted across generations. David presents history as a spiritual responsibility, not a record-keeping exercise.

Why history is important in Psalm 145

1. History transmits faith between generations (Psalm 145:4)

“One generation shall commend your works to another.”

Faith is not sustained by novelty. It is sustained by testimony. Each generation depends on the previous one to tell the truth about who God is and what He has done.

Insight: Without history, faith becomes fragile and self-referential.

2. History preserves knowledge of God’s character (Psalm 145:11–12)

“They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom.”

David does not say only to remember events. He emphasizes remembering meaning. History reveals God’s kingship, faithfulness, mercy, and power.

Insight: History explains why God can be trusted today.

3. History fuels praise and worship (Psalm 145:5)

“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of your majesty.”

Meditation in Scripture is reflection on what God has already done. Praise grows deeper when it is anchored in remembered acts, not passing emotion.

Insight: Worship without history becomes shallow.

4. History builds confidence during uncertainty (Psalm 145:13)

“The Lord is faithful in all His words.”

Past faithfulness establishes future confidence. When circumstances change, remembered history steadies belief.

Insight: History anchors hope when outcomes are unclear.

5. History reveals God’s consistency (Psalm 145:8)

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger.”

This language echoes earlier Scripture. David is intentionally showing that God has been consistent across time.

Insight: History proves God’s nature does not evolve with culture.

6. History shapes moral alignment (Psalm 145:21)

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord.”

Remembered truth leads to spoken truth. Spoken truth leads to lived obedience.

Insight: History informs how we speak, decide, and live.

Summary

Psalm 145 teaches that history is essential because it:

• Preserves truth
• Transfers faith
• Sustains worship
• Strengthens trust
• Anchors identity

History is not about nostalgia, it is about stewardship. When history is forgotten, faith weakens, when history is told, praise multiplies.

Read More ->>

Worry is a dark thought that is cured with heavenly insight (Matthew 6:19-34)

 Matthew 6:19-7:29

Key verses: 

"Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body...the light you think you have..." Matthew 6:22-23

Key insights

• Desire for the kingdom of heaven, serving God, seeking the Kingdom of God above all else and living righteously dominate the thoughts of believers.
• You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. (Matthew 10:18)
• Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy....Prophecy turns unbelievers into believers (1 Corinthians 14:1-4,22-25
• Worry (negative desire) and complaining enslave unbelievers (Matthew 6:32)
• Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14
• unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. 1 Cor 5:10
• Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 2 Cor 6:17

6:19-21) Store your treasures in heaven, not earth. Where your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 

• Psalm 37:4) Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
• Luke 12:34) Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22-23) Eye is a lamp that provides light for your body, healthy filled with light, unhealthy, filled with darkness. "light you think you have is actually darkness"

• Interesting metaphor eyes provide light and light is thought. 
• Reminds me that people take things personally and are offended, instead of seeing the offender as having a bad day.
• How am I praying for people? Forgive us as we forgive, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
• Dark thoughts are worry and complaining (Matthew 6:31-32)

24) Either serve God or be enslaved to money. Fork in the road, hate/love, devoted/despise

25-27) Don't worry about everyday life (food, clothes), look at the birds (don't plant, harvest, store/barns)

• Worry is a dark thought, the cure is to look with new questions
• Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
•  Look at the birds with the light of God: your heavenly Father feeds them
• And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 
• Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
• 28-30) And why worry about your clothing?
• Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. they don't make clothing, yet dressed more beautifully than Solomon
• God cares for them, certainly will care for you
• Why do you have so little faith?

31-33) Don't worry with complaining words about food and clothes

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Ned's Atomic Dust Din opened for Jesus Jones in 1991, it was a wonderful show and the first time I heard Grey Cell Green and the confusing line 

"When your 'Dis zay high eerrr',

it has been found

you'll be running far away"

then it clicked 'Dis zay high eerrr, Desire!'

Read More ->>

Getting a new perspective Genesis 1-3 compared with Revelation 20-22

On Thursday we had a wonderful service at Wooddale for Teen Challenge Spiritual emphasis week. I was worshiping behind the pastor who was holding his hand up, one holding the Bible. "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16) came to mind as the crowd of new believers, make believers and unbelievers were loud and acting like people at a soccer game instead of a church service. His message was about the presence of God through Jesus ("Immanuel," meaning "God with us," is Matthew 1:23), changes everything.  “I (Jesus) will send you the Helper (Holy Spirit) from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me (Jesus)." John 14:26. Indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit. I was grateful to see Danny and KC. 

The garden where God dwells with man, is now a city. The Temple of God's presence (1 Kings 8:1-21) was revealed in Jesus resurrection (John 2:19-22, Matthew 28:18-20), and now we our the Temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). The light of God which preceded his followers (Exodus 13:21) as a light on a path (Psalm 119:105), permeates from Jesus (John 8:12) and us (Matt 5:16). 

• When life seems hopeless, shift your focus - raise your level of understanding
• Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

My friend Aneej sent me Bible The Unique Book The Genesis Revelation Comparison and it correlates to our BSF study this week. 

• Gen 1:1, God creates Heaven and Earth, Rev 21:1, new heaven, new earth (without the curse)
• Gen 1:5 Darkness called night, Rev 21:25, no more night
• Gen 1:16, God made sun and moon, Rev 21:23, no need for sun or moon
• Gen 2:17, in the day you eat you will surely die, Rev 21:40, no more death or sorrow
• Gen 3:1, Satan appears as te deceiver of humanity, Rev 20:10, Satan disappears forever
• Gen 3:6-7, a garden where defilement enters, Rev 21:27, a city without defilement. 
• Gen 3:8-10, Walk of God with man is interrupted, Rev 21:3, Walk of God with man resumed. 
• Gen 3:13, initial triumph of the serpent, Rev 20:10,22:3, Ultimate triumph of the Lamb.
• Gen 3:16, greatly multiple your pain, Re 21:4, No more pain
• Gen 3:17, Cursed is the ground for your sake, Rev 22:3, There is no more curse
• Gen 3:19, man's dominion is broken in Adam, Rev 22:5, Man's dominion restored in the rule of the new man Christ - Adam's act was an act of disobedience, in eating the forbidden fruit (Rom. 5:19; and see Genesis 2:17; 3:6). Christ's act was an act of obedience, in dying on the cross (Romans 5:19 and see Phil. 2:8).
• Gen 3:23, first paradise closed, Rev 21:24-26, new paradise opened
• Gen 3:24 access to the tree of life is disinherited in Adam, Rev 22:14, Access to the Tree of Life reinstated in Christ
• Gen 3:24, they were driven from God's presence,  Rev 22:4, they shall see His face

John describes the crystal-clear river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne and through the middle of the city. This river will water lavish, fruitful trees, including the Tree of Life, which brought healing to the nations. Other passages with a similar emphasis may include the record in Genesis of a river flowing from Eden and the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:9-10); Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman about the water of eternal life that would satisfy the thirst of her soul (John 4:4-14); and Jesus’s promise of streams of living water, in the form of the Holy Spirit, that would flow out of believers (John 7:38).

Continuing to pray and praying continually. "Pray without ceasing," found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, means to cultivate a constant, ongoing relationship with God, not just through formal prayer, but through a mindset of prayerfulness and seeking God's guidance in all aspects of life. As we prayed last night I was remined of Heb 12:22-25, "...you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to 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. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. " I'm reminded of staying on the phone while I wait for help to arrive like a 911 call.

Christians have an ongoing struggle against sin that is frustrating

True worship is submitting yourself to God wholeheartedly (Jer 17:11-18:17)

Read More ->>

Repent and come out of captivity (golden handcuffs)

 Enjoying preparation for BSF Revelation 2024-25, The Hope. Previously I saw Revelation as John sees God's redemptive plan completed in Christ's return. 

You have rejected me,” declares the Lord. “You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back. I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people, for they have not changed their ways. Jeremiah 15:6-7 NIV, Amplified says it like this:

“You have abandoned (rejected) Me,” says the Lord. “You keep going backward. Therefore I shall stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of delaying [your punishment]! “I will winnow (sort, separate) them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will deprive them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent and turn from their [evil] ways.

Repentance from sin is like separating the chaff from the seed. Something needs to be broken and thrown away - to be burned. When we allow ourselves to be broken and crushed, we're trusting the Lord to mold us into a worthy vessel, the Creator is able to do this. He is the potter, we are the clay. 

Repent of personal sin is believing and Accepting Jesus As Your Savior and Lord

• So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.  Mark 6:12
• “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19)

Revelation 18:4, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues" (Babylon's doom is total, impacting the whole world)

• So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. "Get up," he said. "Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. - Genesis 19:14
• Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!" - Isaiah 48:20
• Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. - Isaiah 52:11
• Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock. - Jeremiah 50:8
• Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves. - Jeremiah 51:6
• "We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds." - Jeremiah 51:9
• Come out of her, My people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the LORD. - Jeremiah 51:45

I'll study Jeremiah and Zechariah this month as I pray and fast, preparing for a new year of insight into Revelation. My prayer is to come out of captivity in my mind, heart and soul. Let me do this with joy and purity. 

Read More ->>

Abraham intercedes before Sodom is destroyed with Lot's wife (Gen 18:16-19, Luke 17:32)

Gen 18:16-19:38 

Focus Verses

"Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” - Gen 19:20-21

“So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” – Genesis 19:29

God's Wrath

A) Abraham interceded with God 6 times for Sodom and Gomorrah.

16-19) Lord reminds Abraham promises, chosen to keep the way of the LORD, doing right/just so LORD will bring about the promise

20-21) Lord "outcry against Sodom/Gomorrah, sin grievous, I'll see for myself"

22-25) two men went to Sodom, Abraham intercedes w/ Lord destroy righteous w/ wicked? Judge

26) Lord, "whole place spared for 50"

27-33) Abraham "bold, yet dust and ashes, 45,40,30,20,10

Principle: God wants us to know him in conversational prayer. 

Application: When the grievous sin of people comes to mind how much do I intercede for the righteous who are tormented by it? Lord let my disgust turn into hope for rescue and reconciliation with the righteous ones. 

19:1-2) two angels, to Sodom's square evening Lot bows, stay with me tonight leave early

3-5) Lot prepares meal, every male in city surrounded house to have sex with angels

6-8) Lot "my friends don't do this wicked, take my virgin daughters instead, I protect them"

9-11) "you foreigner, now judge" they pressured but angels pulled Lot in, shut door, struck doormen with blindness

12-13) Angels "any family here? we're destroying because outcry to the LORD against its people is great"

14-15) Lot spoke to sons-in-law, they thought he was joking, angels urged LOT to leave or die

16-17) they took him by the hand, led to safety "As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

 - This is where Dan C became a Christian, a preacher took this passage with the two men on the cross next to Jesus, one repented the other mocked. (Luke 23:32-55)

 - God sends us to help others and give warning as well, Lord help me not to miss your call.

18-22) Lot argues, pleads for a smaller city Zoar instead of the mountains, angels spare this city because of Lot

23-26) Sunrise, LORD rained down burning sulfur, destroying all the living in the land, Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt

From GotQuestions: She lagged behind. She turned and watched the flaming sulfur fall from the sky, consuming everything she valued. Then it consumed her. The Hebrew for “looked back” means more than to glance over one’s shoulder. It means “to regard, to consider, to pay attention to.” The Scriptures don’t say whether her death was a punishment for valuing her old life so much that she hesitated in obeying, or if it was a simple consequence of her reluctance to leave her life quickly. Either she identified too much with the city—and joined it—or she neglected to fully obey God’s warning, and she died....Hebrew for “pillar” refers to a garrison or a deputy, that is, something set to watch over something else. The image of Lot’s wife standing watch over the Dead Sea area—where to this day no life can exist—is a poignant reminder to us not to look back or turn back from the profession of faith we have made, but to follow Christ without hesitation and abide in His love (Luke 17:32).

- Eph 4:22-24, take off the old self that is ruled by sin and put on the new self that is in the likeness of God

 - 1 John 5:16, willful deliberate sin can lead to death 

27-29) Abraham sees Sodom and Gomorrah burning, God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out

30-38) Lot's daughters get him drunk and have Moab and Ben-Ammi (Ammonites)

 - Enemies to Isreal yet in the Geneology of Jesus (Naomi sees redemption through Ruth, Boaz, and Obed (Ruth 1-4)

Genesis 19:1-14; Ezekiel 16:49-50; 2 Peter 2:5-11

Read More ->>

Cultivating a negative attitude toward the will of God is the first step toward disappointment and defeat

I love Warren Wiersbe, in the book "This is the Life" he writes how Christians fall into worldliness:

"Most Christians don’t suddenly dive into worldliness; instead, they gradually drift back into the old lifestyle and sometimes don’t even know what’s happening. They first get friendly with the world (James 4:4) and then little by little begin to be “spotted” (defiled) here and there by the world (1:27). If they don’t repent and return to the Lord, they start loving the world (1 John 2:15) and becoming conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2). 

Compromisers don’t take seriously God’s words of warning in Scripture or His chastening (Heb. 12:1–11), and the day comes when they find themselves condemned with the world (1 Cor. 11:32). Scripture records the tragic endings of believers who were “saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:13–15). Lot and his family come to mind (Gen. 13:11–13; 19:1–29; 2 Pet. 2:7–8), and so does the family of Korah (Num. 16), along with Samson (Judg. 13–15), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), and Demas (2 Tim. 4:10). "

He goes on... "Cultivating a negative attitude toward the will of God is the first step toward disappointment and defeat. God’s will is not chains (Ps. 2:3) but cords of love (Hos. 11:4). His will is not a bit and bridle (Ps. 32:8–9) but the secret of joyful freedom. “And I will walk at liberty, for I seek your precepts” (119:45). God wants us to know His will (Acts 22:14), obey His will from the heart (Eph. 6:6), understand His will (5:17), and delight in His will (Ps. 40:8). God’s will is not a buffet dinner where we choose only what pleases us. His will is a rich and nutritious meal prepared especially for us, and we must accept all of it. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” said Jesus (John 4:34). God’s will is not punishment but nourishment. The will of God is the expression of the love of God to each of His children, the invitation to a rich and fruitful life. “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Ps. 33:11). His will comes from His heart.

Read More ->>

Conformance to the world has dire consequences

When facing pressure to conform to the patterns of this world (godlessness). We are more than concurring because God is fighting on our behalf.

Application:
- The battle is in our minds and hearts
- We must always filter our words, thoughts, actions and passions through the word of God
- We must always remember, appreciate and teach what God has done for us so we and generations after us.

6 truths about Conformance to the world:
1. Starts with illogical justification (1 Sam 7:1-8:22)
- An end that is Biblical, by means that is countra-Biblical. Like living together before getting married.
- or a means that is Biblical leading to an end that is contra-Biblical. Doing ministry that is void of relationship.

2. Is a gradual process
- cost more than we want to pay, keeps you longer than we want to stay.
- we have the opportunity right now to repent and be baptized (washed clean)

3. Will cost us more than we want to pay
- Warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” - 1 Samuel 8:9 NIV
- the king will take everything (1 Sam 8:10-18)
- But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. - 1 Samuel 8:19 NIV

4. Conformance to the world eventually brings rejection of God's truth

5. Conformance to the world makes us forgetful and unappreciative of God's greatness

6. Conformance to the world makes us victims of our own folly.

Read More ->>

It's evil to refuse to follow the Lord completely (1 Kings 11:6, Mark 8:36)

In this way (many wives 1 Kings 11:1, against clear light 1 Kings 11:2, self insisting 1 Kings 11:3, ending in faithlessness and Idol worship   1 Kings 11:5),
Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done. 1 Kings 11:6

Jesus covenant writes his law on our heart. Spend your life in God's hands (Mark 8:35-37)
 - trust and obey = joy in serving

God's covenants are found in His Grace
 - free gifts received through faith

Motivation in receiving not working

As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day. - Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 8:34-38

God's unconditional promises are certain
 - secure in the faithfulness of God

Salesman of the year,
ignore, negotiate, submit

Solomon lost his commitment
 - it's his heart, he turned from God rather than too God

The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. 1 Kings 11:9-10

Wowza, Solomon had two chances, how many more do we have in Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Prayer how do I  love you more?
 - desire consistency
 we all need consistent reminders

Who are you hanging around with?
What makes your heart sing for joy?
 - this is worship.

how do you know? How do you check yourself?
 - What makes you cry in gratitude? "thank you God"

My flesh nature pulls me away from God, God's Spirit is pulling me toward God.
 - Naturally, it takes nothing to pull us away. We need the super natural filling of God in our hearts to fully abide in Him. the power of God: https://www.openbible.info/topics/power

Comfort time is an idol, the world says don't over commit.

When we face opposition we should get closer to God, embrace opposition. Where can I grow as a result of this? Don't pray, "get me out of this."  Pray "what do you want me to get out of this?"
 - Our hardship maybe for someone else. My nephew defined hardship as "a friendship that's heard"
count all our troubles as joy

Solomon personified: what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?
 - he started well but didn't finish well
 - atrophy is guaranteed without intentional intervention

Read More ->>

Spiritual growth is stunted by the "world"

1 cor 3:1-9
Biggest threat is seduction to accommodate our bodies. To be disconnected from God. Biblical worldview is everything for the glory of God; enjoy the world, engage the world and be God's ambassador in the world.

But how do you know your spiritual growth is stunted by the "world"
1. Sin doesn't bother you
2. You're passion for Christ and his mission is wilting
3. You're growth in Christ is not evident to yourself or others. You're a complainer who can't get along with anyone.

It's okay to be new in Christ. Time matters in the Christian walk as in physical life. It's okay to enjoy the world (God made), engage the world (as God commanded), and evangelize the world (go, make disciples).

I have two trees the same age, one is huge and healthy. The other is identical to when I planted it 10 years ago.
- wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone
- worldliness stunts our spiritual appetites
- spiritual kindergarten, while being high-school age

Junk food, ruins appetite for good food
- six days in the world,  only 1 hour for God
- get sick, dehydrated need intravenous feeding in ER. Don't do it!

If you don't love God's word, you'll never
grow. Hunger for God's word.

Being "on the fence" is not genuine and offensive to believers and nonbelievers alike.

Worldliness stunts our ability to see how God works.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV

Said another way
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/1jn.2.15-17.MSG

Read More ->>

God and the world are polar opposites (1 John 2:15‭-‬17)

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.2.15-17.NASB

Sam Houston, Where is the Love? July 26, 2018

Love the world is to put your heart to things, people and practices that are opposed to God.

This was a challenging word that has stuck with me this week. I've often heard more preaching about not retreating from the world but to win the world for Christ, through love (John 13:35, Matt 28:19-20). This teaching had built on the previous week about being all in (Jim Erickson). The big take away I see in bringing it all together is 1 Cor 10:12-13, "So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it"

Lack of Bible knowledge has convinced many that;

• Evangelism is not necessary 
• Works are necessary for salvation 
• Religious practice defines

God and the world are polar opposites
Matt 6:24. Can't serve or love two at once.
- two navigation systems at once: turn left, turn right
- we are trying to love two different masters

Categories of temptation
1. Sensual pleasures (flesh)
2. Pleasures of imagination (lust of eyes)
3. Pride of life (bragging about accomplishments)

World's short-term pleasure pails in comparison to God's eternal life
- ice castle not meant to last forever. (World is passing away)

John 14:15, love me keep my commandments

Choose to love world temporary pleasure, or love eternal God.

How do we keep from loving world
1. Study and understand God's love for us.
- The world can't love us back
- Every good and perfect gift comes from God
- the world can't give us anything good
2. Know who we are and our purpose
- eph 2:10, by God for him and works he prepared
3. Be aware of what and who we expose ourselves: Bad company corrupts good morals. Psalm 101:3, don't put worthless things in front of our lives.
4. Focus on goodness: Phil 4

Read More ->>

Bitterness deceives us, core to our iniquity

Listening to the book Free Indeed by Robert Moriss. He's talking about Hebrews 12:15 ESV "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;" - Bitterness made me think about taste, they gave Jesus a bitter drink at the cross - he refused and forgave them.

John Piper says in what is a root of bitterness, this refers to Deut 29:18, "Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,"

1. Harboring bitterness is opposite of repentance. The root of bitterness is iniquity, the attitude of sin, whereas trespass is the action of sin.
 - Cain was bitter

2. Our words are disproportionately  powerful, inherently evil James 3:1-8, and contrasting impactful James 3:9-12 (it can do things not possible in natural world) . But God's first act at salvation is to give us a new tongue. James 3, Exodus 4:10-12, Acts 2:1-4

http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/words-life-or-death/session/2012/04/28/amazing-facts

Read More ->>

God's gifts and our commitment are bonded by love (Romans 12:1-21)

AIM: Discover spiritual gifts, motivated by love brings life change
Romans 12:1-8
A) God's mercy seen creates a devoted life in His will
1) See God's mercy, give self fully to God is worship
2) Not pattern world, transformed/renewing mind, able do God's will
Illustration: Cain (Look what I brought God) and Abel (look what you did God)
Cain couldn't see God's mercy and took LIFE into his own hands, killing his brother. God's mercy was then revealed in Cain, God protected Cain (Gen 4) - Lemech didn't get it (70 times 7 REVENGE). Jesus said 70 times 7 Forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).
Many in the church struggle with self-deception:

• Lying to yourself, that you aren't sinning (Romans 14:23; Proverbs 30:20; James 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:3;1 John 1:8-10;2:4)
• Thinking your "Christian" when you don't live a Christian lifestyle (Luke 6:46; James 1:26; 1 John 2:4;1:6; 3:9-10)
• Thinking "I'll get away with it" (Galatians 6:7; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Proverbs 28:13)

Application: Debug your heart, Let the Holy Spirit and God's word expose and judge the intentions of your heart.

 Ephesians 4:23-24 and Colossians 3:10 says, "...let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." and "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."
Heb 4:12 says, "the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]...penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Ephesians 5:10,17 says, "Test and prove what pleases the Lord" and Don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is"

Application: Is my sacrifice pleasing to God, where am I focusing on worldly patterns rather than the Godly pattern in his Word?

B) God's gracious gifts used in humble, united service (3-8)
3) Grace given me, not better in self, by faith God distributed to us
4-5) body many parts, function in Christ, belongs to each other
6) different gifts (1 Cor 7:7), according grace given (empowerment): 
 - Same LORD and Spirit, God at work (1 Cor 12:4-6)
 - Gift to equip others, reach unity (Eph 4:11-13, John 14-17)
 - We are stewards of these gifts, purpose is God's glory in Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11)
7-8) Gifts according to grace: Prophesy/faith, serving, teaching, encourage, give/generously, lead/diligently, mercy/cheerfully
Illustration: Lot is an example of not using gift faithfully. (Lord) rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (2 Peter 2:7). Jesus sends us out, says Listen! Don't miss it! You'll be judge, wrong intentions in your heart need to be cast out in the name of Jesus! (Luke 10:12-17). Jesus was reminding the 72 about Lot (Luke 10:1-12) and what happens when people don't come out (Gen 19:14,15). So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. (Gen 19:29) but
Lot used his freedom to be an unaware, incestuous drunk (Gen 19:32-35). Why didn't Lot go back to Abraham for humble help in this matter?
Principle: Two things make a Christian miserable, 1) unrepentant sin and 2) not using your gifts to serve the Church.
Application: Spiritual gifts inventory, what gift haven't you opened yet? Consider serving in an unfamiliar way (test and approve).
Also:lot
Romans 12:3; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:1-6 ; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:7b ;1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ;Ephesians 4:11-13 ;1 Peter 4:10-11

C) Love enthusiastically, sacrificially serving and trusting the Lord (9-21)
9-10) Love sincere, hate evil, cling good, devoted/honor one-another in love
11-13) spiritual fervor, serving the Lord: joyful/hope, patient/affliction, faithful/prayer, share/people/need, practice/hospitality
14-15) Bless (no curse)/persecutors, empathy: celebrate/rejoicing, comfort/mourning
16) Live/harmony/each other, not proud/conceited, associate with low positions
17-21) Not evil for evil, careful/right eyes of all, possible depends on you: live/peace not revenge, trust God's plan: overcome evil with good

Read More ->>