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Sketched XI Day 10 Fist Sized Faith: Digging Deeper

June 30, 2023 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

Sketched XI Day 10 Fist Sized Faith: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

June 30, 2023

Adoration,Faith,Power,Praise,Prayer,Security

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Fist Sized Faith"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 18:20-45

20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God who answers with fire, he is God.” All the people answered, “That’s fine.”

25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down: 31 Elijah took twelve stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel will be your name”— 32 and he built an altar with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons. 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.

36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”

40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there. 41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”

42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.”

Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’”

45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why did Elijah mock Baal’s prophets? (verse 27)

The prophet Elijah wanted God’s people to know it was time to make a choice between the God of Israel and the false god, Baal, who, according to author Bethany Verrett, was “a universal fertility god and a storm god associated with bringing rain and dew in the Canaan area.” Frustrated by the way God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6) allowed Baal worship in their households, Elijah wanted to emphasize how powerless Baal was in a showdown between Baal and Jehovah.

When the false prophets could not implore Baal to produce fire, Elijah mocked them, taunting them, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” (1 Kings 18:27)

It seems Elijah enjoyed teasing his enemies, pointing out how useless the false prophets’ efforts were in getting the (non-existent) attention of their inferior deity. Albert Barnes notes, “The object of Elijah’s irony was two-fold; to stimulate the priests to greater exertions, and so to make their failure more complete, and to suggest to the people that such failure would prove absolutely that Baal was no “god”.”

Elijah wanted to convince the impressionable Israelites how absurd and pointless it was to follow impotent gods and ignore the Almighty One True God (Revelation 1:8) while actively disobeying their covenant with Him (Deuteronomy 28).

Elijah mocked the false prophets in an effort to demonstrate just how ridiculous it was to rely on imaginary gods when the One True God (Jeremiah 10:10) wanted to honor His covenant (Deuteronomy 7:9) with them.

The Everyday Application

1) Why did Elijah mock Baal’s prophets? (verse 27)

If you’re on social media you’ve probably seen a video by TikTok sensation Khabi Lame, famous for mocking unnecessarily complicated “life hack” videos in which he wordlessly demonstrates a simpler method for the same task. His videos end with a sarcastic, “this- is- how-it’s-done” hand gesture, head-shake and eye roll at the ridiculous, convoluted process that was on display.

The prophet Elijah could have done something similar on Mount Carmel in his face-off with the prophets of Baal. Both sides had the same task: entreat your deity to ignite the sacrifice on your altar. When the false prophets tried and failed to produce a response from Baal, Elijah mocked their fake god, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” (1 Kings 18:27)

Elijah wanted to prove that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6) was the only God worth serving. He wanted them to see that reliance on a powerless god was futile. It is a message that still serves us well today. Worshiping any other god besides the Holy One (Isaiah 12:6) unnecessarily complicates our lives and leaves us empty-handed (Psalm 97:7).

Ann Voskamp suggests, “It’s our wavering between the gods of things and the God of everything – that’s what has us flailing and drowning soundless in it all. […] Every moment you live, you live bowed to something. And if you don’t choose God, you’ll bow down before something else – some banal Baal.”

Lord, help us recognize any idols we have set up in our hearts for the ridiculous shams they are and turn with our whole hearts to the Only God. (Jude 25)

The Original Intent

2) Why did Elijah make a point of making the sacrifice difficult to ignite? (verses 33-35)

Once the prophets of Baal proved their god was useless to ignite their sacrifice, Elijah went to great lengths to prove his God was more than able to answer his pleas to consume the offering. In 1 Kings 18:33-35, he commanded 12 pots of water to be poured over the wood and the bull on the altar, which also filled the trench surrounding the altar with water.

One reason he did this may have been because there was precedent for false prophets to set fires “from hollow spaces concealed beneath the altars, in order to make the credulous people believe that the sacrifice had been miraculously set on fire by the deity.” (Keil & Delitzsch)

Elijah’s elaborate water-logging of his altar area and sacrifice made it clear he was not faking a fire. Elijah wanted there to be no doubt it was God Almighty who answered his prayer. Not only was Elijah asking God to do the miraculous, but he was making it impossible to do under normal circumstances to prove that it was God and not Elijah bringing the fire.

David Guzik notes, “In wanting to make a deep impression upon the people, Elijah required more of Yahweh than he did of Baal.” Elijah had no doubt that God would come through (Psalm 36:5), so making it harder to accomplish by human standards would make it that much more impactful to the people.

Elijah wanted this dramatic presentation to ensure that his ambivalent people would no longer vacillate between serving unworthy gods and serving the One Worthy of all praise. (Revelation 4:11)

The Everyday Application

2) Why did Elijah make a point of making the sacrifice difficult to ignite? (verses 33-35)

What is more unlikely than a team from tropical Jamaica entering the bobsled race in the 1988 Winter Olympics? This surprising occurrence captivated the world and made the team an instantly beloved underdog, winning hearts if not medals in that first race that inspired a 1993 movie, Cool Runnings, and eventual Jamaican victories in the winter sport.

Everyone loves stories about a come-from-behind win or an against-all-odds tale of victory. I suspect the prophet Elijah knew this about human nature when he made a drastic point of increasing the difficulty for God to burn his sacrifice (1 Kings 18:33-35) by drenching the whole thing in water many times over. He knew God would win this competition between Him and Baal handily, but he wanted to make it memorable and undeniable that the Lord of Lords was above all gods. (Psalm 95:3) It was equivalent to him saying, “My Awesome God can beat your pathetic god blindfolded with one hand tied behind His back!”

He was both magnifying God’s greatness and emphasizing Baal’s weakness at the same time. Elijah wanted his people to have this big, come-from-behind win because they had long been trying to serve God and Baal; Elijah wanted them to come down decidedly on the side of God.

John Piper notes that even though the odds are 450:1, “God loves to be at a disadvantage just before He wins.” Elijah wanted God’s decisive victory to remind his people of just how strong and mighty is the God they serve, and how deserving He is of their worship and allegiance. (Psalm 96:4)

The Original Intent

3) Why did Elijah order the prophets of Baal to be seized when they attempted to escape? (verse 40)

Once Baal’s prophets had been defeated, they tried to retreat and evade capture, hoping to avoid punishment. When Elijah saw this, he ordered, “Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there.” (1 Kings 18:40)

David Guzik suggests, “Now that the fraud of Baal was exposed, his prophets had to answer for it and were dealt with according to the Law of Moses.” (Deuteronomy 13:5, Deuteronomy 13:13-18, Deuteronomy 17:2-5, and Deuteronomy 18:9-22)

Elijah simply demanded the prophets of Baal receive the treatment they promoted for the prophets of Yahweh.” Elijah wanted the evil-doers to be punished, and he wanted those with bad influence over the people to be permanently removed. The sins and degradations of Baal worshippers were many, including ritual prostitution, according to author John Ritenbaugh, and they wreaked havoc on the children of God.

Elijah knew the Law of Moses laid out specific penalties for the sins committed, and he believed that carrying them out would promote justice and end the influence of this evil over his people. Adam Clarke writes, “They had committed the highest crime against the state and the people by introducing idolatry, and bringing down God’s judgments upon the land; therefore their lives were forfeited to that law which had ordered every idolater to be slain.”

Because God’s law required death for those who promoted idolatry, Elijah wanted to capture every false prophet and obey the will of God.

The Everyday Application

3) Why did Elijah order the prophets of Baal to be seized when they attempted to escape? (verse 40)

While leaving church one Sunday, my young son kicked rocks down the sidewalk. He was having fun when suddenly his rock took a crazy bounce right into a car’s windshield. My son froze in horror for a few moments until the event registered in his brain, and then he bolted towards the safety of his grandmother’s nearby car.

Before I could determine whose car was damaged or call him back to face the music, grandma’s getaway car shot out of the parking lot, whisking the accidental vandal to safety. While he eventually had to open his piggy bank to pay for his negligence, I had to sheepishly locate the owner and offer apologies.

I imagine the prophets of Baal were trying to hightail it off of Mt. Carmel in much the same way as my son, and with good reason. Elijah wanted to do to them what they had threatened to do to him. Elijah was on a mission of justice as a deputy of the Lord God, who had just decisively won an impossible battle.

When Elijah saw them running away, he demanded, “…Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there.” (1 Kings 18:40) Elijah enacted the punishment of death demanded by the law of Moses for idolaters. (Exodus 22:20)

They were already experiencing severe drought because of the idol worship in their land. (1 Kings 17:1) With the defeat of the false prophets would come the end of the drought. (1 Kings 18:45) Elijah wanted to break the power of idolatry and refocus his people on the power of their God.

Today we can also refocus by turning away from anything that tries to supplant God in our hearts and minds and by purposing intently to love and serve Him alone. (1 Corinthians 10:14)

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hope,power,reliance,trust,worship
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I look up to see a fiery ball hurling down from the sky, crashing into the altar. Screams of terror fill the air as the force of the blast sends us flying backwards. I have never felt such intense heat and power in my life.

As we struggle to our feet, the acrid smell of fire rides the hot wind. The altar has been consumed; there is nothing left, even the very rocks have disintegrated into dust! (Hebrews 12:29)

Yahweh has made Himself known.
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Posted in: Adoration, Faith, Power, Praise, Prayer, Security Tagged: hope, power, reliance, trust, worship

Sketched XI Day 2 One Light?: Digging Deeper

June 20, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Sketched XI Day 2 One Light?: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

June 20, 2023

Adoring,Affectionate,Dwell,Joy,Know,Praise,Prayer

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "One Light?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 16

A Miktam of David
1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will bless the Lord who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8 I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Against whom or what is David asking God for protection? (verse 1)

David. That shepherd boy turned king. His name and story were a significant part of Israel’s religious and political history long after his reign. Bri’s Journey Study yesterday sketched him well as “… a king whose sinful humanity was undeniable, but who remained a man after God’s own heart, worshiping God alone.” It is he who penned this psalm.

Commentators are unsure of the original meaning of the psalm’s Hebrew title, “A Miktam of David.” So, without certainty of its title’s meaning, we read it and learn it is a prayer-like reflection of David. It centers on what he had come to know about his God and how this knowledge had so often brought him comfort. Verse 1 is a prayer for protection from an unidentified distress. Though it may leave us curious, it appears this psalm is more of a general prayer rather than a request regarding a specific situation or person. Herein lies its beauty.

David’s plea for protection is not about his circumstances. It is about his God! David’s confidence in God’s character isn’t conditional. The Lord is his refuge. Always. Although he is not identified, the writer of Psalm 91 repeats this sentiment. The psalmists saw refuge, not so much in a place but in a Person.

“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2, emphasis mine) It doesn’t appear David was looking to God for protection from anyone or anything particular. Rather, He was requesting God Himself to be near, which is a reflection of his personal desire to abide (dwell) in God’s presence.

Just as Moses desired. (Psalm 90:1-4)
Just as Elijah desired. (1 Kings 19:11-13)

The Everyday Application

1) Against whom or what is David asking God for protection? (verse 1)

What a joy to remind myself and you, my Friend, that God is so present. It’s who He IS and who He has always been.

It’s the reason we can cry out to Him right along with David as if no time has transpired in these thousands of years. Emmanuel: God with us. (Isaiah 7:14) This is our confidence.

We are not facing a crisis too big. We are not too broken to approach Him with our request for His nearness. Jesus is our place of refuge. (Matthew 11:28-30)

There is no right or wrong time to plead with Him to receive us in our weariness or woundedness. When we cry out to Him, it isn’t necessary to define the who or the what in our prayers.

All we must know is this: The Lord will always be who and what we need most. It will never ever be about the circumstances behind our need. It will only and always be about the One to whom we go.

HE IS our hiding place, our song in the night, our deliverance.

Listen in to Selah’s “You Are My Hiding Place”!

The Original Intent

2) What is the importance of the declaration David made to the Lord? (verse 2)

In verse 2 David reminds himself of what he knows about the Lord and has confessed previously. In the Hebrew text, two different words are used for “Lord”. He repeats what he knows: The LORD (Yahweh, Exodus 3:11-15) is his Lord (Adonai, Blue Letter Bible) and is the only truly good thing in his life (Mark 14:60-62).

David has already declared Yahweh as his master. He is now rehearsing his very own declaration of dependence. He had pre-determined that amid his troubles he would speak the truth to himself about His God. It was a practice he observed throughout most of his life.

David does not underestimate the value of speaking to his own soul. Other psalm writers did the same by preaching songs to their souls. The sons of Korah were leaders of music in the tabernacle during the time of David’s reign.

Their prayers of reflection offer more insight into the relationship the Old Testament writers and singers had with God, their God. (Psalm 42:4-8) The musician Asaph led the people to sing, “Who do I have in heaven but you?” (Psalm 73:21-26)

The importance of this declaration is seen in David’s posture toward Yahweh. I have nothing good besides You. God was all the world to David. This didn’t mean David wasn’t aware of, or thankful for, his many other blessings. He had simply come to know God as incomparably greater than all other things in his life.

His LORD was the all-sufficient, all-satisfying joy, truth, and purpose of David’s life. (2 Samuel 7:18-24)

The Everyday Application

2) What is the importance of the declaration David made to the Lord? (verse 2)

Oh, my Sister, this declaration of David is ours too! His confession exalts the Creator God as the only God while acknowledging a personal connection to Him. It was David’s regular practice to consider the Lord as his personal source of peace and strength.

Many of us may have one of his well-known psalms memorized, “The LORD is my Shepherd. I have everything I need.” (Psalm 23)  David knew the Good Shepherd was his only truly good thing. His very best thing!

Jonathan Edwards said, “God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of Him is our proper happiness, and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here: better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any or all earthly friends.

These are but shadows; but God is the substance.
These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun.
These are but streams; but God is the fountain.
These are but drops; but God is the ocean
.” (The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 17:437–38)

There is nothing more important in our lives than to practice dwelling in the presence of God by rehearsing who He constantly is.

The Original Intent

3) What necessary comparison is David making in verses 3-6?

David delighted to consider others who also shared in thirsting after God in the same way as himself. Again, we see the evidence of David’s confidence in the Lord as he chose to keep company with these.

In contrast to sincere worshippers, David pondered the false worship of the pagans to their idols. These traded worship of the true God for what they believed they would gain from following other gods. Sadly, they only received multiplied sorrows. David found their godlessness and despicable habits so distasteful he refused to mention their names. (verse 4)

Unlike them, Yahweh was David’s “portion”. He was ascribing to God the reward of a valued inheritance passed down to him by his family. His God was like a choice wine in a cup that brings great joy and pleasure to the one who drinks it. (verse 5 Isaiah 25:1-10)

He also recognized God as the One who supported him in his “lot in life”. (Proverbs 21:1) The life ordained for David was pleasant in as much as God was in it. The lines marking the boundaries of David’s inheritance had turned out to be good lines, offering him joy and pleasure because of Yahweh. (verse 6)

He viewed his inheritance as lovely, and he was pleasantly content with God who had provided so generously. These images of land and food communicate David’s feelings of peace, prosperity, and safety which were all grounded in his personal relationship with God.

The Everyday Application

3) What necessary comparison is David making in verses 3-6?

Psalm 2 is filled with the promises of inheritance made to David at his coronation. The blessing for us is that the promise is made to all of the children of God because of Jesus. (Acts 2:29-36)

David delighted in being in the presence of those who, like him, were set apart to be in communion with God. It’s good to remember the fellowship we have in the family of God as believers together following Jesus.

Elijah felt alone. Oh, but he wasn’t! The New Testament says sorrow isn’t limited to the unbeliever. The difference is our sorrow is temporary, and future glory is for all the saints! (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

We have a united hope that refreshes our souls amid whatever we face that brings us pain right now. The reason we rehearse the blessings of God is because it reminds us of our future inheritance.

The apostle Peter included David’s words from Psalm 34 to remind the believers to let their sure and certain hope be the bold testimony to those who are looking for a real, lasting kind of hope. (1 Peter 3:8-15)

Friend, it is a testimony to our God’s good sovereignty when our lives are filled with hope instead of despair or dread. It points to His glorious promise which WILL BE fulfilled because He is a promise-keeping God!

It may look like “the bad guys” or “the wrong side” is winning, but the enemy’s doom is sure. We have a never-failing bulwark WHO is the LORD of all creation. What is true about God is always true. His kingdom and rule are forever.

(Listen to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther sung by Matt Boswell)

Praise His name with me, my Friend, as we rejoice that our “boundary lines have fallen for us in pleasant places; indeed, we have a beautiful inheritance”! (2 Peter 1:5-11)

The Original Intent

4) David’s confidence does not come from his circumstances. How does his perspective shape his outlook? (verses 7-11)

David proclaims his trust in God even as he is praying, “I will bless… even at night.” (verse 7) He has purposed to put his confidence in his God whatever day or night brings. He is aware that negative thoughts may tempt him to despair, so he makes a commitment to preach to himself.

David makes a bold claim in verse 8 as he says he “always” lets the Lord guide him and “will not” be shaken. Other translations say he “constantly” or “continually” trusted the Lord. (biblehub.com) Attentive Bible students know David better than to think he was bragging about his ideal faith; he wrote too many psalms admitting his weakness, his doubt, and his fear to read a spirit of vanity into this psalm.

Based on prior knowledge of David’s struggles, he was not attempting to communicate that he had attained perfect trust in God. (Psalm 56:3) He was spotlighting God’s character! God had never failed to be a God he could trust. David rejoiced greatly and rested securely because of who God is!

This was the reminder to himself, “For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me in Your presence is abundant joy; at Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” (verses 9-10) 

 When faced with difficult circumstances, Elijah began to tell himself all the wrong things. (1 Kings 19:10)

Thinking on God’s character brought David the perspective he needed to face the potential struggles to come.

The Everyday Application

4) David’s confidence does not come from his circumstances. How does his perspective shape his outlook? (verses 7-11)

Can you hear David’s heart, sweet Sister? I really can. Maybe it’s because I’m going through a season of heartache right now in which I simply need to know a few things for certain, beyond my circumstances.

This is David’s confidence; He was persuaded that his God was holding him fast forever. This is our confidence, as well. Paul reminded Timothy to keep this truth in mind as he suffered, or when he heard of Paul’s suffering. (2 Timothy 1:9-12)

We may wonder and doubt and even have moments of fear. Neither Elijah nor David were strangers to all of these feelings. But we must continue to preach to our souls the truth of who God is. On every page of our story as believers is the watermark of His goodness and love.

It isn’t about our circumstances. It’s about our God!!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God;
born of his Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blessed.
Watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is MY story,
this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is MY story,
this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

(Listen to the Getty version of this classic hymn!)

Tags :
beloved,comfort,daughter,father,prayer,worship
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Journey Study

Despair settled over me like a too-heavy yoke.

I’d secured my sandals, slung a pack of provisions over one shoulder, and caught up my walking staff. Then, with hand on door, I froze, unable to push through the dread into the sunlight outside.

I can’t do this, my mind protested. I’m only one man.

Go, the small voice whispered.

Groaning, I straightened my shoulders and set out to Samaria.
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Posted in: Adoring, Affectionate, Dwell, Joy, Know, Praise, Prayer Tagged: beloved, comfort, daughter, father, prayer, worship

Philemon Day 7 For The Love: Digging Deeper

February 21, 2023 by Dr. Leslie Umstattd Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 7 For The Love: Digging Deeper

Dr. Leslie Umstattd

February 21, 2023

Faith,Prayer,Relationship,Scripture

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "For The Love"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:8-10

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) To what “reason” is Paul referring in verse 8?

When we read, “For this reason”, it reads much like other flag words of Scripture like “therefore” or “because”, which signal every reader to pause and consider what has come before the flag word in order to properly understand the context.

Based on what Paul has said in previous verses, he is making a transition argument. Verses 4-7 describe Paul’s prayer for Philemon’s faith to become effective in its daily living out by recognizing the good work God had already been doing inside of Paul and Philemon as fellow redeemed believers in Jesus, which resulted in glory being given to Christ. (3 John 1:11, Philippians 1:6)

Philemon’s love for others was both well-known and actively refreshing the saints. (verses 4 and 7) Paul’s letter would soon challenge the depth of Philemon’s love in connection with his faith. Paul writes “for this reason” to Philemon, prodding him to consider his love for others and his growing faith as reasons to appeal to Philemon before setting the challenge before him.

The Everyday Application

1) To what “reason” is Paul referring in verse 8?

Paul knew Philemon’s character, as he was known for loving fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus. This encouraged Paul and gave him reason to believe he could ask Philemon to consider his faith and love in the matter of Onesimus, who was also a believer.

The Christian life is not simply about individuals living out their faith between themselves and God, it also encompasses living out faith in community, allowing one’s relationship with God to overflow and connect with others.

Our effective faith is put into action when we bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and when we love as Christ loved (1 John 4:17-21). As a fellow Christ-follower himself, Paul is calling on Philemon to act in faith and love his brother with practical actions. (James 1:22, 1 John 3:18)

The Original Intent

2) How does Paul motivate Philemon to do what is right? (verse 8)

When Paul writes of his great boldness to command Philemon to act and behave in a certain way that would align with Christ, Paul is reminding Philemon of his position within the church. In other letters, he reminds his audience of his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, meaning He had personal, physical experience with Jesus and been called to do God’s mission of preaching the gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:7-8)

Given we already know there is a previous relationship between the two as signaled by the language of “dear friend” and “coworker” in verse 1, we understand Philemon has great respect for Paul along with sharing a deep friendship. Paul had earned the right to tell Philemon what to do and how to do it.

Additionally, Paul calls himself “an elderly man”. (verse 9) In the original Greek language and then-current culture, “elderly” signified “ambassador” or “older man”, or possibly an official of the church. (studylight.org) Paul had a clear line of position and authority over Philemon but as we read further, Paul chooses to appeal to something greater than his position.

The Everyday Application

2) How does Paul motivate Philemon to do what is right? (verse 8)

Paul had enough authority as an “elderly man” (ambassador) within the church to force Philemon’s hand in the situation with Onesimus. He was recognized as a widely respected leader of the New Testament church and in his position, despite the subject at hand, he could have commanded Philemon to do as he said.

However, Paul is setting up his letter to go in a different direction and wants Philemon to take note. Paul chooses not to command, but simply asks as a fellow family member in the faith to act in accordance with the gospel. Throughout Paul’s ministry there were several young men he discipled, mentored, and spiritually fathered calling them sons in the faith.

Paul called Timothy his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2), and said of Titus, “my true son in our common faith”. (Titus 1:4) On the basis of “dear friend” and fellow “coworker” (verse 1), Paul calls Philemon to protect and love another “son in the faith”, Onesimus. (Philemon 1:10)

He could have commanded Philemon to act, but rather, Paul relied on the faith and love he knew Philemon possessed. If Paul, a revered authority within the early church, and perhaps even more so today, chose love before authority, how much more so should we?! Let’s choose the gentle, loving approach of inviting others to also choose love alongside us!

The Original Intent

3) To what does Paul appeal while pleading for Philemon to act? (verses 9-10)

Paul pivots from discussing his right to command gospel-oriented actions from Philemon in verse 8 to a much deeper source for his appeal. In verses 9-10, Paul petitions Philemon on the basis of love.

Paul points out that Onesimus, whom he is pleading for, has become like a son to him in the faith, and Philemon, based on his love and compassion for those in the Body of Christ should allow Onesimus to be free from his obligation as Philemon’s former slave and forgive him for wrong doing. Paul calls on Philemon to put his faith into action and love well on the basis of faith.

The Everyday Application

3) To what does Paul appeal while pleading for Philemon to act? (verses 9-10)

In these verses Paul appeals to Philemon’s love for fellow believers. Paul opens his letter with words of encouragement and affirmation regarding Philemon’s character and his actions towards the saints. Paul shares his joy in hearing how Philemon has refreshed the saints due to his effective faith towards them. (Philemon 1:4-7)

Paul uses these truths as a springboard to call on Philemon to show the same kind of love and effective faith towards the one who had betrayed him.

It is easy to love the lovely, but it is a great deal harder to love those who have unjustly hurt us. (Luke 6:32-36) In the body of Christ, there is no room for vengeance, spite, or hatred. (Romans 12:17-19) Just as Paul points Philemon to love well in an act of effective faith so also God desires us to act in faith and love others as He loved us, which always involved humility. (Philippians 2:5-12)

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family,hope,life,love
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Philemon’s richly authentic love was the very thing Paul hoped would move Philemon to hear his earnest request regarding Onesimus, Philemon’s former slave. Paul knew that the more Philemon leaned in to knowing Jesus and being anchored in Christ’s love, the more effective his faith would become. Authentic love that mirrors Christ’s results in a life of humble, gentle kindness, which is exactly what Paul knew Philemon would need in order to love, and forgive, Onesimus.
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Posted in: Faith, Prayer, Relationship, Scripture Tagged: family, hope, life, love

Pause VI Day 3 Fearless Faith; Fervent Prayer

January 4, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 3 Fearless Faith; Fervent Prayer

Melodye Reeves

January 4, 2023

Faith,Fervent,Pause,Prayer

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:12-20

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word, fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation, through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Read More Of His Words

Prayer and faith have always been connected. Faith expresses itself through prayer. Answered prayer is the key that unlocks a life of growing faith.

Paul has just finished wording his prayer for the believers in Philippi. It seems that praying for them stirred his faith to rejoice and remind them his “imprisonment is because I am in Christ.” He didn’t want them to be sad for him but wanted them to know the gospel was spreading because of his chains.

Paul had prayed for them to love each other and to grow in righteousness. He could rejoice in their spiritual growth and wanted them to rejoice with him in the ways God was working through his imprisonment.

Pause and consider Paul’s source of joy: Christ preached, and lives changed.

Paul had seen an increase of courage in others as a result of his own willingness to be put in jail for the sake of Christ. It had given those around him courageous faith to share the gospel (good news) of Christ more boldly. He was so encouraged by this he could not contain his joy.

“Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” (Philippians 1:18)

God used the deep and resounding faith of Paul to actively encouraging believers everywhere, near and far. Paul’s letter was intended to strengthen the faith and courage of believers in Philippi. His steadfast courage and joy strengthened the believers within proximity of where he was in chains (probably in Rome).
Making the gospel known was Paul’s mission, and he knew the source of his strength was God working through believers’ prayers.

Knowing this “secret of strength”, Paul prayed for the believers and they prayed for him even when they weren’t physically together. We know this because Paul was in prison and they were in Philippi. Through prayer and encouragement, they each stirred up confidence in one another. Their partnership in grace (Philippians 1:7), through fervent prayer, was the means by which Paul and others were able to share the gospel with fearless faith.

Let’s pause and pray fervently for fearless faith together. Let’s believe God for greater boldness in sharing with others what He’s done for us. Let pray for others to have that kind of boldness too.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the words of Scripture down. Make space in your journal to write down every word of today from Philippians 1:12-20. As you copy, look up a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at biblia.com)  As you write, think of the gospel courage the believers were encouraged toward.

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community! 
            a) 
Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote.
            b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT community and share how God has been working in you.
            c) Leave a comment HERE about it.
            d) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
            e) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.

3) Meditate on and memorize Philippians 1:20 , reflecting on the purpose of our lives as Christ followers.

Tags :
fervent,prayer,proclaim,Truth
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Day 2

What a beautiful phrase: partners with me in grace. That’s the most wonderful kind of partnership, isn’t it? I hope you have some partners in grace that walk alongside you in the gospel. We all need those who are with us in this journey of life.
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Posted in: Faith, Fervent, Pause, Prayer Tagged: fervent, prayer, proclaim, Truth

Sketched X Day 6 Without A Voice

July 18, 2022 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 39:21-40:23
Exodus 2:23-25
Exodus 3:7-12
Isaiah 53:10-12
Matthew 27:45-46

Sketched X, Day 6

As I sit here in my prison room pondering the irony of life, many memories play in my mind.

I clearly recall that fateful day how I pleaded with my brothers when they were about to sell me to the Midianite traders, but they would not listen.

I also recall the day when my Egyptian master’s wife tried to force me to sleep with her, and I escaped from her grip, leaving my shirt behind. (Genesis 39:10-20) On coming home, my master’s wife turned the whole thing against me, and my master, Potiphar, refused to hear my defense..

Like my brothers, my master turned a deaf ear to my plea, and I’ve been in prison since. Innocent, yet condemned as a criminal because I do not have a voice.

But I am comforted by God’s presence. He has been with me before I even knew the depths of the suffering I would experience. I may not understand why He allowed me to pass through all these difficulties, but I am confident He has not abandoned me.

In His mercy, He has granted me favour before the captain of the prison guards. The captain has committed all prisoners to my care to oversee. He does not bother to check my work, because he has found me faithful, and God is prospering the work of my hands..

More recently, I encountered two of Pharaoh’s officers here in the prison. They were his chief cupbearer and chief baker. One day as I checked on them, they were both upset, and I asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”

They responded, “We had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” So I told them interpretation belongs to God, and offered to listen to their dreams.

The cupbearer began:

“In my dream there was a vine in front of me. On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

God revealed the meaning of the dream to me, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would restore him to work.

Encouraged by my words, the chief baker also narrated his dream:

“I also had a dream. Three baskets of white bread were on my head. In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

God also gave me the interpretation, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would hang him. Indeed, within three days, God’s messages came to pass as the chief cupbearer was returned to work while the chief baker was hanged.

Meanwhile, I had told the chief cupbearer my unjust ordeal and how I landed in prison. I pleaded with him to remember me, and mention me before Pharaoh when he was restored. But since then I have not heard anything from him. It appears he too, has ignored my plea, and forgotten about me.

Oh, how it feels to be without a voice!

In my despair, I cry out to the only One who has not forgotten about me, “How long, O Lord? Can You hear my cries for help? Will You rescue me?”

Israel: God remembered, heard, and rescued Joseph, making him the voice of his people in Egypt. Later, generations of Israelites found themselves in a similar situation to Joseph as they were enslaved by a new pharaoh, engaged in severe hard labour with no one to speak for them. For over 400 years they cried to God for relief and deliverance, but it seemed they had been forgotten. Yet “God heard their groaning [. . .] God saw the Israelites, and God knew.” (Exodus 2:23-25)

Moses: God heard Israel’s cry and asked Moses to be His mouthpiece to them, just as Joseph asked the cupbearer to be his voice. Moses balked, but God equipped him, and in His kindness provided Aaron to speak for Moses. He ensured His work was accomplished, just as He freed Joseph that His work might continue. (Exodus 3:7-12)

Jesus: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. The God-man whose word could have stopped His own crucifixion chose to remain silent . . . voiceless. Like Joseph, Jesus was innocent but condemned as a criminal. He only cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-46) But in His kindness, God was willing to sacrifice Jesus for our sin. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

Even when God appears silent, He is working out His plans in wondrous ways. Joseph became the instrument God used to save Israel from famine, and later, He used Moses to deliver them from slavery. In a similar way, God allowed Jesus to suffer unjustly to bring salvation to humankind.

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched X Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched X!

Posted in: God, Love, Prayer, Prosper, Provider, Scripture Tagged: God, love, prayer, prosper, provider, scripture

Whole Day 6 Oppression’s Source

June 27, 2022 by Guest Writer 2 Comments

Whole Day 6 Oppression’s Source

Guest Writer

June 27, 2022

Faith,Follow,God,Grace,Holy Spirit,Hope,Journey,Prayer,Strength,Struggle,Suffering,Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 10:10-13
Ephesians 6:10-20
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Psalm 44:3-4

In our family, we regularly discuss politics, local news, and current events. However, when a conversation surrounding values took an emotional turn, we knew something deeper was stirring up; our children were seeking a biblical understanding about a belief we strongly held. Feelings of guilt and failure, on my part as mother, overcame me. 

My children couldn’t possibly be the ones struggling with biblical foundations and truths. How could this happen?

After much careful consideration, prayer, and wise counsel, we decided we would not run from hard truths or leave our kids alone to interpret their questions. Instead, we would study and engage with them. In months to follow, when the Holy Spirit led, we attempted to address a multitude of questions about Biblical concepts. 

As we peeled away the layers, I soon realized my children, like many others, needed abundantly more spiritual guidance to help navigate the topics significantly impacting and shaping their faith journeys.

In an article by Christianity Today, a study found that out of 500 youth group graduates, over 70 percent reported having serious doubts about faith. These students’ opportunities to express and explore their doubts were correlated with greater faith maturity. In other words, it’s not doubt that’s toxic to faith, it’s silence.  

I realized God was working on our family’s behalf, bringing attention to areas within our life that were out of alignment with Him. My family messiness was no different than others, which highlighted a message of its own: as believers, we’re not given immunity from assaults of the enemy. 

In fact, Jesus promised we “will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33) and described our enemy as “a thief [who] comes to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) 

In my family’s journey, I understood the enemy is a liar, and I was not going to feel pinned down by doubt, blame, insecurity, comparisons, fear, or relational discord. My family prayed, and God revealed we needed to make some adjustments. Our initial steps were refocusing our priorities (putting God first), being intentional with our time, having patience with our children in learning the word of God, and seeking community.

Furthermore, the Spirit revealed a deeper truth to me during this tumultuous time.
The struggles we were facing needed to happen.
God didn’t want me to spend all my time trying to fix every problem of my children or of this world; He wanted to show me how to fully lean on Him and demonstrate this dependence in every area of my life. 

Through this adversity, God wanted to fill me with His strength. In 2 Corinthians, preacher Paul uses the language of siege warfare to talk about engaging in spiritual battle.

“For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.” 
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

As believers, we are not left defenseless. Satan wants to disrupt God’s place in our lives b y displacing God’s authority with deceptive, manipulative evil schemes. This truth should remind us we cannot defeat Satan in our own strength and neither can we fight spiritual battles without God’s protection and weapons. (Psalm 44:3-4)

In Ephesians, Paul talks about the spiritual weaponry available to Christians, often called “the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-20) Paul emphasized the reality that our warfare is against more than the natural temptations of flesh. There are powers in the unseen world against which we are powerless, except through the aid of Christ.

Spiritual armor prepares us to face any and all spiritual battles we encounter. These battles are not fought against “flesh and blood” enemies, but against the “cosmic powers of this darkness[.]” (Ephesians 6:12) Satan’s strategy is clever; he uses technology, popular culture, consumerism, misinformation, and distorted views about biblical truths to wage war against us constantly. 

But we’re not falling for it. The real enemy, the real source of oppression in our world, is the devil, not people, places, or things. The spotlight of God’s truth will effectively expose every single scheme of the enemy.

By God, we have all been given weapons to fight the unseen. For me, I needed to take this truth seriously in my parenting. 

We’re called to follow God, Who is “the way, the truth, and life.” (John 14:6) 

Follow God, Who has come so we “may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10)

Follow God, Who brings true peace and freedom from oppression as His death and resurrection “conquered [the powers of] the world.” (John 16:33)

As we follow Him, His grace is sufficient, and we can have hope and victory in any spiritual battle that comes our way.  

Lord, following You is hard. Sometimes it feels our brokenness is cliché, but I’m so grateful we serve a God who cares. A God who knows our battles, and equips and sustains us through them.

Help us to push away from culture, familiarity, and likeness, instead embracing Your Word and Your love. May we find strength in Your infinite and absolute goodness, and when the battle is fierce, remind us the true source of oppression is the devil himself.  May we not be afraid to stand firm, as parents and leaders of faith, by putting on the full armor of God. Amen.

*Written by Keshia Jackson

Tags :
guilt,Oppression,patience,protection,Refocus,The Enemy,victory,whole
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Digging Deeper

True Christ-followers have recognized the oppression in our own souls by Sin and sought freedom from the Only One powerful enough to provide our forgiveness. Full of grace and truth, this merciful God delivers His own Spirit inside the heart of all who have truly surrendered to Him. By this power of God Himself inside us, He actively empowers, leads, and equips us to accomplish God’s mission of building His kingdom and pressing back against evil in everyday life.
Dig Deeper!

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Posted in: Faith, Follow, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Journey, Prayer, Strength, Struggle, Suffering, Truth Tagged: guilt, Oppression, patience, protection, Refocus, The Enemy, victory, whole

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship X Week 2

May 21, 2022 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship X Week 2

Carol Graft

May 21, 2022

Adoration,Awake,Captivating,Faith,Follow,GT Weekend,Mercy,Mighty,Praise,Prayer,Provider

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Psalm 71:23-24

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You because You have redeemed me. Therefore, my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Dear Lord, in all things, may my lips praise You. In the mundane of my day, in the struggle of loss, in the fear of uncertainty, in every circumstance let me be known for praising You.

For You alone are worthy of my praise.
All the time.

Even when the path seems rocky and clouds are pressing in, let me shout for joy. You are faithful and just to preserve me, faithful and just to sustain me, faithful and just to provide for me. Let me be so happy and peaceful in simply looking upon You and Your good heart that I truly confound the naysayers around me and the plain evidence of my circumstances.

Lord God, I want You and only You. Let all who see my life and hear my words, whether they trust You personally or not, to become convinced of Your faithfulness because of my worship. You alone have redeemed me and called me by name. I am Yours.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Be still. Patience. Wait. How good are you at these? 

I love Sarah’s examples of David as she told of his quest for rest, and all the reasons he couldn’t find it. I recently attended a conference where I served on staff. With all the preparation and full days, it definitely didn’t speak “rest”.  While it was an incredible conference, and I was blessed to serve, the “hurry” takes a toll.

We spend ourselves on good things, even “God-focused things”, and find at its end we still need rest. “Life”, with all its deadlines and busy happenings, continue its demands with earnest! More than likely, we aren’t running for our lives as David was, but we can still run ourselves to exhaustion.

Perhaps we are keeping ourselves so busy we don’t hear the Lord above the din of our own lives. 

Be still.
Patience.
Wait.
 
What would we need to move in our daily rhythms to begin excelling at these disciplines?
 The never ending “to do lists”, our jobs, places of service, and our families are all very good things, but the Lord never called us to burn out on these. He did call us to be still.

Suppose we decide together to model our rhythms after the example of Joshua at the Tent of Meeting.  He entered the tent with the express purpose of meeting God. As he encountered Gods’ presence, he didn’t want to leave. Even when Moses left, Joshua stayed. May it be so in our lives!

JOURNAL TWO

 God is faithful! Christine kept this message before us in her Journey Study this week. How often we forget this!

In the midst of trying circumstances, maybe even our current one, we fail to remember God’s faithfulness! We need to practice recalling God’s ways and His character. He is our very present help in times of trouble; Christine and Mandy reminded me of this truth as they pointed to His Word! We can toil, worry, and fret but it doesn’t help anything, and only escalates our anxiety. We can take God at His word!

Recording His specific provision in our lives through journaling can help us look back and see God’s faithfulness. We can see God as provider, as our refuge, and our strength. If you’ve prayer journaled for a while, take a few minutes this weekend to read backwards and praise the Lord for His faithfulness to you! If you haven’t kept a journal before, take this as your invitation to start! 

He is our Hope and we can praise Him, even as we walk through struggles. When we see Him faithfully providing for us, and giving us His peace, even in unsteady waters, we can tell others of His greatness! 

When we worship the Lord for making a way through the pain or holding us while in the middle of it, we are glorifying Him!

JOURNAL THREE

On Day 10 of our Journey Theme, Bethany reminded us to keep on trusting the Lord because we know He is faithful. This hit as a timely reminder for me as my husband is currently unemployed, which is something we’ve never experienced in our marriage. It’s daunting indeed, and the longer we go without employment, I confess that, bit by bit, the supernatural peace I experienced before being unemployed seems to slip away.

As our financial cushion is chipped away for all the usual expenses, so my faith also appears to be chipping away. I am not a new believer, Sisters. I have watched others walk through these same challenges and other hard things. It’s not easy to admit my faith waivers. I thank the Lord we have provisions for a time, but the lack of open doors pushes back against my faith.

Still, this I know to be true: 1) God has never left us, even in challenging seasons. 2) His peace has not completely left; I am still comforted by Him. 

Since these are true, I can say, “Great is His faithfulness to provide all that we need. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs are all under His care. 

Great is His faithfulness as He holds us and walks with us in this season.”
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Posted in: Adoration, Awake, Captivating, Faith, Follow, GT Weekend, Mercy, Mighty, Praise, Prayer, Provider Tagged: adore, faith, GT Weekend, praise, prayer, worship

Worship X Day 7 Just Be Still And Know Already: Digging Deeper

May 17, 2022 by Lois Robbins Leave a Comment

Worship X Day 7 Just Be Still And Know Already: Digging Deeper

Lois Robbins

May 17, 2022

Enemies,Jesus,Joy,Prayer,Sacrifice

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Just Be Still and Know Already!"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What characteristics of God’s heart is Paul highlighting?

The Greeks maintained a strong focus on character. For the Greek, right relationships among people were supremely important because this evidenced justice. They viewed justice as the result of people who demonstrated prudence, temperance, and fortitude. In today’s language we label these characteristics as discernment, balance, and courage. 

Understanding how these virtues played a large role in ancient culture helps us appreciate Paul’s perspective in teaching on similar virtues in this passage such as love (verse 9), hope (verse 12), peace (verses 16-17), and goodness (verse 21). These concepts would have been familiar territory for the culture of his first audience, but Paul took their common understanding and moved it much deeper as He related these characteristics to an outpouring of God’s Spirit at work in the believer’s everyday life.

Christians weren’t meant to live as good citizens because of Greek culture, but because the heart of God moved within them by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16) If we reference Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see that sacrificial, divine love is the cornerstone for all other virtues. (1 Corinthians 13:13) In his letter to the Galatians, Paul emphasized that even though all virtues are tied to love, we cannot love, or consistently reflect God’s holy character without the work of the Spirit in us.

When we surrender to Him, however, He cultivates His good fruit in us, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) In his letter to the Philippian believers, Paul writes, “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

The Everyday Application

1) What characteristics of God’s heart is Paul highlighting?

Personal values drive our decisions in everyday life. If we value honesty, we will seek to be honest and we’ll have a sense of injustice when others are dishonest. Christ-followers are instructed to build our value system from the Word of God because it reflects God’s heart and His character, which has never changed. (Hebrews 13:8)

When we cling to biblical values, not because they build a strong culture (though they do!), but because they reflect the heart of the God who gave Himself for us, we have entered into a lifestyle of worship. 

Read Paul’s words again in this passage through the lens of practical-lived-out-worship. What new insights do you gain? Does it seem less like a “to do” and more like a “get to”? When we live out God’s heart for us in real, everyday life, we are fighting against a culture that says, “me first”.

Living out worship points others to Jesus in a world where immorality and self-love reign supreme. Read Paul’s words again and make a list of virtues and actions that flow from those virtues. How can we put these into practice? By asking the Holy Spirit to build and strengthen these within us as we commit to surrendering to His work in us!

When we are honest, kind-hearted, compassionate, patient, and love the “hard to love”, Christ’s love shines through us into the dark world around us. Instead of loudly debating for the sake of being right, our choice to speak, serve and care with gentleness voices Jesus’ love far louder than “winning” an argument. (1 Peter 3:15-17)

Let’s be people who exhibit God’s character by fleeing sexual sin (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), acting kindly (Galatians 6:10), and carrying one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:20) that others might see Jesus in us!

The Original Intent

2) How is the Christ-follower to cultivate these characteristics in their own lives and why is this important?

Paul’s original recipients of this letter were Christians living in Rome who suffered persecution from ruling authorities. This context is important to remember as it highlights the intense cost of loving one’s enemies as Christ loved us. These instructions were not “good ideas” Paul crafted, these were attributes lived out by the Lord Jesus Christ. His followers were called to live in a way that honored Him.

  1. Love must be authentic. (verse 9) No Hypocrisy. No Play acting. Christ loved us by giving Himself up without shadow of deception.

  2. Detest evil; cling to good. (verse 9) Christ died because of evil, yet for the joy set before Him, He sacrificed Himself. (Hebrews 12:2)

  3. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. (verse 10) The Greek word Paul used for love is “philadelphia” meaning “family love”. As believers, we are brothers and sisters because we have the one Father, God.

  4. Take the lead in honoring one another. (verse 10) Christ did not hold onto His rights, but surrendered them for our good. (Philippians 2:3-6)

  5. Don’t be sluggish in zeal. (verse 11) Following Jesus holds no room for lethargy; Christ deserves our everything!

  6. Fervently serve the Lord in the Spirit. (verse 11) We cannot follow Jesus on our own strength, but only in surrendering to His Spirit at work in us!

  7. Rejoice in hope, even when we may feel hopeless. (verse 12) Because of Jesus, our Hope is sure and certain.

  8. Meet tribulation with triumphant fortitude. (verse 12)

  9. Persevere in prayer, ceaselessly bringing all things to the Lord.
  10. In generosity, open your door to others. (verse 13) (Hebrews 13:2)

The Everyday Application

2) How is the Christ-follower to cultivate these characteristics in their own lives and why is this important?

Because the world is a battlefield between good and evil and our time here is short, our lives must be lived with an eye on eternity. The Christian must not waste time tied down to the patterns of this world that run counter to the heart of God. (Romans 12:2)

We must not choose to worship what isn’t worthy of our praise simply because it is easy or comfortable. Our everyday choices evidence the objects of our worship, and Paul’s practical list provides us with simple metrics to observe whether we are worshipping the Lord or not. The battle is intense and wearisome, but God exhorts us to “come away (…) and rest” (Mark 6:31).

In so doing, we arm ourselves with His protection and prepare to stand firm against a culture screaming, “I could care less about spiritual things”.

Zealously pursue the heart of God, study the Scriptures to know Him deeply, and then surrender your everyday moments to the work of the Spirit as He cultivates His fruit in us.

Watch for the daily opportunities the Lord provides to reflect His character to those around you.

Stand for justice, act with patience, love authentically, offer encouragement, extend comfort, and share generously, knowing the Lord’s return is certain and the best is yet to come because He has won our eternity! Hallelujah AMEN!

We can meet any circumstance when we meet it with Christ. Though we live in a world bent on getting, as imitators of Christ, we must be bent on giving. Following Jesus in everyday life is an act of worship expressed through open hands of generosity, hearts of authenticity, and doors of hospitality.

We are NOT to be conquered by evil but CONQUER evil with GOOD!

The Original Intent

3) How can we practically love our enemies? (verses 19-21)

Loving one’s enemies was a teaching that landed in Paul’s listeners in ways many of us cannot fathom. Roman citizens who chose to follow Christ put their life, and the lives of their family members, at risk. Loving their enemies and blessing those who persecuted them would easily have been an instruction to be reviled.

But Christ did not give this instruction in a vacuum for He said, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

Early in His ministry, Jesus laid the groundwork for how to respond to those who reviled the Christ-follower. (Matthew 5:10-12) How does one love those who are intent on carrying out a death threat to yourself, your spouse, parent, or child?

Humble.
Worship.

If it were not for the Spirit of God working in them, the believers in Rome, and you and I, would have no hope of loving our enemies. But Christ loved us when we hated Him (Romans 5:8), and because of His humble example and because of the sure Hope we have in Him for eternity where every injustice will be righted, we are fueled to worship in the face of suffering.

“Rejoice” (verse 12),
“live in harmony” (verse 16), 
“bless and do not curse the persecutors” (verse 14),
live lowly (verse 16),
these are the ways we worship the One who sacrificed Himself for us.

Our fervent prayer and zealous love for our persecutors can be the hinge God will use to bring someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

God wastes nothing in bringing glory to His Name!

The Everyday Application

3) How can we practically love our enemies? (verses 19-21)

Is it possible to practically love our enemies? Yes! Yes! Yes! 

Fervently, zealously through God’s Spirit working in us, we are empowered to pray for our persecutors. More so, to offer them our hospitality, and live out Jesus’ love in practical, humble ways in real life!

Don’t miss an opportunity to be the hands, feet, mouth, and embracing arms of Jesus. Be bold in sharing the gospel with your lips, your open door, your warm food, and your fervent love! Don’t worry about having all the right words, just trust the Lord to do His work in you by His Spirit. He will be faithful to build His kingdom through you as you surrender to Him.

Is this a tough assignment in the face of pain and persecution? YES!
But it is nothing our Lord has not already accomplished for our benefit.

Whatever your painful woe, come to the Father, surrendering your tears and anguish, and be fueled by Him as you feast on His Word, speaking with Him in prayer. Do not shy away from praying even when you don’t know what to pray or have the words for He says, “The Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.” (Romans 8:26)

As His adopted daughters, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

The intense JOY of drawing close to the Father is beyond words. The closer we walk with Him, the more we hunger and thirst for more of Him. Circumstances, loss, pain, all begin to fade as we gaze on the face of the Savior God!

In loving Christ, He shapes us to love others, even our enemies! Yes and AMEN!

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Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
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Maybe we should take a different approach.

Ya know, like Psalm 46 tells us. “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

What if we viewed justice the same way as David? The God David served is the same God we serve today. We are assured in Scripture that God does NOT change, EVER.
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Posted in: Enemies, Jesus, Joy, Prayer, Sacrifice Tagged: blessings, evil, joy, love, prayer, sacrifice

Worship X Day 6 Just Be Still And Know Already

May 16, 2022 by Sarah Young Leave a Comment

Worship X Day 6 Just Be Still And Know Already

Sarah Young

May 16, 2022

God,Grace,Love,Prayer,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 54
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 5:38-48
Psalm 50
Psalm 51

 

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door

Jonny Diaz’s song BREATHE filled my head as I began working on this Journey Study, part of a series on Worship. The prompt I was given begins, “The call to be still and know our God…”

Should we read all of Psalm 46, we would promptly be reminded, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, emphasis mine)

If there was ever anyone who desperately needed God as a refuge, it was David, the Hebrew shepherd-boy-anointed-king whose subsequent military victories incited the jealousy of the current king, Saul.

As David penned the words in Psalm 54, our passage for today’s study, he was hiding in an epic game of hide and seek from Saul, who sought to kill him. Hence, David cries out, “God, save me by Your name[!]” (Psalm 54:1)

And, true to Psalm 46:1, God answered David’s desperate plea. David’s life was spared and he declared, “God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)

As we read this story, we might think David has the right to defend himself and KILL Saul. In 1 Samuel 24, David has the chance to do just that; instead, David spares Saul. If we look closer at Psalm 54, we better understand David’s uncanny grace for the man who wanted him dead. David writes, 
“He [God] will repay my adversaries for their evil.” (Psalm 54:5)

Maybe a song of Moses came to David’s mind as he hid. In Deuteronomy 32, as the Israelites FINALLY prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses reviewed their journey in the form of a song, his lyrics deep and poignant.
“Vengeance belongs to Me [God]; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
So David leaves justice in God’s hands.

I’m more familiar with the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans in chapter 12, where Paul repeats Moses’s words. Paul also quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22, where Solomon advised, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink[.]”

Jesus Himself taught this “new” way of living.
“You have heard it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you[.]” (Matthew 5:43-44)

In our wait for fulfilled promises or our search for justice, we can easily get caught up in the chaos. We shout and FIGHT, demanding justice – as WE see fit – be served, right now.

Anyone else’s voice a little hoarse?
Anybody else’s thumbs a little overworked from typing out comments on social media?
Anyone else’s relationships been a little (or a lot) strained?

Maybe we should take a different approach.
Ya know, like Psalm 46 tells us. “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

What if we viewed justice the same way as David?
The God David served is the same God we serve today.
We are assured in Scripture that God does NOT change, EVER.
(Numbers 23:19, Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)

He is forever gracious, compassionate, merciful, and JUST.
Always. (Hebrews 13:8)

If David could offer a sacrifice of praise in response to all God had done, so can we.
Indeed, Paul urges us to do so at the beginning of Romans 12.

In David’s time, God had outlined very specific sacrifices and offerings the Israelites were to make. Additionally, a person could make a FREEWILL OFFERING, voluntarily presenting a sacrifice that was above and beyond what was expected.

Thankfully, we no longer need to make sacrifices for our sins. Jesus died – in our place – for all sin, for all time. Then, He rose again, conquering death and declaring ultimate victory for everyone who believes in Him. He longs for people’s HEARTS, to be in close relationship with us.

We reflect our relationship with God, and HIS character, in the way we treat others . . . especially the ones who aren’t so easy to love.

We make a freewill offering when we don’t complain because the neighbor’s dog poops in our yard. Instead, we write a friendly note and put fresh cookies in their mailbox.

We offer ourselves as a living sacrifice when we don’t blast someone on social media because they voted differently than us. Rather, we invite them over to watch the Super Bowl – because everyone loves chips and salsa.

In the midst of our messy, busy, noisy lives may we quiet our hearts. May we allow space for our souls to respond to the God who created us and constantly cares for us. When injustice consumes the world around us, may we look to our God of justice.

In the stillness, may we see Him, hear Him, and KNOW Him.

Tags :
God,grace,love,relationship
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi: Digging Deeper
July 28, 2023

Worship X, Day 7
Digging Deeper

Is it possible to practically love our enemies? Yes! Yes! Yes!

Fervently, zealously through God’s Spirit working in us, we are empowered to pray for our persecutors. More so, to offer them our hospitality, and live out Jesus’ love in practical, humble ways in real life!
Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
May 9 - May 27, 2022 - Journey Theme #107

Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

  • gtpods@gracefullytruthful.com
Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!
Posted in: God, Grace, Love, Prayer, Relationship Tagged: God, grace, love, relationship
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14