Salvation

Worship VIII Day 4 Everyday Praise: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Everyday Praise!

The Questions

1) Why did Paul interrupt a logical discussion of God’s plan of salvation to break out in praise?

2) Why does Paul refer to both God and the Lord in this passage?

3) What is the significance of the phrase “To Him be the glory forever?” (verse 36)

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches

and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable his judgments

and untraceable his ways!

34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 

Or who has been his counselor?

35 And who has ever given to God,

that he should be repaid? 

36 For from him and through him

and to him are all things. 

To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Original Intent

1) Why did Paul interrupt a logical discussion of God’s plan of salvation to break out in praise?
These three verses at the end of Romans 11 stand as unabashed praise. In contrast, most of Romans is a logical explanation of salvation that includes questions and answers intentionally designed to explain God’s grace and Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture through His death and resurrection. Chapter 11 begins with the question, “Has God rejected His people?” Paul quickly answers his question with a resounding “Absolutely not.” Paul explains that God used the transgressions of the Jews, his chosen people, to bring salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) so that the Jews would want to experience God’s grace in mercy in Jesus. In verse 11 Paul asks, “I (Paul) ask, then, have they (the Jews, God’s chosen people) stumbled so as to fall (to be forever separate from God)?” (parentheses mine) Continuing into verse 12, Paul answers with certainty, “Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!” He explains that Gentiles have been grafted into the family of God just as a wild olive branch is grafted into a cultivated olive tree, but Jews are the native branches designed to bear fruit when connected to the root. God’s gifts and calling for the Jews are irrevocable. (verses 16-29) As Paul ponders God’s mercy and plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentile, he can’t help but celebrate “the depths of God’s wisdom and knowledge.” This chapter’s tone changes from logical explanation to unrestrained joy at the realization of God’s mercy and wisdom as He lavishes His love on all people.

2) Why does Paul refer to both God and the Lord in this passage?
Scholars believe that Romans 11:33-34 draws from passages in Isaiah and Job, which are quite similar. Isaiah 41:13-14 says, “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave Him counsel? Who did He consult? Who gave Him understanding and taught Him the paths of justice? Who taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?” Job 11:7 asks, “Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?”
In the Bible, the name “Lord” is used to denote the sovereignty and reign of God as king or master. The general term “lord” means someone who has control and authority based on their position. Isaiah’s words highlight the sovereignty, authority, and understanding of the Lord. Paul restates Isaiah’s phrasing in verse 34, to underscore the reality that only the One True God is all-knowing and all-powerful. “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” The Hebrew word for God is Elohim, meaning “Creator.” It is first used in Genesis 1, “God created the heavens and the earth.” As Paul marvels at the Creator’s plan, he can’t help but praise “the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God.” We can see God’s creative ability in His generosity and provision for all humanity. Even though He alone holds all power and authority, He still shows mercy and kindness to all people and pursues them with love. What love!

3) What is the significance of the phrase “To Him be the glory forever?” (verse 36)
This phrase is often used in the New Testament at the end of letters. (See 1 Timothy 1:17 and 2 Peter 3:18) Paul’s words are not random, rather they are a clear reminder that all glory belongs to God for ever. The initial proclamation of God’s glory in the New Testament is in Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Glory is a word of magnificent depth that reflects God’s presence, grandeur, and splendor in infinite ways. The angels broke out in song as they rejoiced at God’s plan of salvation coming to fruition in the birth of Jesus. In the Old Testament, the glory of God is obvious, often accompanying tangible signs as evidence of the unseen God. For instance, the arrival of manna in Exodus 16:7 was evidence of the glory of the Lord. At Mt. Sinai, God’s glory was apparent to everyone thick clouds covered the mountain and the earth shook with His presence. (Exodus 24:16) As the Lord rested His glorious presence on the Tabernacle, Israel stood in awe of the Lord’s magnificent glory! (Exodus 40:34)

Everyday Application

1) Why did Paul interrupt a logical discussion of God’s plan of salvation to break out in praise?

As I read this passage, I identified with Paul’s desire to worship in response to God’s grace and His plan of salvation for all people. His mercy and kindness to all of humanity is amazing. His ability to work all things (even rejection by His chosen people) together for good is evident when I ponder that Gentiles, like me, are now able to experience the abundant blessings of being grafted into His family.  I am amazed by the depths of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. As a writer, when I study a topic deeply, I sit and marvel at God’s design and His plan, as it is all so far beyond my imaginings. I marvel at the intricacies of nature from the tiniest atom to the vastness of space. A beautiful day leads me to focus on God’s goodness to all of creation. Even my inability to understand God’s inscrutable and untraceable ways contrasts His glory to my finite understanding. Worship fills my heart in response to understanding even a little bit about God. Challenge yourself to view your everyday life through the lens of worship. Where is the Lord giving you opportunities to understand and worship Him more clearly because of ordinary life happenings?

 

2) Why does Paul refer to both God and the Lord in this passage? 

Paul was a well-learned Hebrew scholar, so his choice to use both “God” and “Lord” is a clue to help his readers understand this passage. He wasn’t merely trying to throw in extra words to make himself sound better; these were both intentionally chosen to communicate the vastness of God better. As I read Paul’s words, I thought about God, the Creator, and the exceedingly abundant wisdom and knowledge He used when creating the universe­­; every element, cell, plant, and animal all have a divine purpose to declare His glory and point us to knowing Him. When we come face to face with God’s unexpected and extraordinary wisdom, it is astounding! Understanding Jesus as our Lord keeps us from elevating our knowledge and experience above Him, as He holds all rule and reign. Paul asked, “Who could know the mind or the Lord or be his counselor?” This Greek word for “counselor” has a similar meaning to “consultant.” The Lord doesn’t need our advice. Everything we have, our resources, wisdom, and breath has been given to us by His grace. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” When I remind myself of the Lord’s resources, I start praising and stop worrying. 

 

3) What is the significance of the phrase “To Him be the glory forever?” (verse 36)

The word doxology comes from the Greek doxa, which means “glory, splendor, grandeur” and logos, which is translated “word” or “speaking.” When we write, sing, or speak of the glory and splendor of God, we are sharing His glory with others. Just as the angels burst forth in celebration at the birth of Jesus Christ by proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest,” we have this same opportunity to praise God before others. Our days are rich with chances to offer our own doxology whether privately between us and God, or publicly for others to hear as well. We can bring glory to God by acknowledging His vast riches, wisdom, and knowledge as we see evidence of them in our everyday life. Even in difficulty, our struggles to understand God’s plan for our lives, or when we are amazed at the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom and judgement, we can reflect His unchanging glory and goodness to those around us.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Everyday Praise!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Worship VIII Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Fervent Day 10 Seek And Save

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Ephesians 6:19-20
Colossians 4:2-4
1 Timothy 2:1-4

Fervent, Day 10

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
(Luke 19:10)

Condemned by the Pharisees (the self-righteous and corrupt religious leaders of His time) for dining with sinners, He said His mission was to save those very sinners.
His heart was for their rescue!

In response to the same accusation, Jesus said,
“It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.
I didn’t come to call the righteous, but the sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Jesus proved His mission again when, nailed naked to a perpetrator’s cross,
He prayed for God to forgive His killers.

In like manner, the apostle Paul committed his life to the ministry of preaching the gospel to save the lost. His love for Jesus compelled him to give up everything to his advantage and do what Jesus was passionate about. Paul even said he considered his life of no account except to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Paul described the gospel as the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and himself as the means through which it is spread. For those who believe, the gospel is the aroma of life leading to life, but to those who reject, it is the aroma of death leading to death. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) The same gospel which gives life to those who believe stands as a judgment to those who reject it. Scripture says he who believes in the Son of God will not be condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already. (John 3:18) Whoever has not put his faith in Christ is considered lost.

Paul was not deterred from preaching the gospel, though many rejected it. He used every means to make the gospel known to and accepted by those who were lost. He said he became “all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

In his words, we see a deep sense of urgency in praying for. and ministering to, the lost. He recognized God desires all to know the vast richness of knowing and experiencing Christ as Savior. Therefore, Paul seized every opportunity he had to preach to, and pray for, the lost. Additionally, when he wrote to the churches, he called other believers to pray alongside him.

Paul described how his heart longed for his Jewish brothers and sisters to repent and be rescued, he even wished he could be accursed from Christ for their sake if it were possible! (Romans 9:1-5) He prayed fervently for their salvation, despite the fact that they were the very people persecuting him.

Studying the passion Paul had for the salvation of the lost, I was moved to tears.
I realized I have not given the Gospel the commitment it deserves.
I must confess my concern had only been for my family members. I hardly prayed for outsiders; the best I could do for them was my little contribution for the work of missions. But the fact that someone somewhere could die without Christ
should be a matter of great concern to me.

Every believer should carry an attitude of great concern toward the lost. We may not have the opportunity to travel round the world to preach the gospel, but we can share the hope of the gospel with those in our own communities!

The gospel is an issue of life or death,
an eternity in heaven or in hell.

How would it be if Christ returns, or any of our loved ones die in their sin, without us making any effort for their salvation by sharing Jesus?!
Imagine the pain and sorrow we would feel.
We have a duty not only to be involved in missions,
but to pray earnestly for the salvation of the lost.

Praying for the lost can never be over-emphasized; Jesus Himself asked His disciples to pray earnestly for the Lord of harvest to send laborers into His harvest. (Matthew 9:38) In like manner, the apostles prayed for boldness to declare God’s word. (Acts 4:29) Paul urged Timothy to intercede in prayer for all people, including kings and those in authority, because God desires for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4)

Not only does God desire everyone to be saved,
but He calls us to join with Him on His mission of sharing this beautiful gospel overflowing with hope and love. (Matthew 28:18-20)

We confidently know our prayers matter for the salvation of the lost.
Therefore, the thought of the reality of hell for unsaved souls should drive us to our knees to pray for the lost with fervency.

Who will you pray for? 


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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!

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Fervent Day 9 When All Seems Lost: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out When All Seems Lost!

The Questions

1) What is our identity as believers? How Does Living “in Ephesus” and “in Christ” affect identity? (verse 1)

2) What are the spiritual blessings we have in Christ? (verse 3)

3) How do these blessings in Christ bring hope? (verse 18)

Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:
To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time —to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Original Intent

1) What is our identity as believers? How Does Living “in Ephesus” and “in Christ” affect identity? (verse 1)
Our identity is often connected with our basic core values which then dictate the choices we make (e.g., relationships, career). Where we live and how we grew up are also tied to our identity; this was also true for the Ephesians. “The ancient city of Ephesus was the third-largest city in the Roman empire. Located on the southwestern corner of modern-day Turkey, Ephesus was a busy port city. It was the hub of four major roads going out into Asia Minor. In addition to being a commercial center, it was the link between Rome and the East. This unique position made it a diverse city of multiple ethnic groups. Ancient Ephesus was home to the temple of the Greek goddess Artemis (or Diana to the Romans). Artemis was the goddess of fertility, magic, and animals. The temple built in Ephesus was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, with a size that was four times as large as the Parthenon! …  Tradesmen made their living selling silver statues of the goddess. The Ephesians had a vast array of gods and goddesses to choose from and they worshiped many of them.” [First 5 Bible Studies in Ephesians] In contrast to this pagan world, Paul brought the Gospel to the Ephesians. Those who trusted Jesus were given a new identity in Christ. They no longer served other gods or worshiped idols like other citizens of Ephesus. Being “in Christ” meant more than a way of worship. They were set apart; taken out of the world and placed in Christ. Their faith gave them freedom from the slavery of sin which was all around them. They had a new citizenship in heaven. Ephesus was no longer their home! They were “in Christ”.

2) What are the spiritual blessings we have in Christ? (verse 3)
All who surrender to Jesus are redeemed. The ancient Greek word for redemption is lootruo meaning “to liberate on the receipt of a ransom.” (Gaebelein) Our sin incurred a debt, the price of death according to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christ paid the punishment for our sins through His death on the cross. We are accepted (chariot meaning “highly favored” or “full of grace”) because of Christ’s work to redeem us. God chose us before the foundation of the world before we did anything for Him, and He offers His grace to all willing to accept Him. (verse 4) Strong’s Concordance says grace (xáris in Greek) means God is “always leaning toward (us)”. Can’t you see God leaning over the rails of heaven waiting for us to respond by accepting His wonderful gift? He adopted us as His own. (verse 5) In Roman law, “The person who had been adopted had all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family, completely losing all rights to his old family. Even old debts and obligations previously connected to him were abolished.” (Barclay) Gaebelein adds, “Believers in the Lord Jesus are not merely adopted into the family of God; they are born again. There is no “previous life”. Think about our old identity prior to salvation; what a relief to have all guilt and shame removed! David sang, “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1-4) All believers have unspeakable spiritual riches! (verse 18) Considering Ephesus was the “bank of Asia”, it is significant that Paul mentions the believer’s wealth in Christ. Our bank is in heaven where the fullness of our glorious inheritance awaits! (See Warren Weirsbe’s Be Rich for a great resource on heavenly inheritance!)

3) How do these blessings in Christ bring hope? (verse 18)
When we accept Christ’s wonderful gift of salvation, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like earnest money. His indwelling in a believer is the proof of God’s guarantee that He will follow through with His promise and bring us home to dwell with Him forever in Heaven. This is our confident hope! One glorious day we will be fully alive and free from the temptation to sin as we live eternally in God’s physical presence. We have a guaranteed inheritance through Jesus. Paul wanted the Ephesian believers to know the great magnitude of this rich inheritance in God’s people. We usually think only of our inheritance as salvation, righteousness, or Heaven, but Paul wanted the Ephesians to understand they were so precious to God that He considered them His own inheritance. Knowing our spiritual poverty, we wonder how God can find anything of value in us, let alone His only inheritance. Yet God creates unspeakable riches out of poor men and women because He invests Himself in them. He has invested riches of love, riches of wisdom, riches of suffering, riches of glory, and riches of holy transformation. These things accrue to a rich inheritance in the saints. (Enduring Word) He has invested Himself in us and His return on that investment will be magnificent!

Everyday Application

1) What is our identity as believers? How Does Living “in Ephesus” and “in Christ” affect identity? (verse 1)
My identity includes farmer’s daughter, baker of sweets, musician, computer programmer, and yes, a Yankee (I was born in Ohio, raised in Wisconsin). When I married Michael, I became a mother to two boys (9 & 14). My identity immediately changed from single working girl to pastor’s wife and mother while also transplanting to the south. My new family consisted of Georgia boys who rooted for the only ball team, the Georgia Bulldogs. Before long, we were expecting a child. Though we lived in Georgia, we chose a regional hospital just across the border of Tennessee to deliver our baby. I teasingly told the boys, “I didn’t want to have my baby in Georgia; thus, I was going over the state line to the birthing center in Tennessee.” Oh! We had fun joking about our baby’s identity. Now 29 years later, his blood runs Georgia red, as does mine! Our place of birth, our residence, our career, and environment we grew up in all play a role in how we identify ourselves. As Christians, however, our core identity is steeped in faith in Jesus. Those who have professed their faith in Christ are new creations! (1 Corinthians 5:17-21) We are citizens of heaven, but also ambassadors to the world around us. We are called to point others to the eternal life available only in Jesus! (Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 5:11) We are on a journey to our true home and to bring along as many as possible. (1 Corinthians 9:19-27) Just like the church in Ephesus, all believers are a chosen people (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:9-10); set apart for godliness and holiness as children of God. (Psalm 4:3, John 1:11-13) Can others see your full identity? Are you bringing as many as possible to heaven with you?

2) What are the spiritual blessings we have in Christ? (verse 3)
God’s unfolding plan for those who surrender to Him not only includes the blessings of salvation and personal transformation, but also a warm, confident relationship with the Father. (Guzik) My own earthly father was loving and caring who demonstrated God’s love. As a child, I loved to sit on Daddy’s lap or cuddle next to him. This comforting image of a good father has translated into my spiritual life. When I have a problem, I climb right into God’s lap and we talk about it. I am blessed to have this personal, confident relationship with the Father and it’s available to all! As His child, we can go before Him boldly because He is our loving Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16) Charles Spurgeon said, “We are not sitting here groaning, and crying, and fretting, and worrying, and questioning our own salvation. He has blessed us. If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for him; but if you have a great notion of His great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to your gracious God.” (Enduring Word) When we realize His great mercy, we cannot help but “make every effort” to live holy and godly lives in worship toward Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not only to praise God for what He has done, we are to live a wholly surrendered life before Him and share His glorious hope with others! (2 Peter 1:3-11) Honoring the Lord with our lives and sharing the gospel with those around us are to be marked with and woven through with love. Clarke reminds, “But as love is the fulfilling of the law, and love the fountain whence their salvation flowed, therefore love must fill their hearts towards God and each other.” Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel in love and be intentional in engaging with people as you point them to Jesus!

3) How do these blessings in Christ bring hope? (verse 18)
“Because of His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3-9) What a glorious hope we have! I urge you to read the entire passage in 1 Peter. No matter what we face in life, hope in Jesus is certain and sure, never fading away. This confident hope comes from the sealing of the Holy Spirit. We know, that we know, that we know, that God holds our lives and our souls for eternity, sustaining us through His Word. We can trust Him with eternity, with our next breath, our next celebration or tragedy; He will never change or abandon us. We can remind ourselves of His faithfulness by 1) reading accounts of His perfect timing in human history (see The Hall of Faith in Hebrews; look for “faithfulness” in the Psalms 66, 74, 80, 81, 89, 111, 114, 135, 136; read God With Us by Christoph Barth ); 2) read about His faithfulness to the apostles (The Acts of the Apostles); 3) and encourage one another about His faithfulness for all believers (Hebrews 10:23-25), including you! Holding tightly to our assured hope is hard, but if we keep a written record of God’s specific blessings, we can remind ourselves of His faithfulness when our faith is weak. In my own life, there have been many trials, but my hope is found in knowing God is faithful and never fails. I like to use Psalm 136 as a template to write my own blessings from God; repeating after each blessing, “His faithful love endures forever.” I pray you have this confident hope in Christ! It is yours by giving your life completely to Him. Leave everything in His hands and you will find peace, hope and security.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with When All Seems Lost!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Fervent Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Fervent Day 6 The Zealous Prayer

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 1:4-9
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Philippians 4:4-7
Psalm 143:1-12

Fervent, Day 6

Fervent: “exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling: zealous” (Webster’s).

Do you know anyone who is fervent about something? I’m sure I can be fervent about a few topics. In this season of social and political turmoil, many people are quite fervent regarding their stance on certain issues, and equally as fervent against others.

However, we might not always consider our prayers to be fervent. Perhaps we’ve never viewed ourselves as fervent prayer warriors.

Saul of Tarsus was quite fervent in how he viewed Jesus and those who followed Him. His level of fervency didn’t change after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus; it just shifted focus. Instead of being on fire to persecute and put to death those who believed and followed Christ (Acts 8:3), he became chief evangelist, encourager, and prayer warrior (Romans 15:18-21).

What can we learn from Paul and his prayers?

In his letters to the churches and to specific people, Paul opens with thanksgiving:

“But thanks be to God [. . . ]” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

“We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers [. . . ]” (1Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Looking beyond physical provisions or blessings, Paul expresses his deep gratitude to the Lord for the church, the people. While he often goes on to address their sin issues, he never confuses their choices with their identities. Paul’s exhortations to holy living are laced with reminders that recipients of the letters are cherished children of the King and co-laborers with Paul in the work of the kingdom.

Paul’s call for change and spiritual growth are followed by prayers for the believers to become more loving to each other and remain steadfast in their devotion to God. He wraps up the letters by extending grace, praying his brothers and sisters in Christ would be filled with hope and continued endurance in trials.

Beloved, what if we prayed fervently for our friends?
What if we prayed fervently for our neighbors?
Those in our churches?
The lost?

When we think of fervent prayer warriors, we often think of giants of the faith, long ago, who spent hours on their knees before God in prayer.

Or, we consider the vast amounts of time Paul devoted to prayer while imprisoned, which leads us to think, since we often don’t have that kind of time, we surely can’t pray as Paul did. While praying for hours at a time is a noble and wonderful activity, be assured, we can still be fervent in our prayers, even if we only have a minute or two!

We can begin right now! Who does the Holy Spirit bring to mind? How can you pray for them? They don’t even have to be struggling with anything.

Following Paul’s example, start by thanking the Lord for them.

If you know they are facing challenging circumstances, ask God to shine His light into their situation.

If they don’t believe in God, pray for them to know and receive the hope of salvation.

Now, pick an attribute of God and pray for them to experience it in an unprecedented way: provision, healing, comfort.

Paul knew the Scriptures: The Torah, the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms of David. Like Paul, let’s personalize the Word of God for our prayer subjects, or even for ourselves. The Psalms are especially useful here, because they are not only made up of celebration, but also lament and questioning. We now also have Paul’s letters and the rest of the New Testament to use as springboards for praying and bringing encouragement to others.

Model prayers are everywhere in the New Testament! Study His Words for yourself and give opportunity to grow deeper and learn the rhythms of fervent prayer.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9
I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in Him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge. (verses 4-5)

2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (verses 3-4)

Begin praying with praise, and continue with prayers of intercession on behalf of others that their love for God and one another will increase. Pray for them to be comforted, and to extend that comfort to others. Pray for them to know God deeply and be satisfied in Him.  with thanksgiving and closes by exhorting the Corinthian church to love and praying God fills them with comfort.

Numbers 6:22-26
May the Lord bless you and protect you;  may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace. (verses 24-26)

Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit. (verse 16)

Take out a piece of paper and a pen and simply begin.
Written prayers are just as good as spoken.

Be encouraged!
Your prayers reach Heaven just as easily as Paul’s did!

Our Heavenly Father is ready to respond to our prayers as we lean into fervency and encouragement!

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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 Fervent Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Fervent!

Fervent Day 4 One Another: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out One Another!

The Questions

1) What is the reason Paul never stops giving thanks for the Ephesian saints? (verses 4-15)

2) What is Paul’s first thought when he remembers the Ephesian saints? (verse 16)

3) What are the two overarching requests Paul makes in his prayer for the Ephesian saints? (verses 17-19)

Ephesians 1:15-17

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

Original Intent

1) What is the reason Paul never stops giving thanks for the Ephesian saints? (verses 4-15)
The first three chapters of Ephesians contain one long prayer of Paul toward those who were in Christ Jesus. It begins with praise to God in the first chapter verse 3 and ends with praise to God in the third chapter verses 20-21. Grammatically speaking, the beloved apostle had a tendency toward run-on sentences in his letters. His enthusiasm about his salvation often cause him to interrupt his own thoughts as he could not contain his praise! After the initial greeting, Paul cannot help but rehearse all the blessings that accompany redemption (“the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.” Biblestudytools.com) In fact, in the original Greek there is no structural break in verses 4-14. It is all one very long sentence. Usually after his greetings Paul would offer his thanks toward his readers, but in this letter, he changes the order and spends a few minutes rehearsing “every spiritual blessing” (verse 3) that is theirs in Christ. Theologian Darrell L. Bock said “it is a praise psalm in its form” (A Biblical Theology of the New Testament) like the prayers of praise by Mary (Luke 1:46-55) and Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79). When Paul thinks about such a great salvation, and when he remembers his brothers and sisters in Ephesus, he summarizes the reason for his thanksgiving toward them, “This is why, since I heard about your faith … that I never stop giving thanks.”

2) What is Paul’s first thought when he remembers the Ephesian saints? (verse 16)
Paul’s first thought is thanksgiving. Since he has taken so much time to review their spiritual blessings, we can know Paul’s gratitude was directed toward their relationship with Christ. We should not miss the significance of this connection. Bible history tells us Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians in Acts 20 was around 52 AD. When this letter was written to them, around 60 AD,  Paul had been likely gone for several years with little to no communication. This absence had inevitably created a deep longing within Paul to know how they were all progressing in the Faith that had begun when he was with them. Once news of their devotion to Christ had reached Paul in Rome, he was able to rejoice with them through his prayers. Hearing about their faith had so deeply affected Paul that he could not stop thanking God for them. When Paul thought about the endless blessings of salvation, his joyful prayers on their behalf were also endless. Just as Paul’s run-on sentence in verses 4-14 was evidence of his constant praise to God, his words to the saints in verse 16 were evidence of his constant prayers for them. Praise and prayer were well developed habits in the apostle’s life. (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18)

3) What are the two overarching requests Paul makes in his prayer for the Ephesian saints? (verses 17-19)
Paul prays two main things for the saints. 1) That God would give them spiritual wisdom and revelation about Himself. 2) That the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to know what is the hope, the wealth, and the power of knowing Christ. In the previous verses in chapter 1, Paul spent time sharing with his readers the blessings belonging to them because of their salvation. He now tells them he is praying they will know and experience these blessings deep within their souls. This desire for them is not so they may gain some sort of mystical insight into the thoughts of man, but he wanted them to grow in spiritual understanding so they would have a better “knowledge of Him”, that is God. “One of the first effects of true religion is on the understanding. It enlarges its views of truth; gives it more exalted conceptions of God; corrects its errors; raises it up toward the great Fountain of love.” (Barnes, biblehub.com) Paul also prayed for the Ephesians to know the incalculable benefit of the believer’s hope to which they were called, a glorious, future hope! He wanted them to know the wealth accompanying this hope he had referred to in verse 7. He wanted them to know these riches were the result of God’s fulfilled purpose through the work of Christ. Everything was brought together at the perfect time and fit God’s perfect plan, and it is He who gets all the glory! (Ephesians 1:9-12)

Everyday Application

1) What is the reason Paul never stops giving thanks for the Ephesian saints? (verses 4-15)
It is almost impossible to meditate on the depths of our salvation and not interrupt ourselves with a personal worship service! “We are not sitting here, and groaning, and crying, and fretting, and worrying, and questioning our own salvation. He has blessed us; and therefore we will bless Him. If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for Him; but if you have a great notion of His great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to your gracious God.” (Charles H Spurgeon, Blessing for Blessing ) As he considered God’s provision, Paul moves from one blessing to the next. Led by the Spirit of God (2 Peter 3:15), he rehearses for the saints at Ephesus the depth of salvation. Dr. Thomas Constable of Dallas Theological Seminary writes, “It is as though he was ecstatically opening a treasure chest, lifting its jewels with his hands, letting them cascade through his fingers, and marveling briefly at them as they caught his eye.” It is this wonder that gives Paul a reason to never cease from thanking God for the Ephesians’ growing faith.

2) What is Paul’s first thought when he remembers the Ephesian saints? (verse 16)
Sometimes when referring to someone, I’ll say “I just can’t stop thinking about …” It doesn’t signify that I don’t have moments in which I’ve ceased to consciously think about them. What I mean is the person is heavily on my mind and heart in such a way there is a constant awareness of them. Paul wrote to the believers to communicate his heart posture in life. It was one of dependence on God and an ever-ready consciousness of Christ’s necessity in the saving grace and in the saving work of salvation. Desiring God writer Scott Hubbard reminds us it is a refreshing privilege to continue in unceasing prayer for one another. “Prayer is more than a slot in our schedule; it is the reflex of our hearts, the aroma of our waking hours.” When we remember the mercy of God in our salvation, and when we consider those who have also been the recipients of God’s spiritual blessings, it will cause us to begin our prayers for them with thanksgiving. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin, we shall be free; and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.” (Hymn by John Fawcett 1782)

3) What are the two overarching requests Paul makes in his prayer for the Ephesian saints? (verses 17-19)
Every Christian grows in their faith by deeply knowing God and by resting in the hope we have because of being called into a life with Him. Paul’s prayer is an example to us of how we should pray for others as well as what we should desire our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. The Christian life must be centered around the two things Paul emphasizes in his prayer; we are to have an accurate understanding of who God is and we are to understand what is ours in Christ. Praying for God to equip us with wisdom to know Him is not only the beginning, but also the essence, of our worship as His people. We study His word to know Him and we pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to our hearts the “glorious inheritance … and immeasurable greatness” that is ours in Christ. As we constantly think on these benefits, and as we are overcome with gratitude and praise, we will often find our hearts in a posture of prayer. As we walk day to day in this frame of mind, we are prompted to lift our souls toward God on behalf of all those who possess faith in God, that they may know His spiritual blessings in the same way.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with One Another!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Fervent Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Questions 2 Day 12 Rescue Mission: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Rescue Mission!

The Questions

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?

Romans 3:9-20

9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

Original Intent

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?
Paul is referencing Psalm 14:1-3 in these verses which are also repeated in Psalm 53:1-3. “…There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless…” (verses 11-12) These words speak to the flesh nature of every person ever born. Paul’s Jewish Christian audience would have been familiar with the Psalmist’s words, knowing they were penned to describe every human heart from God’s perspective. This is a reminder of the depravity of mankind and the sin every person commits. Every human being is hopelessly stuck in their sin and by pointing his audience to their guilt, Paul is later able to point them to their only hope for salvation, Jesus.

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?
Paul is clear that Law speaks to only those who are subject to the law. However, that is not an out for Paul’s audience. His readers would have known the law being referred to was what we call the 10 Commandments. However, this law encompassed much more than those few commands. Included in the whole Old Testament law was the first 5 books of our Bible and every regulation found there. The Israelites had hundreds of laws they were supposed to follow, and no one could follow them perfectly. Paul is telling his audience they are all subject to the law. Every person in his audience knew precisely what Paul meant, and they all knew they were guilty.

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?
Paul does not sugarcoat the truth. God is a just God and He will rightfully judge the whole world. Every single person who has ever lived will indeed face judgement where they will be called to give an account of their works. Revelation 20:11-15 tells of this coming judgement. However, although we know all are subject to the law and all fall short of the hitting the “bullseye” on the target of the Law (Romans 3:23) there is hope. Romans 6:23 reminds us of the gift of Jesus, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Revelation 21 tells of the full promise of hope coming in fullness for all who trust Jesus as their personal Savior. Jesus paid the penalty for sin and death and His blood covers those who believe in Him when they stand before God on the day of judgment. He becomes the believer’s righteousness!

Everyday Application

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?
Paul refers back to Psalm and the sin state of all mankind. He reminds readers that none of us are good and, at some point, we have all turned away from His standard of righteousness. Whether it was a selfish thought, a white lie, or a lusting glance, all of these and much more violate His holy standard. In so doing, we become sinners, separating ourselves from a holy and righteous God with no ability to regain a perfect standing. Without this realization of our sinfulness, we are unable to see our need for a Savior. We feel we can be “good enough” on our own, compared to our own measure of “right”. Paul begins this chapter with the condition of all mankind so he can later point all readers to Jesus. If we do not view ourselves as sinful, not good, and without hope we will never surrender to God and accept the gift only Jesus can provide by His righteousness offered in exchange for our sinfulness.

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?
When I read the words “the law” I immediately think of the 10 Commandments. When God gave those to Moses, His intent was never for them to be a checklist for Israel (or us) to try to live up to. Instead, it was meant as a mirror, helping us see that no one could ever not break even just those 10 laws. As matter of fact, Israel had broken those laws before Moses ever made it off of Mt. Sinai with the law in hand. (Exodus 32) While we no longer live under Old Testament law today, we are still subject to the law. Jesus provided 2 commands which sum up the whole of this law, love God and love others, and I know I daily fall short of just those two simple commands. Just as the 10 Commandments showed Israel they were sinners, Jesus’ words show us we are sinners and in need of a Savior.

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?
Every person who ever has or ever will walk planet earth is subject to God’s judgment. This is His world and His rule applies to us, His creation. Scripture is very clear there will be a day of judgment when all will stand before God and be judged for our actions. This coming judgment is exactly why understanding the law, and how far we each fall short of its perfect standard, is so important. Because of the law, we see our desperate need for a Savior. John writes of the day of judgment in Revelation 20, but He doesn’t leave us at the judgment seat without hope. John writes of the promised hope that is coming in the New Heaven and the New Earth in Revelation 21. This promise is for all who have believed in Jesus and accepted the sacrifice of what He did for us on the cross. His righteousness can be ours in place of our sin; His perfection in exchange for our failure to follow the law! Sisters, the question is, have you accepted the gift Jesus offers for yourself? If so on the day of judgment, He will say this one is Mine! Our judgment as believers will be vastly different than those who have not chosen to believe because we will be covered by Christ and in Him, there is no condemnation, only life!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Rescue Mission!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Questions 2 Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Questions 2 Day 11 Rescue Mission

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Exodus 20:1-17
John 3:1-21
Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:9-20

Questions 2, Day 11

How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?

The question is a reasonable one. The juxtaposition of a God who loves mankind so much He would send His very Son to die for them appears to be utterly at odds with a God who would send good people to a fiery destination for all of eternity.

However, the very question itself is hinged on a dangerous and erroneous assumption: people are inherently good. It’s tempting to lean toward the thought. After all, as humans, we tend to categorize wrongdoing at varying “levels.” We wouldn’t categorize a murderer with, say, a person who told a lie to spare someone’s feelings. Our natural instinct is to determine who is good, and how good they are, by their actions and our own perception of morality. But this view is absolutely inaccurate. 

From the moment mankind fell from a perfect relationship with God and chose knowledge and self over trust in Him, every human being has been marked by the consequences of that choice. We are born with sin’s DNA woven into ours by our own failings, but the truth is humans have never been “good” on our own. Even Adam and Eve, who had every opportunity to continue in a right relationship with God, and who enjoyed perfect communion with Him in the Garden of Eden, lost everything the moment they chose the allure of sin’s temptation for self. Sin excluded them from fellowship with Him. Because God is completely righteous, holy, and just, He can not be in the presence of sin. Adam and Eve could not remain in the place of intimacy with God while sin existed in their hearts.

The same is true for us. 

Loves, not one of us is good. Romans 3:23 reminds us all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God. As we studied in Ten, God says if we have broken even one part of the Law, we are guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10) Furthermore, Jesus said if we so much as think sinful thoughts, we have actually committed that sin in our hearts. (Matthew 5:21-22) This is why Jesus came to earth as a man. He was the only One Who could live a perfect, sinless life and serve as the spotless sacrifice for all our sins, past, present and future.

Only One who was righteous, both fully God and fully man, would ever be able to do it. 

Because of His selfless sacrifice, our ability to be in communion with God was restored. The sin we have all chained to ourselves has no power against the blood of Jesus Christ when we surrender to Him. God’s master plan for a relationship with His beloved creation is perfectly fulfilled in the salvation He purchased for us. We, who are born sinners, can access communion with God through the shed blood of Jesus when we give our lives to Him and trust Him over ourselves. We were born dead in our sin, but we are made alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5) When God looks at those who have trusted Him for salvation, He no longer sees our sinful nature. Instead, we are completely, totally wrapped in Christ. When He looks at us, He sees His Son in us. He sees righteousness.

Do you know what the enemy’s master deception is, Beloved? He’s been singing the same tired tune for literally ages.

It’s to sell all of us on the lie that we are basically good, on our own. That we, ourselves, are righteous, apart from Christ’s blood. That we are capable of saving ourselves. In fact, he would love for us to be so completely infatuated with who we are, what we’re like, and how we feel, that we have no room in our thoughts for God. After all, if we’re basically good, and we can be trusted to do the righteous thing, why do we need Jesus, anyway?

This is why the Law is such a vital part of God’s ultimate rescue mission: without the knowledge of God’s law, we are absolutely incapable of recognizing we are sinners. Romans 3:20 says, “For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.”

Read that again. Twice, if you must.

Every one of us are born sinners. There’s nothing we can do about it. No amount of denying will change it. No amount of good works will offset it.

Our adversary is against us from day one. He endeavors to convince us that we’re good, and if we’re honest, most of us are inclined to agree.

But God. 

Long before we were born, long before Jesus was born, He handed His Law to Moses. It is the very knowledge of this Law that brings us to the realization that we are filled with sin. But the knowledge of this sin isn’t designed to condemn us! It’s to draw us to repentance and confession that we need salvation through Jesus Christ, so we can enter into relationship and communion with God! 

Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your very Son to die for my sins. There’s no One else like You. Help me to understand how deep and how wide Your great love is for all mankind. Show me every place where I haven’t invited You to rule and reign. All I have belongs to You alone. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
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Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Questions 2 Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Questions 2!

Follow Day 10 Transformed Follower

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 9:1-9, 17-25
Jeremiah 17:9-10
Romans 6:1-11
Acts 3:19-20

Follow, Day 10

Saul is walking along the road to Damascus, on a journey with the goal of persecuting those who follow the teachings of Jesus, claiming they are part of “The Way.”
In this place of unadulterated hatred, Saul has a radical encounter with God.

God speaks, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Saul is completely blinded, asking, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:4-5)

He is given instruction to head into the city of Damascus. Although physically blind, disoriented, and unsure where this path would lead, he knows the Lord is directing him. Days later, Saul is approached by Ananias, who was sent by God to pray over Saul, to help him “regain [his] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 9:17-18) His name is changed to Paul, symbolizing the death of his past and the freedom of his future in Christ. He speaks boldly, claiming Jesus is the Messiah.

In Paul’s conversion story, we see a complete transformation from the life he was living before Christ to the life he is living knowing Christ. After salvation and adoption into the family of God, Paul’s purpose is radically altered.  He spends the rest of his days preaching and teaching to the Gentiles of the Jesus he once loathed.

Paul rejects the power of sin over him, living into his new identity with total surrender.
“For I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
(Galatians 2:20)

How many of us live beneath the truth and promise we are utterly new creations if we have truly surrendered to Christ’s transformation?

When we come to face our reflection, we do not often see ourselves as beloved daughters of the Most High God. Instead, we focus on all the areas where we do not measure up, desperately striving to be better.

One of the biggest implications of the truth that we are a new creation is that there is no room for shame in the presence of God. The Lord has redeemed us; all of our past, present, and future sins were fully and finally paid for on the cross by the sinless son of God. Hebrews 10:10 declares, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” Not only were our sins forgiven on the cross, but all of the favor and merit of Jesus was placed upon us.

The reality of sin still exists and wreaks destruction in our lives and in our hearts. Yet as believers, we are not identified as sinners; rather, we are given the identity of saints and coheirs with Christ. These two realities can be held in tandem, that we are still inclined to turn our affections to directions other than the Lord, but the sin in our hearts does not have the final word on who we are.

We are instructed to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and to keep “our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2) This is good news and there is freedom here! The Lord pursues us and is constantly welcoming us back to Himself, reminding us of His goodness and grace.

The Lord is gracious to show us our sin and to redirect our attention. I have experienced this process in my own life, year after year. The Lord has faithfully used mentors to beautifully model how to live in the reality that we still sin, yet are called saints and daughters. When I have brought sin struggles to some of the women in my life, they have met me with incredible grace, which I believe reflects the grace of God and has brought much healing to my life.

He has been so near on this journey, constantly refining me in the fire to look more like Jesus. I truly desire to walk in a way that honors Him, but I know even in my weakness He is glorified. (2 Corinthians 12:9) He beckons me to His heart, showing me His plans are higher than my own.

“Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

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The Questions

1) What literal circumstances did David need saved from? (verse 1)

2) Why does David say, “Though I did not steal, I must repay?” (verse 4)

3) How has zeal for God’s house consumed David? (verse 9)

Psalm 69:1-12

1 Save me, God,
for the water has risen to my neck.
2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;
I have come into deep water,
and a flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary from my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without cause
are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me,
are powerful.
Though I did not steal, I must repay.

5 God, you know my foolishness,
and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.
6 Do not let those who put their hope in you
be disgraced because of me,
Lord God of Armies;
do not let those who seek you
be humiliated because of me,
God of Israel.
7 For I have endured insults because of you,
and shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers
and a foreigner to my mother’s sons
9 because zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the insults of those who insult you
have fallen on me.
10 I mourned and fasted,
but it brought me insults.
11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing,
and I was a joke to them.
12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me,
and drunkards make up songs about me..

Original Intent

1) What literal circumstances did David need saved from? (verse 1)
Psalm 69 was most likely written by David as he fled from murderous King Saul. According to Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible, “It fits that period better than any other with which we are familiar in the life of David. His foes were ‘mighty,’ able to compel him to restore things he had not taken, and who were determined to `cut him off.’ Even the ribald singing against him in the city gates mentioned a little later fits that period better than any other.” When God was displeased with King Saul, He told the prophet Samuel to anoint David, the son of Jesse, to be the next king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1-13) It didn’t take long before God’s favor over David resulted in Saul’s fierce jealousy. David was forced to hide from those who hated him though he had done no wrong.  Saul wanted him dead because he was a threat to the crown, and Saul’s followers hunted him in support of King Saul. David tried to serve and obey God but was dismayed at the unjust attacks. Author G. Campbell Morgan suggests, “Perhaps in no other psalm is the sense of sorrow profounder or more intense than in this. The soul of the singer pours itself out in unrestrained abandonment to the overwhelming and terrible grief which consumes it.” David felt like he was drowning and mired in despair, and he called on God to save him. Even though serving God had placed him in this situation, he knew his salvation would only come by trusting in God.

2) Why does David say, “Though I did not steal, I must repay?” (verse 4)
In Psalm 69:4, King Saul is trying to kill David. David laments, “those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.”  David is not talking about theft here, but about being falsely accused and having to pay the penalty. Author Charles Spurgeon explains, “Though David had no share in plots against Saul, yet he was held accountable for them.” This idea of paying a debt not one’s own is also true of Jesus, who quotes Psalm 69:4 in John 15:25, when He tells His followers the world will hate them as it hates Him. He says, “But this happened so the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.” We do know “David was indeed a type of Christ, and many of the things in the life of David find their echo and fulfillment in David’s Greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible.) David understood what it was like to be treated unfairly, yet he still praised the Lord. He trusted in God’s salvation so much that, while waiting for rescue, he declared, “I will praise God’s name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30) He could even tell others who seek God to “take heart!”. (Psalm 69:32) Of course, nothing is better than knowing Jesus paid the debt for our sins when He, though blameless, died on the cross to save us. (I Peter 2:24) Even though we are guilty, we do not have to pay the price if we accept the free gift of salvation offered to us by Jesus.

3) How has zeal for God’s house consumed David? (verse 9)
The Greek word for zeal, zelos, and the Hebrew word, qinah, both have the same root meaning, jealousy. (turningtogodsword.com) David uses the word zeal in Psalm 69:8-9 when he is crying out to the Lord, lamenting his situation, “I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons because zeal for your house has consumed me. . .” David is being pursued by King Saul, who wants to kill him. David has done nothing to deserve Saul’s wrath, but his life of zeal for God has brought David into favor with God, who chooses David to be the new king. David has a furious passion for the things of God. He is jealous over God’s ways and commands. As author John W. Rittenbaughnotes, “David put his whole heart into obedience to God, into talking about God, into trying to get people to turn to God, setting a right example for God. So, instead of winning people over, they told sarcastic and dirty stories about him. Because of his zeal for God, He became a reproach.”  David is consumed by worshipping God and living for God, and this zeal has ostracized him from his family and friends and brought ridicule and attack on himself. It is David’s passion for God’s house that the disciples think of when Jesus is driving out the money changers and overturning their tables in John 2:14-17. Jesus is jealous over God’s house being respected, just as David, Jesus’ human ancestor, was jealous that God’s house be recognized as holy.

Everyday Application

1) What literal circumstances did David need saved from? (verse 1)
The psalmist David used poetic language to describe his deep despair in Psalm 69:1-3. He cried out, “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud and there is no footing. I have come into deep water and a flood sweeps over me. I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.”  Although he was not actually being overtaken by water or mired in mud, his words conveyed to God that he felt he was drowning in his desperate circumstances. He was so weary of crying and looking for God to save him that his eyes were giving out. David was hiding out in caves and being hunted by King Saul, who wanted to kill him. David’s need for salvation was paramount. If God didn’t come through, David would die. I have never been in such dire straits as David, but I do recognize that feeling of barely keeping my head above water and the weariness that comes from waiting on rescue.  This is such a hard place to be in . . . looking for God while you feel like floods are rolling over you. But David knew the right thing to do. He called out to God for salvation, knowing He “listens to the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.” (Psalm 69:33) David believed God could save him as he wrote in Psalm 68:20, “Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the Lord my Lord.”  Whenever I feel that sinking sensation of despair, I want to remember what David did in desperate times. He called on God and believed the Lord would prevail in his circumstances.

2) Why does David say, “Though I did not steal, I must repay?” (verse 4)
Anyone who has a younger sibling knows what it means to have to pay for something you did not do. I knew of a child who would bite her own arm and blame her brother for the injury just to get in trouble! This type of injustice plays out in the narrative of David’s life, but on a much grander scale. He is accused of plotting against the King, though he is innocent. Complicating things for David is the fact that God has chosen David to be the new King over His people. David has a heart after God, the zeal to serve God, and he even has God’s anointing to rule as king, but so far, David is on the run, hiding in caves and trying to stay alive. If I were David, I would be tempted to act like a kid being unfairly blamed by his little brother. I would complain and rail and demand justice! Waiting for God’s timing to fulfill His promises can be grueling! David does pour his heart out to God, asking Him to save him and telling Him how unfairly he is being treated while he waits (Psalm 69:4), but he doesn’t pout and wail. He simply tells God he trusts Him while he waits for salvation to come. (Psalm 69:16-18) He does not demand equity, but instead he seeks rescue. He would like to see his accusers come to justice (Psalm 69:22-28), but his focus is on trusting in God’s deliverance, not forcing his own. This is hard to do when someone wrongs you. I want to focus on how God is going to pay others back, but I should take a cue from David and focus on trusting that God will indeed come through in His time and His way.

3) How has zeal for God’s house consumed David? (verse 9)
If you know me for even five minutes, you realize I am generally quiet and reserved. You wouldn’t guess I was a cheerleader in junior high school. Or perhaps you could guess what a woeful cheerleader I was, roped into the deal by my extroverted friends in a tiny school where everyone who signed up made the cut. I did love my team, but you couldn’t tell by my lackluster cheering. It is cheerleaders I think of (the proper ones!) when I hear the word zeal. It is their demonstrative, excited, visceral expression of passion for something they love that helps me define zeal. No one questions their allegiance or opinion about their team. I think David is like that in Psalm 69:9. He writes how he is consumed by zeal for God’s house. He is God’s biggest cheerleader by writing and singing about God’s love and His perfect ways. (Psalm 69:30) He is passionate about sharing his God with everyone. (Psalm 71:7) He believes everything God says, even when it seems impossible. (1 Samuel 17:36-37) That is zeal! Sometimes I feel like I am the same type of Christian that I was a cheerleader. I love God and I want to share Him with others, but my expression of that love falls a bit flat. Author Jon Bloom asserts, “In God’s mind, fervency, zeal, or passion aren’t descriptions of how emotive we are. They’re gauges that display what our heart treasures, and therefore what fuels our lives.” I want to let the love I have for God fuel my everyday life. I want to treasure His Word, His promises, and His ways so I can be consumed by zeal for God’s house like David was. Join me in praying this today!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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