everyone

Questions Day 4 Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone?: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone?!

The Questions

1) What kind of healing is spoken of in verse 15?

2) What role does prayer play in this passage?

3) How does healing relate to turning a “sinner from the error of his ways”? (verses 19-20)

James 5:13-20

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.

19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Original Intent

1) What kind of healing is spoken of in verse 15?
This is the end of James’ letter, and unlike Paul, James lacks the succinct, logical flow Paul possessed in his letter writing. James’ letter is full exhortation to live out the everyday Christian life with wisdom from God as it applies to every situation. In conclusion, his last few instructions are thrown in as final, parting words of command and encouragement and appear a little disjointed, so it takes a little more care to properly parse and understand them. In verses 13-14, his primary focus is to call every believer back to the anchoring relationship with God regardless of circumstance. In verse 15, his goal is for the church to see the connection between the prayer of faith and the healing of the heart, which is wicked and wholly sinful and irredeemable apart from Christ’s offer of forgiveness. We know this because of the specificity of the Greek words James used in this particular sentence and the structure he employs. “The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” The Greek word for “save” is “sozo”, which is used when speaking of eternal salvation of the soul from the consequence of sin, which is death as in Acts 16:31, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”. This is not a physical healing, but a spiritual one. In addition, the Greek word for “raise” is “egeiro”, which is used when speaking of raising the spiritually dead heart to life as seen in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “(But God) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with Him…”. This is clearly speaking of being raised to life in Jesus from spiritual death, not being healed from physical sickness. As final evidence of this interpretation, the sentence structure itself points to one undeniable conclusion in the final word of the sentence, “so he will be forgiven.” (verse 15)

2) What role does prayer play in this passage?
As verses 13-14 point out, our time on earth is full of varying circumstances. We will not always be happy, nor sad. We will not always be sick, nor healthy. Regardless of circumstance, James reminds us of our one unchanging constant, God, and the believer’s access to Him. We are not instructed to pray so our circumstances can be manipulated to our liking, rather we are called to pray as a reminder of our anchor. Whether we are happy, depressed, diagnosed with cancer, vomiting with the stomach flu, or dancing on cloud nine with excitement, we are called back to prayer because our relationship with God is critically paramount in relation to everything else around us. He will anchor our hearts, keeping us tied fast to His good heart so we are not tossed to and fro by emotion or situation.

3) How does healing relate to turning a “sinner from the error of his ways”? (verses 19-20)
According to the Westminster Catechism, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Enjoying Him forever is rooted in loving and obeying Him, which, as a result, brings Him glory as His Spirit does His work through us in our everyday lives. As James closes out his letter of practical, everyday wisdom for the Christ-follower, he ends with what is arguably the most deeply satisfying way to bring God glory, by turning sinners away from death. This isn’t accomplished by a single, well-timed conversation where we lay out the details of the gospel. This is to be the pattern of our everyday lives, day in and day out. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 28:19-20) James’ instruction isn’t limited only to those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus, but he also includes the holy calling to address sin within the family of those brothers and sisters who already claim the name of Jesus, but are stuck in sin.

Everyday Application

1) What kind of healing is spoken of in verse 15?
How deeply each of us longingly ache for a world where physical suffering and pain are eradicated! No more death! No more tears! No more pain! Every one of us would shout YES to a world like that! This is God’s heart for us as well, and it was His original design for His creation, but because of sin, everything was destroyed as we became separated from God. The effects of sin are felt in the brokenness of our bodies from sniffles to cancer to depression and everything in between. Hope is not lost, however! God uses even this desperately broken world, and our bodies, to make us aware of a much more severe problem, the lostness of our hearts apart from Him. If we die from cancer, but our hearts are safe with Jesus because we’ve trusted Him with our souls, our bodies will be healed for eternity in Heaven with Him. If we die from cancer while our hearts are stuck in sin, unredeemed by the God who loves us because we have stubbornly chosen to live for ourselves instead of our Maker, we will spend eternity apart from God. In this case, neither our hearts, nor our bodies, will experience healing. This is truly tragic! As you experience sickness and suffering around you, let it remind you of the state of our hearts without Jesus. Let it urge you to turn to Him for salvation and to tell others of His hope and forever healing!

2) What role does prayer play in this passage?
Take a few minutes to consider when you are most likely to pray, thinking through both the everyday, normal life scenarios as well as the big events in life like birth, death, tragedy, or success. Does your prayer life ebb and flow based on outward circumstance in the grand scheme of life? When do you most commonly pray in the everyday? Is it like breathing in and out? Do you pray most often at mealtime? With a child? Or maybe it isn’t really something you think much about at the everyday level. Assessing your current prayer life is a first step in fostering growth in prayer. We must accurately define reality before we can move forward in the direction we want to go. What do you wish your prayer life was like? Do you wish you had a deeper connection to God? Like James’ examples of when to pray, begin taking every opportunity in regular life to speak with the Lord. He is always present and always listening! The more we practice constant prayer, the richer our relationship with God will be, and the more stable our lives will become.

3) How does healing relate to turning a “sinner from the error of his ways”? (verses 19-20)
If you have given Jesus your heart, trusting the full weight of your eternity to Him and His finished work on the cross, then you are called to this mighty work of calling sinners to truth. This is the ultimate healing! If this is part of our chief end and purpose on earth, we should be intentional and diligent in fulfilling it! Make a list of those who are sin-sick, and don’t forget to include yourself on that list. Who has the Lord put in your circle who don’t yet know Jesus? Pray for them; pray for the healing of their sin-sick hearts. Pray for opportunity to love them like Jesus and to speak boldly of His love for them. Who do you know as a brother or sister fellow-believer in Christ that is stuck in a particular sin? Pray for them; pray for the healing of their sin-sick hearts. Pray for opportunity to lovingly share of God’s truth and calling in their lives. Are you aware of your own sinful tendencies? Ask a trusted believing sister in Christ to walk alongside you, be transparent with her, and confess sins with her as you both pursue the healing of your hearts in Jesus!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone?!

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 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 Day 3 Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone?

2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 9
James 5:13-20
Exodus 15:22-27

Questions, Day 3

She was aglow with the look of carrying new life. Her belly growing month by month as she prayed diligently for the little one squirming within her; her love for her unborn growing faster than even her babe inside. Finally, the long-awaited day came. Her water broke, the hours passed with low moans and contractions gradually intensifying until, drenched in sweat, the mama’s scream ended with a newborn’s lusty cry.

Tiny hands grasping at the air, little wails quickly calmed by mama’s comforting breast.
New Life!
As mama rested with her newborn son, taking in every detail, touching every toe, caressing every silky thread of hair, it didn’t take long for the trained eyes of a midwife to notice the little boys’ eyes.

Pupils that didn’t dilate.
Eyes that could not see.
Blind.
Mama’s baby boy was blind.
How she shook with the realization, tears of agony replacing tears of joy!
He would never see her smile or the beauty of a sunrise.

More, he would be rejected by society. With no means of earning income, he was destined to live off the generosity of others. To everyone but the grieving mama who held him close, pleading with God for healing mercies, his life was meaningless.

Fast forward several decades to one, seemingly random Sabbath.
That baby, now grown into a man, having lived a life of rejection and shame, sat by the roadside, begging for pity.

Walking along that very road, came Jesus and His disciples. Curious questions rolled around the disciples’ heads constantly as they followed the Master, and out tumbled the words as they nodded in the direction of “the man”,
“Rabbi? Who sinned? This man, or his parents, as he was born blind?” (John 9:1)

The man’s heart seemed to stand still as he heard the pointed words. Had he not lived through enough shame that now Jesus Himself would bring him lower still?

Jesus, having already been present as God almighty when this man was a baby being knit together in his mama’s womb, knew exactly why this precious one had been born blind.
It wasn’t for shame.
It wasn’t to mock his mother.
It wasn’t for sin committed.

“Neither”, came Jesus’ words full of authority and tender mercy. Jesus, now bent down in front of the man, looking into eyes that had never seen light, spoke over him with perfectly timed words of freedom, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3)

Jesus healed the man that day.
His parents were impacted. The religious elite were impacted. His entire village was impacted. And this man, once blind, was now rescued for eternity because he had encountered the Light of God.

Does God want to heal everyone?
YES!

He loves each one of us and aches with every illness, minor scrape, disability, and terminal diagnosis. The timing, however, for that healing, is His alone.

Here’s the question we aren’t asking…
What is more urgent and pressing because the time is fleeting,
physical healing or spiritual healing?
Hands down, Spiritual.

We are currently dead, every single human being who has never decided to trust Jesus fully for their salvation is already dead. Not critically injured, not on life-support, not living with a terminal illness….DEAD.

One day, when we cross from this earth to the next, all who believe in Jesus will be fully healed physically, mentally, and spiritually. Every physical ailment from a crooked nose to brain cancer to Autism and Alzheimer’s disease, will be 100% made whole while every sinful inclination of the heart will be forever destroyed.

For now, in the waiting until then, the Lord, who grieves with us in our pain, will graciously use even our broken bodies to declare His glory and goodness to a world dead in their sins, mercifully calling them from death to life!

The little boy whose story was recorded in Scripture, who had lived his entire life in darkness, was made whole so God’s glory would be SEEN by a people who were spiritually blind. No sorrow had been wasted, but it was used for a purpose beyond him. FAR beyond him! Even today, you read his story!

And isn’t that our greatest desire?
That what we do here on earth actually matters?
That our everyday actions are meaningful?
Wouldn’t it be incredible if even our grievous sorrow was used for eternal purposes?!
Only in the hands of a merciful, healing, sovereign God, they are!

Here’s another reality, every person Jesus healed while He lived on earth, still died.
Their healing was temporary.

But He died the death we deserved on the cross to free us for eternity from the chains of every sickness, especially the sickness of Sin and Death.

Are we invited to pray for healing in this life?
Absolutely!
The Lord will use healing to declare His victory.

But, in every single instance, the Lord will either heal or not heal, for a purpose beyond ourselves. We can be confident of this!

While we wait for full healing, struggling with loss and grief and illness and sin, we have every confidence that the With Us God has not, nor never will, leave us to grieve on our own.

For His Glory!
Praise Him for His Healing!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

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 Week One! 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!

Shielded Day 2 Shielded By The Unstoppable: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 Shielded By The Unstoppable!

The Questions

1) What does it mean to wage war “according to the flesh?” (verse 3)

2) What are our weapons of warfare? (verse 4)

3) What arguments and “proud things” is Paul referencing that we should destroy? (verse 5)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to wage war “according to the flesh?” (verse 3)
Paul’s reason for writing his letter to the church in Corinth was multi-faceted, but every specific issue he addressed centered around one general theme, they had walked away from living by God’s Spirit. The Corinthian church was full of people who had genuinely asked Jesus to rescue them from their sin, but gradually, with one decision at a time, they had faded away from living by the Spirit of God who had been deposited in their hearts at the time of their salvation, and had chosen instead to live according to the flesh. (verse 2) Backing up a few verses to the beginning of chapter 10, Paul loved the Corinthian church and had been gentle with them, but now, on hearing how they had walked away from living by their source of power, refusing to access the Spirit living within them, He was ready to come in person and strongly set right what was going wrong. Paul wrote to confront them ahead of time of his visit, drawing their attention sharply back to their heart issue.

2) What are our weapons of warfare? (verse 4)
Paul draws a distinct line when he says, “although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.” (verse 3) We live our everyday lives here on earth wrapped in flesh and bone and surrounded by sin; we are frequently tempted to fulfill our fleshly desires because we live in the flesh. For the believer, however, we do not wage war with mere fleshly weaponry, which would be ineffective. Rather, we have direct access to “weapons of warfare” that have nothing to do with the flesh. These weapons carry with them the very power of God, the same power in fact that raised Jesus from death to life! These weapons are available to the Christ follower to fight against fleshly desires, sin, and our sinful attempt to live God’s way without God’s power. Examples of this powerful weaponry are listed as armor in Ephesians 6:13-18, truthful speech, genuine love, and patience and kindness from the Holy Spirit are given in 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, and 1 Thessalonians 5:8 speaks of faith, love, and salvation as battle weapons with which to wage war.

3) What arguments and “proud things” is Paul referencing that we should destroy? (verse 5)
Paul is specifically addressing the Corinthian church and the habits they are displaying as they have “faded away” from living in God’s power. The reality is that when we stop relying on God’s power to live for Him, we fall back into relying on ourselves. This would be like going from using a power steering mower to cut your grass to using dull safety scissors to mow your lawn. It’s incredible ineffective to use our fleshly power to accomplish the work of God! A byproduct of relying on our own strength, and slowly fading away from God’s truth as our anchor, is that we begin puffing ourselves up. Look what I did! See how I handled that situation! When we are only using our hands to fight, humility is gone, dependence on Christ is absent, and we end up with an inflated view of ourselves, which completely distorts the truths presented in Scripture. God says we are weak because sin ravages us.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to wage war “according to the flesh?” (verse 3)
When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are given an entirely new heart, a new love, a new passion for following Jesus, and a new source of power to actually follow Jesus in obedience. We are entirely made new!! The battle comes when we struggle against our old way of living. Before Jesus’ redemption over our lives, we live according to the flesh, we think about ourselves and how to gratify ourselves. We may appear loving, but we aren’t able to sacrificially love like Jesus day in and day out, growing in intensity. To live according to the flesh means either to live sinfully, or to try hard to live as God has called us, but without His power. Take some time to identify areas you struggle in living “according to the flesh”. 

2) What are our weapons of warfare? (verse 4)
Take a few slow breaths, close your eyes, and assess the weak spots in your life right now. Where are you feeling defeated and worn in your everyday life? Perhaps the battle is heavy against you as you are working intently to further God’s Kingdom in ministry, in loving the unlovable, or in serving within your church. Maybe the battle is showing up in your relationships where conflict seems constantly present. Sometimes the battle surges in full force as we become aware of our sin in specific areas and then, wanting to be like Christ, fight against that sin. Whatever your battle today, my friend, in the words of Paul, “Stand firm….”, intentionally put on His own armor He fitted for you, and know that your greatest weapon is the Spirit of the Living God who works powerfully within you. He holds the victory! 

3) What arguments and “proud things” is Paul referencing that we should destroy? (verse 5)
We are weak because we will always, over time, choose to love ourselves and our sin over the Savior. God’s antidote is Christ and His power working in us to accomplish His purposes! (2 Corinthians 12:9) He gives us His weaponry to tear down and destroy every stronghold where we are bowing to other gods and living for ourselves rather than surrendering to God’s wisdom, and living His way, by the power of His Spirit. (verses 4-5) Take these few minutes to prayerfully ask the Lord where you are trusting in your own strength. Where is sin slowly creeping in, tempting you with lies and justifications? Fight those battles with the Spirit of God inside you, Christian! Refuse to allow the ground in your heart that Christ died to rescue, be turned over again as enemy territory!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Shielded By The Unstoppable!

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 Shielded 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.

Gospel Day 10 That Whosoever

3 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 3:16-18
John 4:7-38
Luke 23:39-43

Gospel Day, 10

Confession: I can recite John 3:16 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, but I am pretty sure I could not share from memory any other verse in that version. The other verses I have memorized and catalogued in my brain are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) version.

I grew up learning verses and the practice of memorizing the Word has proven it’s worth to me over and over and over again throughout my life. Verses tucked into the recesses of my mind have been breathed upon by the Holy Spirit at just the moment when I needed to hear His voice of truth. They have been guideposts, brought conviction, given hope, and provided solid lifelines. It is in the midst of these sweet reflections of the value of memorizing I am also challenged to remember to interact with the memorized verses and not just be able to recite them.
These are the words of life,
not simply a set of words attached to a place in the Bible.

As I slow down and ponder the words of John 3:16, I’m reading it in different versions as well. Today I’m focusing on the word “whosoever.” I don’t know about you, but since I am not in the legal field or one who uses the KJV routinely, “whosoever” has become more of a transition word between the beginning and end of the verse rather than a key component of the verse. However, reading the different versions have reminded me of the significance of “whosoever.”

Christian Standard Bible (CSB): everyone
The Message (MSG): anyone
NASB: whoever
The Amplified Classic (AMPC): whoever
New International Version (NIV): whoever
The promise found in John 3:16 is for everyone, anyone, and whoever.

While the other translations of the Bible help me grasp a better awareness of who is included, the KJV caused me to think of the entire verse from a legal perspective, and the covenantal love found in John 3:16 came to life: the covenant between God the Father and whosoever. He gives His son, Jesus, and eternal life through Him to whosoever believes in Him.

Many have stepped into this covenant with the Lord and been rescued from the consequences of sin, which is eternal death and separation from God. And just in case someone reading this might be disqualifying herself as a “whosoever” due to her history, let’s review a few noted individuals in Scripture.

The Woman at the Well
Are you a “whosoever” actively avoiding life currently?
So was she.
This woman went to the well during the heat of midday just to avoid interacting with others. She wore the identity of outcast based on her sordid past. Her history may well have been caused by her own choices, yet the Lord offered His relentless, covenant love. She willingly believed, surrendered her will to His, and joined the ranks of the “whosoever.”

Thief on the Cross
Are you a “whosoever” currently feeling like she is beyond redemption?
The thief on the cross literally had moments to live after living a life that led him to death by crucifixion. Yet, despite a lifetime of guilt and shame, there he encountered the Savior. After that brief interaction, he received the promise of living in Paradise with Christ on that very day!

Saul
Are you a “whosoever” battling the need to earn your relationship with the Lord?
Maybe you feel “not good enough”. Maybe you wonder if you’ll ever be enough. Maybe the burden of trying is becoming too heavy?
Saul, not yet Paul, lived a life that earned him rank and prestige among the religious leaders of the day. He had the upbringing and connections that enabled him to walk with power and impact. He met the mark for being a member of the religious community. However, it was not until his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus that he truly experienced a relationship with Him and discovered that it’s not about doing for the Lord but being with Him.

These are just three examples of people found in the Word who chose to believe in the Lord. “Whosoevers” who made a decision forever changing their lives and their eternities.

Where do you find yourself today?
What is your whosoever story?

I encourage you to boldly acknowledge where you are today and ask the Lord to meet you there. He has proven faithful to His covenant with us over and over and over again through Scripture.
He will extend that faithful love to any whosoever who believes in Him.

I know “this whosoever” (raising my hand) writing today needed this reminder of His faithfulness to all those who came before me as I talk to God about my current whosoever status.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Gospel Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Tabernacle Day 15 Invitation

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 11:28-30
John 15:1-11
Ezekiel 37: 26-30
Psalm 91:1-2
Revelation 21:1-4 

Tabernacle, Day 15

“Hear ye! Hear ye! 
I hereby declare all the ladies in the land are invited to a royal ball!”

Remember the scene when the king’s courier arrives to deliver the invitation?
Of course, Cinderella is included, BUT her cruel stepmother has different plans: keeping Cinderella home, slaving away doing chores.
Thankfully, Fairy Godmother comes to the rescue and with the wave of a wand, turns pumpkins into a carriage and transforms torn rags into a magnificent gown.
Cinderella is instantly ready for the ball!  

We may not be Cinderella, 
but we are most certainly recipients of a royal invitation.  

Regardless of our background, ethnicity, economic status, hair color, or jean size,
we have EACH been invited to enter God’s throne room.  

Furthermore, our invitation requires no magic and isn’t limited to one night of dancing.
Rather, God has requested our presence with Him EVERY day.  

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:17, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…”  God wants to be part of EVERY aspect of our lives.  

In the Old Testament, God dwelt in the midst of His people as a cloud or a pillar of fire. (Exodus 13:21-22)
Under the Lord’s direction, the Israelites built a tabernacle that moved with them as they made their way from Egypt to Canaan through the desert. While everyone was able to enter the court of the tabernacle, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the curtained off area where the very presence of God rested.  Even then, the high priest only entered the Holy of Holies ONE day each year, to offer sacrifice for sin on behalf of the entire nation. This way of interacting with God via the priest continued for thousands of years…until Jesus came and changed everything! 

Jesus basically hand delivered God’s invitation to come dwell with Him;
He was God’s invitation in the flesh.
‘Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”’ (John 14:6) 

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls out to the weak and weary,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

 In John 6:35 Jesus beckons,
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” 

In John 7:37-38, Jesus reminds us that TRUE, meaningful, abundant life is found in Him alone, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

His invitation is for anyone and everyone! 

After delivering these divine invitations, Jesus then became the final sacrifice.
Just as the high priest in the Old Testament would offer a flawless lamb on behalf of the entire nation’s sin, Jesus, the flawless Lamb of God gave up Himself on our behalf, paying the price for our sins. (1 Peter 1:19)
As Jesus breathed His final breath from the cross, He declared, “It is finished”.
At that moment, the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom, as with the hand of the Almighty and not from man.
The Holy of Holies was now open to everyone, every single day of the year.
Jesus made it possible for us to PERSONALLY enter God’s presence! 

Jesus’ invitation still stands.   

If you have not yet welcomed Him into your life for the first time,
I encourage you to do so TODAY.  (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Jesus calls you to come as you are; He is waiting with open arms to lovingly embrace you. 

If you have already responded to Jesus’ invitation, I encourage you to keep studying Him!
There will always be more to know about His infinite love and character, which will result in your deeper growth and more beautiful transformation to become like Him. (Philippians 1:9)
Allow His Word to light your way. (Psalm 119:105)
Allow Him to equip you to do the good. (Ephesians 2:10)
Allow Him to empower you with His Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17)
He wants to encourage you, (Philippians 2:1)
sing over you, (Zephaniah 3:17)
bless you with peace. (Psalm 29:11) 

He wants to be with you, present in every single aspect of your life, He is your everyday Savior! 

God’s invitation to sit in His presence doesn’t come via royal courier,
but rather in the real moments of everyday life. 

Perhaps it’s the beauty of a sunset, a connection with a friend, or even your snotty-nosed toddler, or the endless ways you feel overrun. Whatever the moment, even this one right now, know that God IS inviting you to be present with Him.   

It’s easy to push SNOOZE on this precious invitation.
I do it more than I would like to admit.
Don’t give in!

Hold onto the truth that whatever your day may hold,
God is inviting us to let Him into EVERY moment.
How will you RSVP?

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Tabernacle Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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