gentleness

Fruitful Day 15 Sweet Self Control

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 6:1-22
Genesis 8:15-22
Daniel 1:1-21
John 13:34-35
Galatians 5:22-23

Fruitful, Day 15

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control. The law is not against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

These are two amazingly profound verses, subtle in their power and fierce in content. The first eight fruits all make logical sense. Who wouldn’t want more of those qualities?

Then there’s self-control.

It’s like a beautiful, soothing piece of music playing in the background for the first eight fruits, which suddenly comes to a screeching halt when self-control is presented and viewed through worldly understanding.

However, over the years, I have come to appreciate the inclusion of self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, and how it bookends the list with love. I am also grateful self-control is a result of the Holy Spirit working within me.

Self-control is defined as “the ability to control behaviors in order to avoid temptations and to achieve goals. The ability to delay gratification and resist unwanted behaviors or urges. A limited resource that can be depleted.”

Can you imagine a world without any self-control?

I realize a few of the posts I’ve seen on my social media feed over the past year may not have been created if a greater measure of self-control had been employed. So maybe a lack of self-control isn’t too hard to imagine.

Thankfully, the Lord knew the vital need for self-control and gave us the Holy Spirit to help grow and implement self-control within us.

Additionally, He is a faithful Father who demonstrates self-control perfectly. He also gave us His Word, in which we see examples of other imperfect humans learning and expressing self-control.

One of the first examples that came to my mind of the Lord’s self-control being modeled in Scripture is the flood. (Genesis 6:5-22) Yes, I do mean the story of the Lord sending the flood to wipe mankind from the face of the earth with the exception of Noah and his family.

This story might seem like a strange choice, but I see two distinct ways in which He showed self-control.
1) Sparing Noah’s family
2) His promise to never flood the earth again
The Lord did not completely destroy all of mankind. He displayed self-control by sparing the race and graciously selected Noah and his family for the journey.

He also promised to never flood the earth again, giving us the rainbow as a symbol and reminder of His covenant vow. (Genesis 9:11-17) Scripture doesn’t provide great detail regarding the people’s wickedness in Noah’s day, but I have observed a few things in my lifetime making me wonder how closely our behavior mirrors theirs.

Still, the Lord displays self-control every single time it rains, by not flooding the world.

The Lord perfectly demonstrates self-control and Scripture is full of people who loved the Lord and, as a result, their lives reflected His self-control in their own stories. I am a visual learner and observing how others have practiced self-control helps me immensely.

Daniel and his diet, for example. (Daniel 1:8-16)
I admit I am nibbling on a cookie — timing is everything — as I imagine what it must have been like for the selected Jewish exiles to eat from the royal table. The decadence offered, and daily encouraged, must have rivaled any all-you-can-eat buffet.

However, Daniel and three others training with him chose to eat only what would honor the Lord, as the “rich food” had been offered to idols.

Their choice required self-control in surrender to the Lord. Not only were they bypassing the choicest food, they were risking displeasing the king, and likely suffered ridicule from their peers at the table. Multiple forms of self-control were required to honor the Lord through their food commitment.

Like Daniel, we are called to reflect God’s character of self-control in our own lives through surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s work in us. At times, I have successfully displayed Spirit-driven self-control. I’ve also failed more times than I care to consider.

For several years, I worked at a college with fraternities and sororities. Within that role, I was called into all sorts of scenarios at all hours. So often, especially during the middle-of-the-night, high-stress situations, I sensed the Holy Spirit fueling self-control within me. Many students I worked with didn’t know the Lord, but most knew I did. How I responded in those situations reflected on the work the Lord had been doing in my own heart. I will never know the full impact of how His self-control changed situations, but I pray those students were positively influenced.

Self-control is challenging to implement in real life if we are relying solely on ourselves. I love how the definition describes self-control as a resource that can be depleted. We cannot walk this life alone, relying on our own self-control reservoir. It will run out.

Therefore, we desperately need to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives. He can pour out self-control, not only refueling our dwindling resources, but supply self-control that can only come from God.

Self-control is a sweet gift from the Lord.
Holy Spirit, please pour out more. Make my heart a tender place of surrender as You work out this fruit in me! For Your glory, our benefit, and the benefit of those around us!

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Fruitful Day 14 The Gentleness of Jesus: 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 The Gentleness of Jesus!

The Questions

1) Why did Jesus wash the disciple’s feet? (verse 12)

2) Was Jesus’ direction to wash the feet of others literal? (verse 14)

3) What did Jesus mean by “a servant is not greater than his master”? (verse 16)

John 13:12-17

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you; a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Original Intent

1) Why did Jesus wash the disciple’s feet? (verse 12)
Walking in sandals on the dusty dirty roads of Israel made foot washing a necessity before sharing a meal. Since people reclined at low tables, their feet were right next to others, not to mention the table and food. While the washing of feet was a common practice, it was highly uncommon for someone of Jesus’ stature as a revered Rabbi Teacher to perform the task reserved for household slaves. However, Jesus took it upon Himself to fulfill this lowly duty in order to model a lesson of love to His disciples. The lesson these twelve men seemed to have a hard time understanding was how necessary it was to have an attitude of servanthood toward others, just like Jesus. In Matthew 20 we read a story of two brothers, whose mom asked Jesus for a favor regarding her sons’ positions in His kingdom. It is clear from the exchange that the disciples not only expected Jesus to become an earthly king, but they also struggled significantly with pride. They felt they earned authority and power by being associated with Jesus. Cutting to the heart, Jesus responds with clarity, “you’ve got it all wrong, if you want to be great, then be a servant”. (Matthew 20:27-28, my paraphrase)

2) Was Jesus’ direction to wash the feet of others literal? (verse 14)
It’s hard to say if Jesus’ instructions in the original context were meant literally as well as figuratively, but it was certainly an unforgettable scene. If you go back and read this story from the beginning of John 13, we notice that, of the men present, Jesus was the only person willing to tackle the dirty task of foot washing. The text doesn’t tell us why a servant wasn’t present to perform the job, but the other twelve disciples reclining at the table knew someone needed to do the work, yet none made any effort to do so. In that sense, one could make a case that Jesus’ words had two meanings; the first being “next time, one of you guys should do this for each other”. However, most likely, His words were meant as an example for His teaching point, “you all need to develop an attitude of serving others, which means setting your pride aside and doing things you think are beneath you”.

3) What did Jesus mean by “a servant is not greater than his master”? (verse 16)
Jesus’ intention was to get these men to look to Him as their example in all things. In that day, following a Rabbi literally meant to follow His every step, learning everything they could about “being a Rabbi”. This concept, however, went much deeper for Jesus’ purposes. He wasn’t trying to make “little Rabbis” who could speak and teach rhetoric like Him; He wanted them to live lives of sacrificial love as He modeled. He is the Master of Love; the disciples knew and understood He was greater than they in every regard. In a sense, Jesus was saying, “If I, the long-awaited Messiah, am willing to humble Myself and willingly take on the job of a lowly servant, you should as well”. It’s important to keep in mind that these men Jesus spoke to were the same ones who, in just a few short days, would be responsible for spreading the gospel and starting the Church by the power of God’s Spirit. Jesus needed them to think differently about Himself, others, and their role as His disciples.

Everyday Application

1) Why did Jesus wash the disciple’s feet? (verse 12)
Jesus washed dirty feet to be an example to those who would soon carry His message of hope, love, and freedom to the world. The One Sovereign God of All, holding all power and authority above any other, willingly took on this menial job with humility and love. Our takeaway is to have this same attitude of Christ reflected in our everyday moments. In rich teaching, the apostle Paul wrote to believers, “adopt the same attitude as Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 2:5-8) This heart-attitude is characterized by humility, gentleness, and a willingness to meet and serve others regardless of who they are or their position in life. While foot washing is no longer commonplace, there are thousands of menial tasks to be entered into every day in our homes, churches, and workplaces. As followers of Christ, we also need to be willing to jump in and take on those tasks regardless of whether or not it’s our specifically assigned job. Pray over these opportunities and ask the Lord to show you where you can practically reflect Christ’s heart-attitude.

2) Was Jesus’ direction to wash the feet of others literal? (verse 14)
When Jesus directed His disciples to “also…wash one another’s feet”, He was speaking more about developing, and living out, an attitude of servanthood than He was about literal foot-washing. Living with a servant’s heart requires more than simply doing what is required or finishing tasks out of guilt or obligation. Rather, true service flows from love and a willingness to meet others in their mess and jump in with humility. Once again, Paul discusses this attitude in Philippians 2:13-15 when he says, “do everything without grumbling or complaining”. It’s one thing to serve others out of obligation, or because we can’t come up with a good excuse to decline. It’s completely different to serve others from a desire to love like Jesus in the middle of others’ messiness. It’s funny how Jesus seems to provide real life examples for me each time I sit down to write. Just today, I had planned to spend the entire morning researching and writing this study. I had my cup of coffee and was headed to my laptop when my sister called needing help. Helping her would mess up my plans and, honestly, I wasn’t even sure I could help, but I went because that’s what sisters do. In the end, it wasn’t so much about helping, but being present and standing with her. With transparency, I’m not sure my attitude reflected servanthood, but I still chose to go because loving people is rarely convenient. I don’t know about you, but my own life is messy; still, that doesn’t stop Jesus from meeting me where I am and loving me on the journey. I am a work in progress, just like all of us who have surrendered to Jesus, and I’m thankful He teaches me lessons like this every day!

3) What did Jesus mean by “a servant is not greater than his master”? (verse 16)
The twelve disciples played a critically important role in living out the kind of radical love Jesus had humbly modeled in front of them during His time on earth; our role as fellow Christ-followers is just as necessary. We too need to think differently about God, others, and ourselves. We have the exact same job assignment as the original twelve who witnessed Jesus act of humble love in front of them, “Go and make disciples”. (Matthew 28:19) Jesus provided us with real life, everyday examples of how to go about accomplishing His mission by meeting people and loving them exactly where they are. By serving others with humility and gentleness, we love like Him. When we don’t judge others and place ourselves higher, we love like Him. When we choose to love others in the middle of their messes, and in spite of our own inconveniences, we love like Him. The coolest part is we aren’t in this “loving others with humility” thing alone! Jesus not only wants to equip us and teach us how to love like Him through His Spirit in us, but He also invites us to ask for His divine help in every single circumstance we encounter. “Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart”. (Matthew 11:28-30) Let’s learn from the Master how to live and love like He did!

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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.

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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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Fruitful Day 13 The Gentleness Of Jesus

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Mark 5:25-43
Matthew 11:28-30
John 13:12-17
Galatians 5:22-23

Fruitful, Day 13

The crowds were gathering, pressing relentlessly on all sides.
With His power to heal illness and drive away demons, word was spreading quickly. People from all walks of life, with all manner of brokenness, flocked in masses in pursuit of Jesus, the Christ.

In the midst of this particular crowd was a well-respected Jewish man, high-ranking with authority and political clout as a synagogue official, for he too was desperate. Jairus was familiar with Jesus’ growing fame and His divine ability, as he had likely witnessed Jesus healing a man’s hand in the synagogue in the weeks prior. (Luke 6:6-11) None could do what Jesus did. While Jairus was surely intrigued, he entered the crushing crowd that day out of pure desperation.

His daughter’s life hung in the balance.

It’s easy to step back and critically analyze. One can afford to be curious at a distance, but when it’s your desperation, nothing matters but the pursuit of wholeness.

Jesus immediately responded to Jairus’ urgent pleas to come to his house and slowly they moved in that direction.

Again, the crowds followed.

Can you imagine being Jairus? Desperation met reality as faces swam in front of both men. The mob was filled with shoving and jostling, loud noises, body odor, and incessant pressing of desperate bodies running rickshaw over one another as one little girl’s life hovered between life and death.

I’m not really comfortable with crowds like that, but if I wanted to be near Jesus, I am certain I would have set aside my discomfort to join the throng in pursuit of Christ that day.

Which is exactly what one woman did. Like Jairus, her desperation drove her into the tangled mass of people. She’d endured twelve long years of uterine bleeding, living as a shamed outcast from her community (Leviticus 15:25-27), taken advantage of by doctors who promised cures but worsened her condition. (Mark 5:26) Ironically, she, who had lived over a decade in isolation, was now driven by desperation into a crowd of hundreds with one goal in mind. Wholeness.

Twenty-nine years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Like this suffering woman, I’ve experienced isolation from friends and even family because of disease. People are uncomfortable with such ravaging illness and don’t know what to say, so they stay away. They fear “catching” cancer themselves, and in their attempt to self-protect, they left me alone. I imagine this woman and I had many common experiences. Fear. Shame. Abandonment. Loss. Grief. Add to those woes the fact that her condition was neither diagnosable nor curable, despite the costly search for answers, and her desperation becomes nearly palpable.

Unrelated to cancer, five years ago I experienced intestinal disorders that no test or exam could identify. I too was neither diagnosable nor curable, and after six months of constant appointments, pokes, and prods, I was exhausted. I can only imagine twelve years of such! I can hear her heart’s cry, “What could it hurt to find Jesus? I’ve tried everything else. I have nothing more to lose.”

Jairus, desperate for his little daughter’s life.
This woman, desperate for her own.

Both were met with a radical gift surpassing their expectations.
Gentleness.

I’m sure the woman planned to press through the crowds, likely on her knees, to touch just the hem of His garment and then slip away unnoticed. But at her touch, despite many hands pressed against Him, Jesus’ voice of authority pierced the cacophony, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30)

My reaction would have been the same as the disciples’. “You see this crowd pressing in on you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” (Mark 5:31) Jesus knew the difference between the touch of physical nearness and the hope of desperate faith.

In His divinity, Jesus knew who had touched Him.
In His gentleness, He asked His question of invitation.

Tightness grips my chest as I think of her “being caught,” and then I relax, remembering Jesus’ gentleness has invited this woman to step out. I can envision His calm eyes searching the crowd for the woman’s face, fixing His gaze of compassionate love upon her. Scripture records the woman coming with “fear and trembling.” Aware of her healing, she came to Jesus, fell down before Him, and told the whole truth. (Mark 5:33)

Christ’s gentleness drew her to Himself, invited her to unpack the entirety of her brokenness, then responded by publicly calling her His own, “Daughter.” He made her whole.

Not just her body, but her soul.
“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Mark 5:34)

Amid a stunned crowd, a messenger for Jairus arrives with the tragic news his daughter has died. In the span of time it took Jesus to call one woman out of brokenness and into wholeness, another’s life passed away.

Yet, the gentle Jesus turns unhurried, peace-filled eyes to meet Jairus’ red-rimmed ones, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”  (Mark 5:36)

The nameless woman fades away into the crowd, no longer hiding nor walking with head bowed low. She dances in grace, for the gentleness of Jesus has called her His own, healing her body, heart, and soul.

As for Jairus’ daughter, the Gentle Christ takes her slim, cold hand in His as His divine voice awakens her from death to life. (Mark 5:41-42)

Our desperation, no matter how dire, is no match for the Gentle Christ.
So bring your exhaustion, your desperation, and your faith, and find wholeness in the gentle touch of our Savior.

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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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Fruitful Day 6 Produce Or Consume?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 31:24-29
Galatians 3:1-6
Galatians 5:16-25
2 Peter 3:8-13

Fruitful, Day 6

Patience.
A fruit of the Spirit we’d much rather consume than produce.
Something we pray for to help us get through our own trials, too often forgetting patience is also part of bearing witness.

As Moses prepared to climb a mountain and die when God said it was his time, he told Israel how much patience they required. Through plagues, rescue, the parting of the sea, miraculous provision in the wilderness, outmatched battles, and the establishment of the law, Moses was patient. Forbearing. Enduring through rebellion after rebellion.

He needed patience from God to persevere with the stiff-necked people. The patience he received also testified to the people of God’s faithfulness to them.

Fast forward to another man called to shepherd God’s stubborn people.

“You foolish Galatians!” (Galatians 3:1)
The apostle Paul’s stern correction to the early believers in Galatia carried a strong reminder to return to the God who set them free.

Israel had experienced freedom from bondage in Egypt by God’s might. The Galatians experienced freedom in Christ, God’s own Son. Yet, like Israel, they were eager to return to rules, repression, and religiosity.

“Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

Paul had every reason for impatience, but he patiently bore with the Galatian believers, offering exhortation.

His enduring care for them did not urge them to muscle through, but to grow in dependence on the One who could empower them to bear trials patiently, who could sustain them and their testimony through every hardship. The Holy Spirit.

Not much later in the letter, Paul described the results of the Holy Spirit’s work in hearts, even stubborn and foolish ones.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Paul needed divine patience to bear with the churches who turned back so easily, the kind only available from the God who waits for each of us to come to Him. (2 Peter 3:9) The patience he received testified of God’s continued faithfulness to His church.

God Himself is patient, and His patience proves His faithfulness. He waited until the right time to send His Son to save us. Now, He is waiting to bring to completion His big promise, to begin the Day of Lord:

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

He invites us to experience this kind of patience in our own lives.
A patience that doesn’t simply wait, but waits for a good, loving, hopeful purpose, like the salvation of many!

I’m convicted here when I realize I tend to think of patience as a fruit I want to eat more than produce.

I work to muster patience up first, scraping it together like hard-earned cash that can’t cover the bills (Lord, forgive me!). When I still don’t have enough, I remember where to turn. I ask God, and what patience He gives me through the Holy Spirit, I gobble up, giving thanks, but not giving myself up.

Then someone surprises me with a comment on how patient I seem. They ask how and why, and grace reminds me that patience is for feeding, not just receiving.

The fruit of the Spirit is a testimony to God’s character and faithfulness to all who come to Him.

Moses needed divine patience to do all God commanded, but that patience was also evidence to others of God’s enduring love.

Paul needed divine patience for his God-given mission, but that patience also spoke to those to whom he continually bore witness.

In truth, you and I tend to ask God for patience because we are hungering after something and don’t like to wait. The Holy Spirit produces patience in us so hungry people might see Jesus and know where to be filled.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

May those who look at us see the fruit of patience in our lives, and through that fruit, recognize the One who’s walking with us, who is patient with us, and who is patiently waiting to walk with them, too.

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Seeds Day 14 Gloriously Broken: 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 Gloriously Broken!

The Questions

1) Why were Paul and Silas praying and singing?

2) Why was the jailer so quick to fall on his knees before his prisoners?

3) What does this story reveal about God’s authority versus human authority?

Acts 16:25-40

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.

35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So, come out now and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.

Original Intent

1) Why were Paul and Silas praying and singing?
The circumstances for their worship is unimaginable. There exists no earthly reason why these two should be awake at midnight, and certainly not found praying or singing. Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching Christ as Savior, more so, the pair had been beaten by professionals in public punishment. Bruised, bleeding, quite likely suffering a broken rib (or few), twisted appendages, loose teeth, swollen eyes, or a concussion, this was the time for a doctor’s care, washed wounds, medicine, nourishment, and rest. Yet these men received none of it. Shackled in a small, dank cell, where the world would surely expect groaning and complaint, Paul and Silas were continuing the work they had been commissioned with, the very work that had landed them in prison in the first place: worship. Their obedience to travel to a new city to share the gospel was an act of worship, obedience to boldly preach was worship, and though their scenario was now different, it did not determine their obedience to continue in worship. This obedience to the Lord was not a heavy-burdened duty to perform. They were not singing because they “had to”. No! They prayed and sang out of love for the One who had freed them for eternity; earthly chains and sufferings held no long-term threat to them. (Psalm 118:6, Matthew 10:28)

2) Why was the jailer so quick to fall on his knees before his prisoners?
One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin for the purpose of bringing a lost soul into eternal salvation. Without this conviction from the Spirit, no one would repent from their sin, we are too in love with ourselves as ruler over our lives. (John 16:8) Anyone who turns to Jesus for salvation does so because the Holy Spirit has convicted them of their sin, shown them the perfect righteousness of God, and convicted them of a coming judgement when only those names found written in the Book of Life will enter eternal life. (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 17:8) For this jailer to repent, the Holy Spirit was convicting his heart of his own sin. As Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The Spirit uses His “sword”, which is the Word of God, the Bible, in His conviction as by its penetrating cut, the thoughts and intentions of the heart are discerned. (Hebrews 4:12) Paul and Silas were not praying with random words or singing meaningless ditties to pass the time, they were praying Scripture and singing God’s living Word. (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 42:8) They were preaching even in their worship. The Holy Spirit had been preparing this jailer’s heart, and when he was confronted with the truth of Scripture paired with the faith of the beaten disciples, he knew he needed this same salvation.

3) What does this story reveal about God’s authority versus human authority?
Scripture teaches over and over that never once are we forsaken, alone, or unloved by the God who died to save us from ourselves. (Romans 8:37-39, Romans 5:6-8) His authority rules and reigns over all things (Matthew 28:18), even when we don’t perceive it. Nothing is beyond His control and ability to redeem. The Lord was with Paul and Silas as they preached, giving them words and boldness. He was with them as every blow was struck to their bodies. He was with them in that prison cell, growing their faith and dependence on Him, even as their human bodies ached with wounds. His Spirit stirred inside them, causing them to hunger for deeper connection with Him as His constant invitation to pray to Him was open. Paul and Silas responded to the Spirit working inside them, just as had been their growing habit since He took up residence within them at their conversions to faith, and they prayed and sang for all to hear in the middle of the night. Jail cell and prison bond and beating would not stop them from sharing Hope because God’s authority trumps all of man’s authority and perspective.

Everyday Application

1) Why were Paul and Silas praying and singing?
It is not in the fine, easy-going scenarios in life where our faith is proven genuine. Rather, it is when our freedom is gone, our life hangs in the balance, and despair threatens to pull us under when our true heart is revealed. Do we believe God is good even in the dark? Do we believe He is worthy of worship when our plans have slipped through our fingers? Will we worship when the music has faded from our souls and we no longer feel like praying? There, there in those darkest moments is true worship born while faith grows. What was true in the light remains true in the dark; the Lord will never forsake (Deuteronomy 31:6), never abandon (2 Corinthians 4:9), is forever faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3), and always good (Psalm 136:1). Because His character is permanently unchanging, we can worship in the midst of tragedy. This passage doesn’t record these men as jovially laughing and carrying on, making light of their situation. Perhaps they were providing needed comic relief to each other, but just as likely, they were weeping while they worshipped and prayed. Sisters, this story is for us! Regardless of your scenario, whether it’s dark or light, shadows or sunshine, we have more than enough reason to obediently, from a heart of love, worship the Lord!

2) Why was the jailer so quick to fall on his knees before his prisoners?
Think on how your personal journey to surrendering your life and will to Christ’s. When did you see yourself as impossibly lost because of your sin? How did the Holy Spirit use Scripture to point you to the righteousness of a Holy God who loves you? Whose faith did God use to set before you an example of genuine life-change. Take some time in the next few days and write that person or persons a note expressing gratitude for the way they lived out their faith as it impacted you. Be in prayer as you think of all those you may never even know about being influenced (or potentially influenced) by your faith lived out. What if your worship preached the gospel? What if Scripture was on your lips when the Cheerios spilled and you prayed Scripture as you walked through conflict with your spouse? Suppose it was worship that flowed out when you got that email or heard that gossip that hurt? Only the sovereign God knows what He will accomplish through your obedient worship!

3) What does this story reveal about God’s authority versus human authority?
Sisters, all seemed dark for these men, but God’s power and authority were hemming them in behind, before, and on all sides. His power was not dimmed by their suffering or the darkness of their circumstance, it shone all the brighter. As testament, the Lord sent an earthquake so violent it broke their physical chains and awakened the jailer from physical sleep so he could wake up to real life in the spiritual realm. God’s authority at work again over sin and death in the story of the jailer. An earthquake is one thing, salvation of a soul for eternity is another entirely. Through His incredible sovereign power, the Lord used a physical occurrence of an earthquake to bring about a spiritual encounter with one jailer and his family and it was recorded for centuries that you and I might read it and be encouraged. I wonder what ordinary things He might use through your willingness and mine to reach those around us, rescuing them for eternity just like the jailer.

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

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 Seeds 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.

Seeds Day 2 Unstoppable Overflow: 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 Unstoppable Overflow!

The Questions

1) If all believers have the Holy Spirit, why doesn’t everyone speak in different tongues? (verse 4)

2) Why did “some sneer and say, ‘they’re drunk on new wine’”? (verse 13)

3) What common result occurs when believers are obedient to the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:1-16

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Original Intent

1) If all believers have the Holy Spirit, why doesn’t everyone speak in different tongues? (verse 4)
First, it’s important to note and define what “languages” mean in the original context. Verse 6 and following point out that each one in the crowd were hearing the message of the gospel in “their own language”. The languages here are not “secret prayer languages” as Paul speaks of in Corinthians, rather they are the languages of the time and culture (Parthians, Medes, Elamites, etc as noted in verses 9-11). Also, note that as the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples, represented by the visual of flaming tongues, the Flame “separated and rested on each of them”. The Lord God is a diverse God and the Holy Spirit reflects that character. There is no evidence in the remainder of Scripture that the disciples were always able to speak in countless different languages, but Scripture does not specifically say they didn’t either. The point is not the gift and ability the disciples had at this time, the focus is on the power of the Spirit who enabled them to do what they previously were completely incapable of doing. This is precisely what the Spirit does!

2) Why did “some sneer and say, ‘they’re drunk on new wine’”? (verse 13)
An absolutely incredible miracle, never before witnessed, was occurring right before their eyes, yet some in the crowd of eyewitnesses outright rejected it by mocking the miracle and its validity. These mockers “wrote off” what God was doing by publicly defaming the disciples saying they were “drunk on new wine”, making it seem like the whole miracle was a mass of confusion instigated by a group of drunkards. In reality, the Spirit of the Living God was being poured out for the purpose of calling sinners, all humanity, even these mockers, into the fullness of life offered through the forgiveness and redemption of Christ.

3) What common result occurs when believers are obedient to the Holy Spirit?
In this passage we see several specific results from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit enabled the disciples to do what was previously impossible (verse 4) and what isn’t stated, is the obvious, the disciples obeyed. The Spirit does not force any believer to do anything, but each of the disciples moved and followed through on what the Spirit was leading them to do.
The people were astounded and amazed (verse 7). God’s work will always be incredible, it is our choice to either recognize His moving or discount it as a “weird phenomenon” or “coincidence.” Ask the Spirit to give you eyes to see where He is actively working!
Where God’s Spirit moves people are drawn in to Him. Sometimes this shows up as questions, seeking to know Him more. Sometimes it results in saving faith or a deeper faith, but always there is fruit. As believers, we should take great encouragement from this! Whenever we step out in obedience, the Lord will work!
Notice that the disciples were not doing anything special for the Spirit to fill them and use them. They were simply waiting, praying, and ready. May we assume those same postures as we move through each moment of our day, waiting expectantly for God to move, praying in sweet connection with Him, and ready to be obedient, even if it looks different than we expect.

Everyday Application

1) If all believers have the Holy Spirit, why doesn’t everyone speak in different tongues? (verse 4)
Sometimes when reading Scripture, we become so focused on the details we lose sight of the big picture being painted. We then try to make direct application to our lives centuries later based on details recorded in a different time and culture and directed towards a different audience. If we aren’t careful, we can do precisely that in this passage and throughout the book of Acts. Much of Acts is descriptive rather than prescriptive, meaning it tells the story of the work of the Holy Spirit in very specific ways to point to the awesome power being unleashed through Christ-followers who submit the Spirit’s leading. When reading Scripture, it’s important to ask good questions in order to arrive at good application. Some questions to ask are: What does this say about God? What does this say about people? How should I respond?
Here in Acts, we see the Holy Spirit as the one who moves, acts, and enables believers to bring about God’s glory in various ways dependent on circumstance, our willingness to be obedient, and God’s sovereign will. This description is still accurate today! While not all believers walk around speaking in numerous languages, there are hundreds of modern day accounts where missionaries have been able to speak a foreign language for the purpose of communicating the gospel, even though they did not know the language. The power of the Holy Spirit is not limited to only a set number of evidences!

2) Why did “some sneer and say, ‘they’re drunk on new wine’”? (verse 13)
When we step back to look at this scene, it seems ridiculous! How could these in the crowd that day have missed out on all God was doing, the power He was obviously displaying as He broke down language barriers by His Spirit, and the redemption He was offering to all? But they did miss out; completely, at the expense of their own eternity. We don’t know if they ever realized the truth of total forgiveness Jesus was offering, but we can take a few applications from this encounter.
First, it’s one thing to explore the claims of Christ and genuinely question the validity of His claim to be God and Savior. It’s another thing entirely to outright mock Him when given the plain opportunity to accept His gift of life and witness the demonstration of His power. The latter is nothing to play around with. Each of us are like vanishing mists, never knowing when our final breath will be; by then it will be too late to ask Jesus to rescue our souls.
Second, Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Corinthians that, though this mocking response seems outlandish, it is expected. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Again in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he writes, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” This opposition and mockery of truth is expected, but it is also a reminder for believers to constantly be praying as Paul did for the “eyes of your hearts to be opened that you may know the hope to which He has called you.” (Ephesians 1:18)

3) What common result occurs when believers are obedient to the Holy Spirit?
Remember that in Scripture passages that are descriptive, we can look for key aspects of the big picture scene described to root us in truth for everyday living and application. Just because we have the Holy Spirit within us doesn’t mean we will constantly have the opportunity to preach a sermon like Peter did and have outstanding results of 3,000 people rescued from sin. (Acts 2:41) What we can rely on is that the Spirit will give us opportunity to share the gospel. It’s our job to be prayerful until the Lord gives that platform. We can also trust that when God provides the opportunity to share, results will occur. Those results are often unseen as we obediently sow the seed of the gospel with every opportunity we are given. Some seed will indeed fall on hard soil, like the mockers in the crowd, but even in that, the Lord is working, even if it is the work of growing our own obedience and trust in Him. It is never our job to ascertain results, only to be “ready to share the reason for the hope within us with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

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

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 Seeds 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.

Beauty Day 9
For the Beauty of Love: Digging Deeper

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Curious as to why we Dig Deeper?
Here’s Why! 

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s Journey Post? Check out For the Beauty of Love!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

My Questions

1) Why does “the love chapter” begin by talking about tongues and prophecy?

2) What exactly does the word “love” mean in this passage?

3) What does it mean to “have not love”?

The Tools

A trip to www.studylight.org is in order here.
We will get super cozy with this site as we study Scripture together!
Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom!
It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage?
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 :-))

The Findings for Original Intent

1) Context answers this question! If you look back to Chapter 12, and look ahead to Chapter 14, you see that this “love chapter” comes right in the middle of a discussion about spiritual gifts. It seems that there was division in the Corinthian church, based on certain people thinking their spiritual gifts (prophesying and speaking in tongues) made them better than other people. Paul addresses that division, and takes a moment to teach about the importance of love when dealing with others.

2) The word “love” in English can have a variety of meanings. “I love my husband” and “I love jelly beans” carry two different types of love! When studying the Bible, there are a few Greek words that are translated “love.” The Greek word agápē is used throughout this passage, which refers to the kind of love that God has for us—unconditional, benevolent, affection, good-will. This is the kind of love we are also are to have for one another.

3) Just going by the definition of agape, to “have not love” means to lack affection, to lack good-will, to lack benevolence. It means to lack care or concern for others.

Some Applications for Our Everyday Lives

1) This passage is popular to read at weddings, but we see that the original intent was not to tell us how to love our spouses, but how to love one another (which, of course, also applies to how we love our spouses). Furthermore, Paul is describing how we are to treat one another, even in the midst of disagreement. Think about how you behave toward someone with whom you disagree. Is your behavior truly motivated by love? And does it communicate love to the other person?

2) The point of these verses is to tell us that even the best spiritual gifts gain us nothing when not used in love. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to live out this agape love! Read through the rest of 1 Corinthians 13 to deepen your understanding.

3) Are there any areas of my life (or any people with whom I interact) where I find myself lacking good-will, affection, and benevolence? Lord, give me the power through your Spirit to truly love, and let my actions reflect that love.

We’d love to hear how God challenged you through today’s Journey Study! Share your thoughts, comments, and questions with the GT Community!
Can we pray for you? 
Looking for faith stories?

Want To Try It For Yourself?!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

Share Your Thoughts with the GT Community!

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

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

Looking for other journeys from this theme? See all past studies in Beauty!