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Worship X Day 4 Unshaken & Secure: 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 Unshaken & Secure!

The Questions

1) What is the significance of the three names of God in verse 3?

2) Why were the Israelites told not to fear? (verse 5)

3) Why did God create us? (verse 7)

Isaiah 43:1-7

Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel—“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. 4 because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. 5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’ Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”

Original Intent

1) What is the significance of the three names of God in verse 3?
Isaiah 43 begins as a continuation of chapter 42, where we read of Israel’s disobedience to the Lord (Isaiah 42:21-24) and of His righteous anger regarding that disobedience. (Isaiah 42:25) Chapter 43 begins with the signal word “now” indicating a transition from spelling out the reality of Israel’s sin to the reality of God’s character, which He provides like a resume. He created and formed these people He called His own, (verse 1) He had redeemed them (verse 2), and rescued them from Egypt and the likes of King Sihon of the Amorites, King Og of Bashan (Numbers 21:21-35), and the Midianites (Judges 8:1-21) to name a few. God was always with them, even when they did not honor Him as they should. God promises to protect them in every situation (verse 2), and then He reminds them of His character and authority by which He can make these statements. “The three titles for God in verse 3 give a comprehensive understanding for the people. The term YHWH (Lord) evokes the exodus, the burning bush of Moses, and the giving of the teaching at Sinai (Exodus 20:2). The title “Holy One” refers to God’s distinctiveness. The first part of Isaiah uses this title (Isaiah 1:4). “Savior” alludes to God’s protection for Israel and Judah.” (Working Preacher) It was the One True God, the God who claimed Israel as His people and who Israel had claimed as their God and the Savior who had saved and would save, who was making these promises. Despite what Israel had done, God would rescue and protect His people, His prized possession, because He loved them.

2) Why were the Israelites told not to fear? (verse 5)
It’s important to note that this passage was written before Israel went into captivity in Babylon. This was a prophetic message to the Jews who would be in captivity, afraid the Lord had abandoned them. But God promised long before this, through Moses, “The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) In Isaiah’s prophecy, God was telling the Israelites He would not only be with them, but He would ransom them with other nations! (verse 4) “To prove His love for His people, God was willing to give Egypt, Cush, and Seba as a ransom for Israel.” (Enduring Word) God had promised the Israelites their own land. (Deuteronomy 1:8) Here, He was reiterating that this promise still stood. They had no reason to fear, but every reason to hope. Because God loved them so dearly, He would gather the people from every far corner of the world to be with Him and to live out His promise to them.

3) Why did God create us? (verse 7)
When we bear someone’s name it means we are part of their family. God has created us and called us to be adopted into His family. But why? “For My glory”, says the Lord. The Israelites were created for God’s glory. He had a plan and a purpose for them right from the start, even before they knew Him. John Piper says, “…He created us to display His glory, that is, that His glory might be known and praised.” For the Israelites that played out by Him bringing them out of captivity in Babylon and returning them to their land. It was God who sent them there to discipline them and it was God who would free them. “God uses everything, even human sin, for his own glory” (Global Study Bible) Israel was created for God’s glory to be displayed to all the nations. In their sin and subsequent rescue and redemption, God showed His love for them and His power over all to utterly save.

Everyday Application

1) What is the significance of the three names of God in verse 3?
When we are in trying or dark times, it’s hard to see a way out. We wonder how things will get resolved. Isaiah 43:3 gives the solution. In the original context, God was reminding Israel He was their rescuer, their Savior. “God referred to Himself as a Savior in the Old Testament before Jesus arrived and became our Savior to forgive our sins.” (Never Thirsty) Now, as adopted daughters of God’s family, through the blood of our Savior Jesus, we too are rescued and redeemed. (Ephesians 1:5) We think of this on a spiritual level, but it is practical as well. God is more than able to help us in every situation. When He lists His names, they show the fullness of His capabilities to do what He says He can do. The first name, The Lord Your God, is listed as Yahweh in other translations. Yahweh is God’s holy name, evoking profound reverence. “Most Jewish people decline to pronounce this name lest they accidentally profane it.” (Sermon Writer) Beginning with this name alone, we know we are dealing with the same God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:1-17) He is the same God who parted the Red Sea, the River Jordan, and brought down the walls of Jericho. The Holy One of Israel is the same God who promised to redeem not just Israel, but all people who would believe in Him. (2 Peter 3:9) It is this same God who became our Savior by sending His son Jesus to die for our sins and then resurrect Himself to conquer the grave and set the stage for His return to gather His people (Matthew 24:30-31) and establish the New Heaven and the New Earth. (Revelation 21:1-5) Whatever we face, this God can handle it. Trust Him.

2) Why were the Israelites told not to fear? (verse 5)
The Israelites had a history of forgetting Who was with them and for them. (Numbers 13:25-14:10, Judges 6:11-24, 1 Samuel 12:6-15). Even though God had demonstrated His power and His unfailing faithfulness and love for them, they still forgot. We are much the same. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Instead of pressing into fear and doubt, we should focus on the faithfulness of God. Gill’s Exposition puts it this way, “The Lord is the covenant God of His people, holy in Himself, and the sanctifier of them, and their Saviour in time of trouble; and therefore need no doubt of His presence and support amidst all their afflictions; and besides they should call to mind past experiences of his goodness, to encourage their faith in him, as to present help and assistance” Has He been faithful before? How did He come to your aid, your rescue? Did He carry you through deep waters or the fire? If He has, which I am sure is true, then what have we to fear of the future? God has been faithful through the ages (Psalm 119:90) and He never changes (Malachi 3:6). So we lay down our fear and hold fast to the faithful love and care of our God.

3) Why did God create us? (verse 7)
The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” God created us with a purpose in mind. We were made to glorify God. But make no mistake, this is not about God being vain. It is about us reflecting His glory to others. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), but God’s people are expected to make it known as well.  Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel. (Joshua 7:19) David ordered, “Declare His glory among the nations, and His marvelous works among all the peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16:24). (Sermon Writer) Cooperating with the Holy Spirit within us (God with us), we are able to reflect His glory to those around us by serving, praising, worshiping and sharing the Word, and we, in turn, benefit. “..[W]hen we are glorifying God, we are fulfilling the purpose we were created for, and will therefore be the happiest and fulfilled.” (Enduring Word) When we operate out of God’s faithful love for us, we offer that love to others so they too may glorify the One True God. This is the purpose for which we were created!

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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!

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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The GT Weekend! ~ Build Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) The Apostle Paul tells us “We are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) On Monday, Lesley shared how Nehemiah saw a need and responded to it. God was already working in his life to prepare him as the one to lead Israel in re-building the walls around Jerusalem. I wonder how often we see a need but choose not to respond. We may feel the heartache, but do we take the next step? Nehemiah saw a great need and his heart was broken, but he didn’t stop there. His next step was going to the Lord in prayer and asking what He would have Nehemiah do to change the problem. He was willing to be used by God to further God’s justice and His kingdom. What great need do you see in our society? Are you willing to do more than shake your head and rant about the problem? Are you truly praying about it and asking God, “What can I do? I am willing to be used by You.”

2) Rebekah reminded us on Wednesday that “When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” The first step of wise planning according to Scripture is to “Commit your activities to the Lord”. (Proverbs 16:3) Without this critically important first step, we will not succeed with building according to the Lord’s plan; instead we will build our own kingdom. Once God has given us a plan, then we must keep it in the forefront. Satan loves to trip us up, sideline our focus, and discourage us, but if we continue to remind ourselves, “this is the Lord’s plan”, it helps us refocus and lean into His strength instead of ours. I love how Nehemiah said, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we His servants will arise and build.” This is exactly how we keep our eyes focused on His plan. Every January, I try to write my yearly goals. Then I find smaller goals within that framework to move towards each month and week. This involves asking God to direct my plans. Do you have some God-directed goals this year? Where can you post them as a reminder to stay focused?

3) Difficulty strikes, and what’s our immediate response? Get rid of it! Either return to the stage when it seemed we were moving forward without conflict, or, if the difficulty is severe enough, abandon ship! However, because the Lord God is sovereign and powerful and faultlessly good, He will always use the struggles of life, whether debilitating and tragic or mildly frustrating, for our good and His glory if we will surrender our building plans to Him. (Romans 8:27-28) When have you walked through a challenging season where it may have seemed the Lord was against you and the opposition was too strong? What were the prevailing doubts you wrestled with concerning the truth and promises of God during this time? As Nehemiah faced personal attack and stirred up trouble for obeying God, he held firmly to what he knew was true; he walked by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7) Spend time reading a few psalms this weekend and keep a record of truths you discover about God. Lean into these truths as you walk by faith, even when you can’t see beyond today’s struggle.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Nehemiah 2:20 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

“The God of the heavens is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building…”

Prayer Journal
Lord God, You are the God of the heavens and You will make us prosper for your glory and not our own. Thank You for beginning a good work in me; I am trusting You are working in me even in this moment and will complete Your work both in and through me. Help me, Lord, to keep my focus on You. Help me to allow You to do the work and as I am your instrument. You worked through Nehemiah to accomplish the building of the wall. They needed to hold their tools in one hand and their sword in the other. May I keep the Sword of Your Word in one hand while I do the work laid out for me. Don’t allow me to become discouraged or give up, for You are faithful both to call us into Your work and complete the work through us. Amen.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend! ~ Kneel Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) On Monday, we read about Abraham pleading with God for Sodom and Gomorrah. It is not always comfortable to think of these cities being destroyed; however, as well as God’s judgement, it also shows His mercy as He would have been willing to spare the two cities for the sake of ten righteous people. Abraham knew of God’s love and mercy and so he was willing to appeal to God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Like Abraham, we are called to stand in the gap to intercede for others, including those who may not even be aware of their need for salvation. Who is God leading you to pray for today? Who do you long to see experience God’s mercy? You may want to pray for individual people, your community, or even your country. Start by reflecting on God’s character as Abraham modeled. Make a list of some of His characteristics, such as His goodness, faithfulness, love, and justice. Then, bring your requests before Him.

2) Sometimes, even as we bring a situation to God in prayer, we doubt our prayers will be answered. Maybe we have prayed in the past, only to be disappointed when circumstances didn’t turn out as we had hoped. If you feel that way today, take a moment to acknowledge it before God. These feelings are understandable, yet the Bible shows us several examples where situations were changed in response to prayer, where even those who were praying were surprised by the outcome! What situations do you want to bring before God today? Where do you long to see breakthrough or transformation? Take some time to pray about these things. Even if we feel our faith is lacking, the decision to pray is an act of faith. Our prayers may not always be answered as we hope or expect, but we can trust that God is a good Father who cares and wants what is best for us. Come before Him with expectation and prepare to be surprised!

3) Do you ever wonder if God hears when you pray? On Friday, Carol led us in looking at the example set by David.  Through his Psalms, David was honest with God in good times and bad; he wasn’t afraid to bring his doubts and questions before the Lord. However, even in the midst of challenges, he also made the choice to focus on God’s character and ways he had previously experienced God’s power and faithfulness. Take time to be honest with God today about what you are facing and how you feel about it. No situation is too big or too small to bring before Him and no emotion is too messy. God is more than able to deal with our tears, questions, doubts and anger, and He meets us with love and grace.  Where do you need God to meet you today? What examples of His power and faithfulness (from your own experience or from the Bible) encourage you as you come before Him?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Psalm 63:1-3 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.
I thirst for you;
my body faints for you
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
My lips will glorify you
because your faithful love is better than life.

Prayer Journal
Father, thank you for the privilege of coming to You in prayer, and thank You for always hearing and answering. Forgive me when I try to be self-sufficient, seeking to deal with situations myself instead of turning to You in faith. Thank You that I can come to You as I am, knowing You care about the people and situations I bring before You. Please help me to be faithful in doing this, trusting that prayer makes a difference, secure in the knowledge that you are a loving Father who knows what is best and who longs to give good gifts to your children. Lord, I thank You for Your power to change people and situations, that you are able to do even more than we can ask or imagine. I pray You will give me expectancy that You will work in the lives of those I care for and the situations I bring to You today. “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship IX Day 12 Spirit & Truth: 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 Spirit & Truth!

The Questions

1) What is meant by New Moons, festivals, and burnt offerings? (verses 11-14)

2) How does the righteous Lord respond to a disobedient people? (verse 15)

3) What antidote does God give for Israel’s rebellion? (verses 16-20)

Isaiah 1:11-20

“What are all your sacrifices to me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you—
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings.
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths,
and the calling of solemn assemblies—
I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.


16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.
Remove your evil deeds from my sight.
Stop doing evil.
17 Learn to do what is good.
Pursue justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.

18 “Come, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Original Intent

1) What is meant by New Moons, festivals, and burnt offerings? (verses 11-14)
God had instituted these festivals, celebrations, and offerings as tangible reminders of God’s goodness and love towards His people, Israel. He commanded them to celebrate these festivals regularly; to ignore them would have been disobedient. However, Isaiah the prophet records the Lord telling Israel to cease all their rituals and ceremonies that He Himself has instituted because their hearts had missed the point, which was worshipping God. The intention of the festivals was to remind them of God’s goodness toward Israel, while the blood sacrifices were meant to remind them that every sin carried a cost. Even though “It’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4), the sacrifices were necessary to show the people that 1) blood payment must be made for sin and 2) God is gracious to accept their offerings while they waited for the Ultimate Sacrifice to come as the Messiah, Christ Jesus, whose blood would pay for all sin. (1 John 2:2) The sacrifices reminded Israel they were a guilty people in desperate need of a Redeemer. Sacrifices also kept Israel in relationship with the Lord by prodding them to confess their sin, repent (turn away), and be made right with God. Over time, the sacrifices became empty rituals and Israel’s heart was far from God. Ritual without heart-change, sacrifice without obedience, gifts without authenticity, these were what God despised. He declared these empty acts to be a “trampling of My courts.” (verse 12) The stinging criticism of worship in verses 11-14, is not an indictment of worship in general. Rather, it is an indictment of worship that serves as a COVER-UP for EMPTY HEARTS. External religion is an easy cloak to disguise sin.

2) How does the righteous Lord respond to a disobedient people? (verse 15)
Verse 15 records the Lord responding to Israel’s sinful rebellion by refusing to look at or listen to them. He paid no attention to their outstretched hands or many prayers; their hearts didn’t desire true repentance or confession. Authentic worship was absent. Though He loved His people, their repetitive decisions to sin were detestable; God couldn’t look upon them because their hearts were not repentant. Without true repentance, sacrifice was meaningless. Isaiah and Amos, among others, warned of coming exile for Israel’s persistent sin. God would send fire to Judah and their cities would become desolate. (Isaiah 1:7, Amos 2:4-5) God’s response to sinful disobedience has consistently remained the exact same from the Garden of Eden, to ancient Israel, to the early church, and our own generation. Justice. (Isaiah 30:18) He is a just God, refusing to allow any sin to go unpunished. He can neither look upon sin nor ignore it. The price for sin must be paid, this is justice. Graciously, He is also infinitely good and loving, which led Him to give Himself for the payment of our sin. He paid the penalty we never could for every single sin when He died on the cross as a blood sacrifice. Only a perfect Being could pay the penalty of sin in full.  He proved He had all authority over sin and death by rising from the dead on the third day. Now, for all who choose to trust Him as Savior, God can look on us and listen to us, even if we still sin because He has taken our condemnation and given us righteousness instead! (Romans 8:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:21) No amount of sacrifices from Israel could change the posture of their hearts. Without a heart and life reformation, God could not accept their sacrifices, nor would He be manipulated by them!

3) What antidote does God give for Israel’s rebellion? (verses 16-20)
Isaiah was an evangelistic prophet, telling the coming good news of the Messiah. Even his name means “Salvation of Jehovah”. It is quite significant, therefore, that his first chapter contains the gospel invitation. Long before Jesus would come as a babe then die as the Savior, Isaiah wrote, ““Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.” (verse 18) Sin was bluntly acknowledged, consequence was justly coming, yet the Lord offers this antidote, “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice.” (verses 16-17) Cleansing from sin was available to Israel, even now in the heat of their rebellion. Their washing was totally separated from ANY human merit or effort. The goodness they were called to do directly followed the cleaning and did not precede it. Good works have never been able to cover sin, only true cleansing. This washing is found only in the mercy of God. It was His mercy that permitted the blood of animals to act as payment for sin, even though they couldn’t remove sin. The perfect display of mercy came as the Father sent the Son to shed His blood on the cross to perfectly pay for every sin. (1 John 2:2) What lavish mercy! Still, the prophet warns that unless willful cleansing occurs, war and destruction await, “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” (verse 20)

Everyday Application

1) What is meant by New Moons, festivals, and burnt offerings? (verses 11-14)
As I researched this passage, I found myself focusing on the intricacies of festivals and burnt offerings which comprised the everyday rhythms of ancient Israel. I studied what each offering meant and the detailed directions on which offering to give if you committed this sin or that, knowingly or unknowingly, whether the animal was clean or unclean, and which rituals to follow when. I became entangled in intense detail. It was like a fall corn maze; which route is the right path to obedience and pleasing God? I became anxious and felt trapped. Which way, Lord? Stopping to pray as I studied was essential to understanding this simple truth from the Lord: offer sacrifices of worship. (Hebrews 13:15) Old Testament festivals and sacrifices are no longer required by believers today because Jesus paid the full blood price for our sins on the cross. However, the sacrifice of thanksgiving is evidenced in both Old and New Testaments just in differing forms. (Leviticus 7:12, Ephesians 5:20) Today, we don’t offer grain for thanksgiving, we use the whole of our lives as “living sacrifices”. (Romans 12:1, Matthew 22:37) Daily life can be a maze, and we can feel lost and confused, forgetting to bring the simple offering of ourselves with a childlike faith and repentant hearts before the King. It’s easy to weave a tangled web with daily chores and “to do” lists which pull us away from offering heart worship. If we aren’t intentional, we can end up only offering lip service in prayer and neglecting true worship. Even if this describes you sometimes, as it does me, there is hope! Instead of New Moons, festivals and burnt offerings, rituals in our personal lives and churches, let’s lean into worship in Spirit and truth. Our devoted hearts, genuine love, and faithfulness are exactly what GOD wants.

2) How does the righteous Lord respond to a disobedient people? (verse 15)
God is holy and righteous; He cannot be in the presence of sin. (1 John 5:18) Once we trust that Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin, and accept His righteousness in place of our rebellion, we are declared righteous. Even if we sin after we have trusted Christ, we are still covered by His blood sacrifice. (1 John 1:9) Without the covering of Christ, however, we stand condemned; we have rejected Christ. (John 3:18) When we choose to sin, we are walking away from a close relationship with God, even our prayers are hindered. (Psalm 66:18) Our hands are bloody with our sin, and though we offer countless prayers, if our hearts are not contrite before Him, He will reject us. Without faith and repentance, it’s impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6, Mark 1:15) While under our sin-nature, our natural bent is to rebel and disobey God, but when we surrender to Christ, He gives us a new nature. (Romans 5:5) God the Spirit lives inside us, teaching us to obey God (John 14:26), equipping us to follow Him (Hebrews 13:21), and giving us the desire to do His work (Philippians 2:13). Following God in obedience is the practical acceptance of the authority of God in our everyday lives. Our surrendered hearts to Christ allow His Spirit to rule in our lives, giving us the ability to step away from sinful rebellion and into obedience. We can halt our disobedient trajectory by reading God’s Word and asking the Spirit to open our eyes to our sinful patterns. Every Christian should evaluate all of life against Scripture through prayer. Marriage, career, relationships, our words, thoughts, actions, and even our body language should all reflect a heart of surrendered worship! Once the Spirit convicts us of sin, we are to confess it for the Lord promises pardon. (1 John 1:9)

3) What antidote does God give for Israel’s rebellion? (verses 16-20)
Isaiah’s prophecy depicts a severely fractured relationship between God and the people of Israel because of their sin. However, verses 16-20 make a way for restoration through the mercies of God. Israel’s “sins were as scarlet”, but so are ours. Israel rebelled against God by serving and loving themselves. Their greatest sin was rejection of the One True God. They were called upon to follow Him, but they spurned Him. So we turn the mirror on ourselves and inspect our lives for sin. Have we ever refused the ways of the Lord? Have our lips ever rejected His truth by telling a lie? Have our hands ever taken what was not ours, even just a pen or an extra item from the store at check out? Every single act of rebellion against the Lord will carry a just punishment. You and I are just as sinful as Israel, but God’s mercies are just as lavish. No matter how detestable Israel’s sin, God was willing to forgive and cleanse, and so He is with us. Will we choose to be clean? Will we live by faith and allow Christ to sever our ties to sin? The choice is ours just as it was for Israel. Will we come to Christ the Forgiver and confess our sins against Him? Or will we remain in sin with God’s wrath upon us? God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and You shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 7:23) If we will heed God’s call to come and be washed, apart from any self-proclaimed “good deeds”, we have His guarantee that we will be His. Through the blood of Christ, God will make us white as snow; His presence will comfort and delight for eternity. Take the antidote for rebellion and be cleansed by the Judge who longs to make you righteous!

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Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Spirit & Truth!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Worship IX 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!

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Alive Day 1 Justice + Mercy = Freedom

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 7:22-8:4
1 John 1:5-2:2
Galatians 5:13-18
Hebrews 12:1-6

Alive, Day 1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)

“Son, do you love Jesus? Have you given Him your whole life?”
“Yes, Mama. You were there when I prayed to Him.”
“Do you see how you have been jumping quickly to make rude comments to your brothers? Do you see how fast you are to throw a punch and then say you were ‘just playing?’”
“Yeah, I do. It’s just…so hard to follow Jesus all the time.”

Yes.
Yes, it is.

“So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25)

To surrender our lives once to the Savior of the world for the rescue of our souls is an incredible, necessary act. But to surrender to His Spirit at work within us on the daily, in every moment, is something else entirely.

Herein is the long, grueling, often painful process of sanctification by which our souls, once dead to God and alive to sin, are now being fashioned into the image for which we were always intended: Christ’s.

“… the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

But, oh, the habits of the flesh cling hard and fast to our rhythms of life. Always competing with our desire to follow Jesus is our desire to still love ourselves most and first and best.

“For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body,  waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.” (Romans 7:22-23, emphasis mine)

What wretches we are!
And who will rescue us from this ceaseless war within ourselves? (Romans 7:24)

With tears, oh Christ. Only Christ!
Jesus, the only One worthy to sit at the right hand of our Father God. (Ephesians 1:20-21)
Jesus, willing to take our sin and shame upon Himself that we might never bear it again. (1 John 2:2)
Jesus, willing to break us free again and again and again from the ridiculous chains of sin we insist on slinging around ourselves. (Romans 5:21)
Oh Merciful Christ.

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

This beautiful Christ, and the freedom He lavishly gives, are the subject of one of the most profoundly significant chapters in all of Scripture, Romans Chapter Eight.

And the benefactors of such magnificent love?
The wretched ones.
Us.

We who, having witnessed the atrocities of our own sinful rebellion, have now turned instead to look upon the blood stained, nail-pierced body of the resurrected Jesus. He who, having died the death we deserved, now offers us His life and righteousness. He willingly laid down His life that we might live anew with Him, both in eternity and right now, in the nitty-gritty of everyday choices. Here, we choose either to surrender to His Spirit or lustfully love ourselves.

This great unfolding of the vast love of Christ begins here in the dark places of our souls. For only in knowing, grasping, and insistently gazing upon the ugliness of our sin can we truly be taken aback by the sheer glory of the love of a magnificent God who chose to set His love upon us simply that we might be called His own forever.

Never could we dream of becoming good enough to qualify as “righteous” before the Holy One. No amount of law-keeping, good deeds, kind words, gut-wrenching sacrifices, or generous giving could ever amount to earning even a single drop of God’s mercy.

“All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment…” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our law-keeping is meaningless for earning right standing before God.
So, what hope have we?
None, Sisters.
None.
We are utterly without hope.

Our sin demands the death penalty, for we are wholly unrighteous.
We cannot earn goodness, for we have already earned death.
“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

And here, in the inky blackness of hell, eternally separated from a loving God, the Spirit of God whispers, “For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did.” (Romans 8:3)

Like brilliant, white light streaming into a once-darkened dungeon, “God Did” thrills our hearts with blissfully delicious, entirely immovable H O P E.

With perfect Justice, God “condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us.” (Romans 8:4) He paid for sin with His perfection, forever slaying Death on our behalf, and now extends to us unshackled freedom if we surrender our sin-loving, self-focused selves.

His justice.
His mercy.
Our freedom.

And what will we do with this freedom?
Come alive, Sisters, we will come alive!

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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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Here’s a link to all past studies in Alive!

Terrain Day 14 The Island Of Patmos: 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 Island Of Patmos!

The Questions

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5) 


2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6) 


3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9) 

2 Thessalonians 1:4-12

Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. 5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength 10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Original Intent

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5)
Paul was pleased with the Thessalonian believers because they continued to remain faithful to the Lord through the trials they suffered because of Christ. Many converts were former Jews, “which angered the Jews and caused them to resort to violence and mob activity”. (Bible.org) Even amid persecution, the new Christians held to their faith, which Paul called “clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering”. (2 Thessalonians 1:5) The wording here can make it sound like these Christians were worthy of God’s Kingdom because of their suffering, but that isn’t accurate. People can’t do anything to make themselves worthy of God’s Kingdom. We can only gain Heaven through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. (Titus 3:5-7) Suffering for God’s Kingdom, though, shows love for God and faith in His Word and His promises. It is a mark of genuine, saving faith in Christ. It is easy to fold under pressure, and enduring the face of persecution demonstrates authentic faith; it pleases the Lord when His children endure. Author Steve Lewis asserts, “Something about the Thessalonians was a plain indication . . . that God does indeed judge righteously. The indicator was not the trials themselves, but their response to the trials. Their perseverance and faith provided solid proof that God was at work within them, enabling them to behave in ways that were opposite to their natural desires.” The fact that the Thessalonian believers allowed Christ to empower them proved they belonged to Him, had His Spirit within them, and were truly part of His Kingdom. Author David Guzik suggests “Paul’s prayer was that the worthiness of Jesus may be accounted to the Thessalonian Christians.” Paul was pleased to know the Thessalonians stood strong in their faith in Christ and His power at work in them.

2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6)
In verses 6-7, Paul encourages the persecuted church by writing, “it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.” This resonates with many because it doesn’t seem fair when someone is mistreated for no good reason and the perpetrator goes unpunished. Everything in us cries out for justice! Acting justly is a crucial component for believers in accurately reflecting God’s character. (Micah 6:8) However, God does not want us to exact justice for ourselves. (Matthew 5:38-39) He tells us vengeance is His alone. (Deuteronomy 32:35) God instructs us to seek justice and show mercy; because He is Righteous and Just, He must let justice be served. Author David Guzik explains how “God’s judgment is based on the great spiritual principle that it is a righteous thing with God to repay those who do evil. Since God is righteous, He will repay all evil, and it will all be judged and accounted for either at the cross or in hell.” The Scriptures tell us God is a jealous and avenging God (Nahum 1:2) and that God will judge everyone according to what they have done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) The wicked will face the wrath of God, but Christians are righteous through Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30) because He sanctified us through His death on the cross, which cleansed us from our sins. He took the punishment of sin on Himself, fulfilling the justice of God. We can rejoice because, unlike those who don’t have faith in Christ, God’s wrath is turned away from us because Jesus’ blood makes us righteous before God.

3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9)
Paul describes what will happen to those who persecute God’s people in verses 9-10 when he writes, “They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed . . .” While Paul does mention “flaming fire” in verse 8, the greatest penalty for the wicked is being cut off from the gracious, good presence of the Lord. Author David Spence Jones explains, “As the presence of the glorified Jesus will constitute the happiness of heaven, so banishment from His presence will constitute the misery of hell, because the soul is then cut off from the source of all good and of all holiness.” In the beginning, before sin entered the world, God walked with humans in the Garden of Eden, communing with them in perfect harmony. After their sin, Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden, never to walk in perfection with the Lord again. (Genesis 3:4-24) Their sin separated them from the presence of their Holy God. Being deprived of God’s presence is disastrous because it is only in His presence we can find fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) The persecutors of the saints were also cut off from the glorious strength of the Lord, for it is the joy of the Lord that is our own strength for believers. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Everyday Application

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5)
I coordinate children’s church volunteers, and I quickly recognize those who will stick and those who will hand in their nametags before they even get smudged with finger paint. The ones who stay endure toddler tantrums, diaper blow-outs, eye-rolling tweens, and difficult parents because they love serving the Lord. They believe sharing the Good News of Jesus with kids is essentia. Their willingness to serve, despite the challenges, blesses the Lord and plays an integral part in growing God’s Kingdom. Truly following Jesus always means struggle and suffering. Depending on location in the world and your dynamics, that suffering looks different. Sometimes it’s loving on hard-to-love kids, being rejected by your friends, or choosing the unpopular decision to follow Jesus first. For many believers around the world, following Jesus means literally putting their lives at risk because of their faith. This was the case for the believers in Thessalonica. In 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Paul wrote, “Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.  It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering.” Paul lauded the believers for walking out their faith in trying times. Author David Guzik observes that “Where suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, God’s work is done. The fires of persecution and tribulation were like the purifying fires of a refiner, burning away the dross from the gold, bringing forth a pure, precious metal.” When Christians experience difficult things and come through on the other side with their faith intact, they mature and develop the characteristics God desires in His Kingdom people. May we seek the Lord’s grace, wisdom, and strength to endure hard times so we can grow in our faith and fulfill the role God has for us in His Kingdom. 

2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6)

Have you ever fumed at someone speeding past you at a ridiculous rate on the highway only to rejoice a few miles later to see an officer giving a speeding ticket? Something in our nature hates to see wrongdoers get off without penalty. It is satisfying to know that justice has been served. It seems easy to agree with Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 when he writes, “it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.” It is fitting for the Righteous God to enact justice on sinners, but it can be very tempting for us to take matters into our own hands. God is very clear that making wrongdoers pay is His job, not ours. Jesus tells us in Romans 12:19-20, “do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. ” Not only does God tell us not to avenge ourselves, He tells us to treat our enemies with love. We are to show kindness and let Him repay the evildoers. Treating those who afflict me with love and letting God handle the justice is not as natural as cheering on the punishment I think they deserve, but it is what God requires. It’s a helpful perspective to remember that, in view of God’s supreme holiness, we are all sinful and rebellious. (Romans 3:23) My prayer is that seeking justice and loving mercy becomes easier as we humble ourselves before God and allow Him to be the Righteous Judge over every situation in our lives.  


3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9) 

Being a Mom means having “superpowers” such as Finder of Lost Things and Healer of Boo-Boos. But the best “superpower” is that Mom’s presence can instantly make things better. Kids sleep better and worry less when Mom’s around. A mother’s presence brings incredible peace to her children! The Lord’s presence blesses His children in infinitely greater fashion. Zephaniah 3:17 declares, “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in His love. He will delight in you with singing.” In God’s presence, we experience His salvation and the delight of His love. In John 15:5-6, Jesus remarks, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. . .” Jesus tells us that if we stay in His presence, we are productive and alive. Without His presence, we are like useless, withered branches. Paul describes the loss of God’s presence in verse 9, when he notes that those who persecute the Church will “pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength.” Eternal destruction is described as being apart from God forever. Author David Guzik explains how the phrase, “From the presence of the Lord”, sums up the Bible’s teaching on hell. Nothing more needs said of its horrors, other than hell will be completely devoid of God’s good presence and every kind aspect of His character. Only His unrelenting holy justice remains. Just as being in God’s presence is a blessing, being apart from Him is punishment. We delight and take comfort in God’s presence, and we suffer when our sin separates us from the Lord. Anyone who finds themselves deprived of the Lord’s presence need only repent and turn from their sins to experience refreshing from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19-20) We serve a mighty and merciful God!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Island Of Patmos!

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 Terrain 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.

Terrain Day 2 Canaan & Egypt: 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 Canaan & Egypt!

The Questions

1) At the direction of the Lord, Moses sent 12 men, one from each tribe, to scout out the land of Canaan. What was their initial report? (verses 27-29)

2) Caleb believed they could conquer the Canaanites. What gave him this confidence? (verse 30)

3) After the scouts’ initial good report, why was there a sudden and exaggerated bad report of the land? (verses 31-33)

Numbers 13:26-33

26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They reported to Moses, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”

31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” 32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. 33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”

Original Intent

1) At the direction of the Lord, Moses sent 12 men, one from each tribe, to scout out the land of Canaan. What was their initial report? (verses 27-29)
The Lord first promised the land of Canaan to Abraham as an inheritance. The Lord told Abraham to leave his country and his people to travel to an unknown location. When Abraham finally arrived in Canaan, the Lord told him, “I will give this land to your offspring.” (Genesis 12:7) The Lord repeated this promise to Abraham’s descendants, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord even told Abraham his descendants would be enslaved and mistreated in a strange land (Egypt) for 400 years. (Genesis 15:13) In the midst of their suffering, the Lord declared to Moses from a burning bush, “Because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9-10) Through Moses, the Lord would lead Israel into Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey that had been promised to Abraham and his descendants. (Exodus 3:4-8) The term “flowing with milk and honey” signifies prosperity with livestock and horticulture. The spies’ exploration of Canaan lasted about 40 days and upon their return, they confirmed to Moses of the land’s bounty, even bringing large fruit as proof. (Numbers 13:23-25) However, they also said the land was heavily protected with large and powerful occupants. The odds of victoriously overtaking such a formidable people seemed impossible. Therefore, nearly all of the spies doubted their ability, and God’s assurance, that they could indeed conquer Canaan’s inhabitants and possess the land.

2) Caleb believed they could conquer the Canaanites. What gave him this confidence? (verse 30)
The first report the men gave to Moses frightened the Israelites, not because the land had proven to be scarce and lacking in abundance, but because the current inhabitants were too formidable. Caleb sought to quiet the people and convince them that, despite the obstacles, they could defeat the inhabitants and occupy the land because the Lord had given it to them. Caleb was not afraid of the giants he saw in Canaan. No doubt, he remembered the Lord’s promise to give them the land. His confidence was not in the strength of Israel, rather in the faithful God who accomplishes His work. Caleb’s faith did not waver in the face of giants; he believed God’s promise, knowing the Lord cannot lie. Unfortunately, it was not enough to convince the others.

3) After the scouts’ initial good report, why was there a sudden and exaggerated bad report of the land? (verses 31-33)
Despite Caleb’s urgings to trust the same God who had defeated Egypt’s army and freed Israel from slavery, the other spies were quick to incite fear by describing Canaan’s inhabitants as giants, Nephilim to be exact. Nephilim were characterized as children born from the sons of God (likely meaning fallen angels/demons) who married human women. (Genesis 6:2-4). According to the NKJV Chronological Study Bible Notes, this union produced semi-divine, semi-human offspring who possessed superhuman qualities. Therefore, the image the spies portrayed were superhuman people who could not be defeated. The spies were afraid for many reasons, and their exaggerated report incited fear in the Israelites, who cried and complained to Moses about their fate. They even plotted to choose a new leader to take them back to Egypt. (Numbers 14:1-4) They displayed a lack of faith in their God who not only had rescued them from Egypt, but also guided and provided for them during their escape. The Israelites even spoke of stoning Caleb and Joshua (Joshua was the only other spy who sided with Caleb) all because of their faith in the God who faithfully keeps His promises. In the face of death, Caleb and Joshua refused to recant their faith while urging their fellow Israelites to cease their rebellion against God and instead follow Him with faith and obedience. Israel’s lack of faith resulted in God’s justice being delivered as He refused any Israelite of that generation entrance to the Promised Land of Canaan. (Numbers 14:21-25) They wandered in the wilderness 40 years until the entire generation died. Only Caleb and Joshua, because of their faith, were privileged to enter Canaan.

Everyday Application

1) At the direction of the Lord, Moses sent 12 men, one from each tribe, to scout out the land of Canaan. What was their initial report? (verses 27-29)
When the scouts returned from their mission, they reported Canaan as lush and fruitful. However, it was tightly secured and its settlers mighty and powerful, causing them serious doubt for defeating and occupying the Promised Land. While they remembered the Lord stating that the land was flowing with milk and honey, they forgot, or chose to ignore, the other part of His statement, “…and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land…” (Exodus 3:8) They focused only on the giants instead of on the Lord’s promise to give them an inheritance. Our journey of life is fraught with doubts and uncertainties. When I was growing up, my parents made my decisions for me, but there came a time for me to leave and build my own life. At the age of 20, I left home and rented a few places, but when things became difficult, I returned to my parents. An opportunity arose for me to purchase a piece of land at a fair price. At the time, I said I was lucky, but looking back, I understand this wasn’t luck, it was God’s provision. From purchasing the land, to securing a small mortgage, to building a decent house, I was faced again and again with the challenge to either trust myself or God. The Lord promised Abraham his descendants would inherit the land. The Lord promised Israel He would lead them out of slavery and into their inheritance. Israel and Abraham were faced with a choice, just as I was in following where God was leading me with my house adventure. We each have the same decision as we follow Christ. Will we trust God despite the circumstances, or will we walk away and trust ourselves when the odds seem too overwhelming?

2) Caleb believed they could conquer the Canaanites. What gave him this confidence? (verse 30)
Caleb had the utmost faith in God’s ability to help Israel occupy Canaan as He promised many, many years before. In my faith journey with my house, approximately seven years passed before I could build. I definitely felt as if I was in the wilderness wondering when the time would come for me to finally finish my home. Nevertheless, it happened, and I attained an adequate mortgage for a small house. I also believe God used my “wilderness waiting” for much more than simply earning enough money. While I waited, He matured my heart to trust Him, learning to depend on Him instead of pushing ahead with my ways and my timing. While I waited, I never doubted, but I was just impatient. I knew it would happen, I just didn’t know when. Each moment of impatience was an opportunity to trust God’s plans over mine.

3) After the scouts’ initial good report, why was there a sudden and exaggerated bad report of the land? (verses 31-33)
Just as the ten spies allowed fear to hinder their faith, fear can also prevent us from faithfully following Christ, especially when our circumstances seem more powerful than our God. A few years after moving into my newly built house, I met a former schoolmate in the area. He commented on how great the community turned out. He too had the opportunity to purchase land and build but feared it would eventually become a ‘less than desirable’ place to live. When I sensed the Lord was providing me space to build, I didn’t consider how the community might turn out, I simply stepped out in faith. If you are a believer, God will faithfully lead you and never forsake you (Psalm 37:25), even when your circumstances look ‘less than desirable’ and your giants seem formidable. Failing to believe the Lord in the midst of our struggles, and choosing faith over fear, can result in missing out on our own “promised land” of favor and blessing from the Lord. (Hebrews 3:7-19) Instead, we can choose to rely on the faithfulness of God as Caleb and Joshua exemplified, trusting His work and ability over our own. With God, all things are possible that He has set out to accomplish! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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If Day 15 End Of Evil

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:22-23
Genesis 3:15-19
Ephesians 2:4-5
Romans 6:17-18
Revelation 21:3-4

If, Day 15

It’s been a hard eighteen months, hasn’t it? A pandemic (and accompanying struggles), social unrest, tragic loss of life, a divisive election cycle, personal attacks and online debates, and the list continues. Right about now, I think we can all relate to Paul’s words in Romans 8:22-23,

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits– we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”

Something within each of us longs for peace and a perfect world. We long for justice, righteousness, and love to prevail. Whatever our background, personal theology, faith, or lack thereof, this desire reveals the truth of the Bible when it cries that the broken world in which we live – fraught with so much sin and heartache – isn’t the way it was supposed to be. And – praise the Lord! – one day it won’t be like this any longer.

The first two chapters of the Bible are so beautiful. They present a perfect world just as God designed it to operate; a world without sin, heartache, trial, loss, suffering, or sadness of any kind. But by the third chapter, perfection is lost when sin enters the story, and all manner of brokenness quickly ensues. In fact, read one chapter beyond that, and murder takes place!

In Genesis 3:16-19, God lays out the initial consequences faced by men and women as a result of their sin (toil, increased pain in childbirth, etc.). But humankind’s spiritual condition as a result of the fall is far more grave. From the moment of the first sin, throughout all of history, humanity as a whole are “dead in our trespasses” (Ephesians 2:5) and “slaves of sin” (Romans 6:17). We are leading lives we were never meant to live, suffocating in a brokenness for which we were not designed, and so we groan.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis illustrated this truth well when he asserted, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

We were made for another world, and another world is precisely what is offered to us! All human efforts throughout history to construct utopian societies, to return to the Garden, to reach perfection, tranquility, or peace on our own, have failed.
Imperfect humans simply cannot create perfection.

But God, in His grace and mercy, constructed a plan that has never, and will never, fail. His plan was one He promised way back in the Garden of Eden, when sin first entered the world! Revealing His great love for His people, even in the midst of their sin, He says in Genesis 3:15, “I will put hostility between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. [Jesus] will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The entire rest of the Bible unfolds God’s grand plan to restore the world to what He originally intended, an obliteration of sin and a restoration to righteousness in Christ, a destruction of heartache and pain and a return to peace in the Lord.

This plan looked like God sending His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins so we might take on His righteousness as our own and be granted eternal life in Him forever. What glorious news!

Romans 6:17-18 says, “But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.” This is the promised change we undergo when we “confess with [our] mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in [our] heart[s] that God raised him from the dead.” (Romans 10:9)

Just as the first two chapters of the Bible are beautiful in their perfection and peace, the final two chapters of the Bible are just as beautiful (if not more so!) as we see the promised perfection and peace we anticipate! May you embrace these words from Revelation 21:3-4, and may they bring you hope and peace!

“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into If Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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The GT Weekend! ~ If Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) The idea of 1 + 1 + 1 = 1 makes zero mathematical sense to our analytic brains. Often, we attempt to understand the All-Powerful God with our finite, limited faculties, and the result is frustration that can lead to disbelief. Yet, even as finite human beings, we still have experiences that can help us bridge this seeming impossible gap. As a child, I watched my parents withdraw money from an ATM. They simply pressed buttons and received money. I had zero ability to conceptualize anything beyond this childlike understanding of how to get money. The idea of earning money through a job and then being able to purchase new shoes was far too abstract for me to understand. As we tackle difficult things in Scripture, we must remember our own humanity and God’s divinity; where our ability to comprehend God ends, His understanding, wisdom, and knowledge continue endlessly. While we don’t understand everything about 1 God revealing Himself as 3 unique, yet mysteriously connected divine Beings, we do have plenty of evidence in Scripture to understand this mystery does indeed exist! I’ve discovered how the more I lean into knowing God and studying Him as Father, Son, and Spirit, rather than becoming frustrated, I grow to love and understand Him more! Consider diving in to this beautiful mystery of knowing God! Begin this weekend by studying passages on Father, Son, and Spirit. Even a Google search or www.studylight.org can point you in the right direction. Other great resources include www.gotquestions.org or “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves.

2) How often do we long for life to be easier? Wouldn’t it be nice if we never struggled or felt pain? Why does the Lord allow us to feel pain and suffering? Shouldn’t He just make life easy for us if we believe in Him? We see from Philippians 3 that the value of knowing Jesus is far greater than any comfort or ease we could wish for. As we walk through suffering and trials, we grow in our dependence on Christ and our steadfastness in worship. If He just handed us an easy life, we would not feel our need for Him as deeply or as fully as we do in our struggles. What trial or struggle are you going through right now? How can you allow the discomfort and difficulty of this situation draw you closer into relationship with Jesus Christ? Consider how you tend to be self-sufficient or block out the pain rather than depending on the Lord through the pain. Maybe you throw yourself into your work, or disappear into books or movies, or maybe you numb your pain with food or alcohol. Take time today to spend time in relationship with God. Feel your need for Him, and remember only He can satisfy. Read James 1, and ask God to show you how to mature through your trials.

3) Where have you seen justice perverted in society around you? What social justice issues press your hot buttons and have you amped up and ready to fight to protect others’ rights because they have been overlooked without representation? Then look around your everyday life and the relationships you’re engaged with. Where do you see injustices played out? Perhaps against yourself or others? In what ways have you fought to stand up for justice? As you consider these, also take a brave minute to consider who gets to decide what true justice looks like? Is there a right and a wrong? Who gets to decide this and why? Is it really fair for everyone to choose their own “justice”? Does that feel like “justice” to you? As you think through these things, consider the character of God as being a perfectly just God. What attributes would you be able to fully rely on if this was true? In what ways are you deeply grateful that God is a just, righteous God? Praise Him for this, then pray confidently for His justice to be made known to all of us!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Ephesians 1:3-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

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

Prayer Journal
Blessed be You, oh Lord, the God of all wonder and glory! How marvelous are Your ways, how unknowable Your love. I stand in awe of how great You are. Your nature as 3 persons in 1 God is beyond my comprehension, yet You call me into relationship with Yourself that I might know You and reflect Your love to a broken world. I confess that when I suffer, I long to be free of trouble. I desire an easy life over the steadfastness and faithfulness that comes only through trial. I confess I tend to numb my own pain, rather than rely on the joy that comes from knowing You. Lord, we ask that Your justice would come on this earth. We know Your very nature is just. Help us to view the world with hearts and eyes turned toward perfect justice. May we care for the poor and the outcast, valuing them as people made in the image of the one true God. Grant courage and boldness that we may be quick to serve those in need and ready to speak truth to the powerful. May we reveal Your heart for justice to those who are far from You.

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