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Follow Day 14 Faith To Stay: 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 Faith To Stay!

The Questions

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)

Matthew 16:24-28

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)
We often have the wrong idea about who God is at His core. We might see Him as vengeful, waiting for us to mess up so He can mock us, condemn us, or ruin our lives. Some view Him as disengaged and entirely uninterested in the affairs of humanity. In transparency, I struggled for years with the idea that just because God “made us”, doesn’t mean He actually “loved us”. He is infinite while we are finite mortals, what could we bring to the God of all to cause Him to love us?! Before we can talk about “losing our lives because of Jesus”, it’s absolutely imperative we know exactly Who this Jesus really is. If I surrender to Him, am I giving Him free reign to be a dictator? If I lose my life to Him, will I hate my life and become strapped into stringent lists of “holy performance”? Who is the Jesus we are surrendering to? The disciple John answered this concisely for us in three words, “…God is love…”. (1 John 4:8) Preacher Paul helps us define what love looks like in everyday life as he penned a letter to the church in Corinth, “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) When we realize the God who is calling for our surrender to Him is good, kind, loving, and trustworthy, we can “lose our lives” to Him with full confidence that He is for us and not against us. (Romans 8:31-32)

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)
“For what will it benefit someone if they gain the whole world….”, Jesus asks His audience. (verse 26) Perhaps like them, and me, I imagine His voice trailing off and my own mind running away with just this snippet of conversation. I quickly build reasons I feel are worth “gaining the whole world”. Wealth. Fame. Power. The allure for more, the lie that I don’t have enough, and the sick temptation to only satiate self, fuels me into reasoning away why I just can’t follow Jesus. At least not right now. I have things I want to do. I have my kingdom to build. Ladies, that isn’t just a collection of words right there, they are lies I have purchased and owned and fought hard to protect, even after I surrendered to Jesus. But this poignant question from the Lord isn’t a snippet in an overheard conversation. He doesn’t leave us to our imaginative interpretations. “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.” (verse 25) Not perhaps. Not ‘by chance’ if the odds are against you. It’s a dead certain guarantee. If you want to save your life by yourself, live it your way, and build your own kingdom, you will lose it in the end. Jesus said it like this to a man who visited him under the cover of nightfall so no one would see him stepping outside the kosher norm, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6) There are not countless ways to “get to God”. There is one. Total surrender to Him, allowing Him to kill and remove our sin nature and ushering us into a new birth as new creations, born with His righteous DNA in place of our sinful set. Only here, in the sacred space of surrender, do we find the deeply radical truth fleshed out in real life, “…whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.” (verse 25)

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)
Jesus asks another question to help us think through the value of surrendering to Him and the rewards only He can offer, “What will anyone give in exchange for his life?”. Even if we had the whole world given on a silver platter and somehow achieved “it all”, when the blinking vapor of our life is over and all of eternity begins, what could we possibly give in exchange to the God of the Universe to “buy back” our souls? All of our wealth, knowledge, and possessions? What a mockery that would be to the God who owns all, knows all, and sees all. Jesus’ point is for His audience to fully understand how inescapable it is for us to save ourselves from the coming wrath we deserve because of our sin. No, the only possible way we can “earn” the rewards Jesus speaks of in verses 27-28 are by acknowledging that we truly are impoverished. We have absolutely nothing of value to buy back our souls, except one thing. Our soul itself. Our souls were crafted with tenderness, masterful creativity, divine love, and abundant joy, then given to us, in the hope we would surrender them back to the Lord God that we might experience life to the fullest. (John 10:10) Is there a grander dichotomy?! In laying down our life, we find it. In keeping it to ourselves, we lose it. Only in its surrender are we freed to live our lives in adoring love to the God who unshackled us from our sin. It’s these acts of love that are divinely rewarded.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)
We can lose ourselves easily to a myriad of important and worthwhile pursuits. Family. Raising children. Higher education. Career. Being the best version of ourselves. None of these, however noble, will save us from the consequence we have rightfully earned because of our sinfulness. Only faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to crucify our sin nature and pay the penalty required for our sin will save us from an eternity of endless death, shame, and condemnation. To lose our lives for Jesus is to “lose ourselves” to the law of love. The simplest description of God is that He IS Love. (1 John 4:8) Every other aspect of His character and every action He takes is deeply anchored in radical, divine love. Therefore, to surrender ourselves fully over to Him, to lose our lives to Him, is to be ruled by Love. Every word we speak, action we take, body language we give off, or thought we think is to be ruled by this same radical, divine love of the God who broke our bondage to sin through His own death and resurrection. This is surely an impossible feat to accomplish on our own! Ask anyone who has “tried hard” to simply be consistently loving in only one instance of everyday life! Yet, because of His love, God graciously gives us His Own Power to live out His kind of radical, divine love every moment of every day through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we surrender our everything to Jesus, agreeing with Him that yes, the only way to save our lives is in giving them up to Him, then He gives us His Holy Spirit to live inside each of us for eternity. Living everyday lives governed by the law of love is precipitated by losing ourselves entirely within the love of Jesus. Who rules you?

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)
I have the gift of 3 teenagers living together with us in our current parenting season, and more on the way as time seems to move faster and faster. We have always encouraged our kids to “own their own faith”, whatever that looks like. Sometimes it means deciding to save up and pay their own way to attend summer church camp because they see the value of investing in their faith walk. Sometimes it means having random conversations about the inner workings, and honest messiness, of church, marriage, and real life through the lens of a good God who redeems. And sometimes, it means letting our kids wrestle with, and push against, the faith we have taught them since they were small. Being a millennial teenager certainly gives ample reason to ask hard questions. Ones that punch my gut, making me ache for weeks at their depth and heavy implications. “I want to follow Jesus, but I don’t want Him to, you know, take me to Africa and make me poor.” Or “I just don’t think there actually is a God, or if there is, we can each choose our own way to make Him happy.” Or, “There’s just a lot of ‘fun’ things I want to do that God wouldn’t approve of, so I’ll wait to follow Him until I’m older.” Each of these are real statements from my kids at varying stages, and they break my heart because they have missed the deep, unshakeable, utterly complete goodness of God. We have the conversation, and I praise God for the safety of our relationship that allows the “push back”. I listen compassionately, permitting their words to flow unhindered, knowing I do exactly the same to God in different scenarios and with different words, but I still wrestle against Him. Here’s the incredible thing, He always allows my wrestling. I cannot say the right words to “force” my children to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, but God is the author of every story. He will keep pursuing them, just as He has faithfully pursued me. Go ahead, girl, ask the big uncomfortable questions. Lay them out there. Know the Lord God is listening, attentive, and is pursuing you with love!

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)
Following Jesus comes at a high cost, total surrender. This kind of following guarantees discomfort, struggle, and persecution, but Jesus wants to remind us the benefit far outweighs the cost. In yesterday’s Journey Study, the man Jesus healed begged to follow Jesus far away from his hometown, but Jesus told him to stay and share what Jesus had done for him. Following Jesus is often unexpected, and when we face trial in the unexpected, we can begin to lose heart and become tempted to “go back” to living our own lives instead of continuing to daily surrender to Christ. Jesus’ words press in on our hearts, urging us to stay focused on truth. Christ will come again, and He will bring judgement with Him for all of us. No amount of our actionable effort to “do good works” will matter one bit if we have not first surrendered the whole of ourselves to Him for safekeeping. When we remember that our surrender is earning for us a life that cannot be lost and eternal rewards, we are encouraged to keep the running the race ahead of us in this life, difficult as it is, because our “momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (1 Corinthians 4:17-18)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Faith To Stay!

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 Follow 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.

Reveal Day 14 We Have This Hope: 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 outWe Have This Hope!

The Questions

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)

1 Peter 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials.

Original Intent

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?
This isn’t the first time in Scripture a new birth is mentioned. Jesus and Nicodemus discuss this very subject when Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night in John 3. Peter is referring to salvation and becoming reborn when we become believers. It is the same concept Paul writes about to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where he reminds the believers there they are a new creation in Christ. Peter is reminding his audience that, when they accept the salvation Jesus offers, they are a new creation in Him. They have now been included into God’s family.

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?
Inheritance is not a new tradition. In the ancient days of Israel, inheritance was bestowed to a father’s sons upon his death. It consisted of all that belonged to the father including his land. The eldest son typically received the greater portion while all other sons received a smaller portion. God had also promised the Israelites the inheritance of the Promised Land; a gift He bestowed on them as His chosen people. Peter is using Israel’s common understanding of an inheritance to remind his audience of an eternal, incorruptible inheritance promised to all believers whether Jew or Gentile. Jesus spoke of a treasure stored up in heaven where moth and rust will not destroy (Matthew 6:19-20) and Paul spoke of an inheritance in several of his letters. Peter is referring to this same inheritance that will never fade. (For more in depth study on this incredible inheritance, check out the Journey Theme, Incorruptible!)

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)
Rejoicing while suffering trials sounds absurd. However, that is exactly what Peter intentionally writes. To understand it fully, we must keep reading. Peter is clear that suffering reveals a character only found in Christ, a character that shows an unbelieving world what only Jesus can do in spite of terrible trial. Peter wrote as one who knew suffering well. He walked through the three days before Jesus rose fully knowing that in Christ’s last moments he had betrayed Jesus. Although Peter preached a strong message, it was a message which met opposition along the way. Peter suffered many trials, eventually giving his life, for the sake of the Gospel so that an unbelieving world would have the opportunity to know Jesus.

Everyday Application

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?
When we accept the salvation offered through Jesus’ sacrifice we become a new creation. We are born into the family of God and forever have a place within it. Peter is referring to this as he writes about a new birth. Just as we were born into our earthly family the day we were physically born; the day we choose to place our faith in Jesus, we are born into God’s family. This new birth solidifies us as heirs with Christ. In his book, “The Knowledge of the Holy”, theologian A.W. Tozer explains, “Self is so subtle that scarcely anyone is conscious of its presence. Because man is born a rebel (to God), he is unaware that he is one. His constant assertion of self, as far as he thinks of it at all, appears to him a perfectly normal thing. He is willing to share himself, sometimes even to sacrifice himself for a desired end, but never to dethrone himself.” When we are willing to allow Christ to remove ourselves off the throne of our lives, giving Him rule and reign, we are reborn with His nature instead of our selfish one.

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?
An inheritance is bestowed on a member of the family when someone else dies. Even today the idea of an inheritance is familiar. Peter is writing not of an earthly inheritance but a heavenly one; this coming reward will surpass all sin, death, and even suffering in this world. The inheritance available through Christ is guaranteed to us when we become members of God’s family at the moment of salvation. If we trust in the work Jesus did to die in our place, taking the punishment for our sin upon Himself once and for all, we are welcomed as His and given His own great reward as our inheritance. It will outlast this world because it is founded in our relationship with Jesus, who beat death and conquered the grave, and therefore it’s an inheritance which is kept in heaven with the promise of our receiving it for eternity. Take heart! Christ has overcome the grave and gives Himself to you for now and for eternity if you take Him as your own!

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)
Peter knew what facing trials felt like. Yet, time and again he chose to continue forward in the mission of the gospel, rejoicing in the Lord for what He had done and continued to do. Our lives are not promised to be free of suffering or trials. However, just as Peter could rejoice so can we! As believers, we have a hope found in Christ that is a gift like nothing the unbelieving world knows. When we choose to rejoice in Him regardless of our circumstances, we look different than those of this world who haven’t experienced the rebirth of Christ. While we live in this world, we are no longer of this world because we have a hope in what is to come. We know the end of the story, and we know the joy of knowing Jesus. Therefore, regardless of our circumstances we can choose to live in the hope promised to us and rejoice even when we walk through suffering and trials just like Peter.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up withWe Have This Hope!

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 Reveal 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.

Beloved Day 15 Love Song

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1
Psalm 42:1-11
Romans 5:6-11

Beloved, Day 15

I had just given birth to my 4th baby, a perfectly beautiful girl. After a sleepless night and a ridiculously fast labor, I was awash with love for my girl. Though exhausted, I didn’t dare close my eyes. Head over heels in love, I couldn’t stop taking her in, caressing tiny curled fingers and buttery soft nails, silky cheeks, dimpled chin, and the softest newborn hair. I held her close, inhaling her fresh-from-the-womb scent. My heart was bursting with love, and as my husband slept fitfully in the hospital chair, I sang over my little girl.

I sang the gospel, I sang every hymn I knew, and then I sang them again. I sang songs I made up in the moment, I sang of her siblings, I sang of the God who crafted her. I wept, I prayed, and as the morning rays reached her newborn face, I was more in love with her, if possible, than I had been just a few hours prior.

Love songs have the mysterious ability to enlarge our hearts, soften us, and make us feel we can do anything because we are magnificently loved.

Which is why the Lord of the universe sings over His children.

Zephaniah wrote of God,
“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.”
(Zephaniah 3:17, emphasis mine)

Lord of Lords. King of Kings.
Enthroned by cherubim and seraphim.
Ruler of wind, waves, and every creature.
This is the God who delights to sing over those who call Him Abba Father!

Job spoke of God His Maker, “who provides us with songs in the night.” (Job 35:10)

Is this mystery not unfathomable?!

The entirety of Song of Solomon is a love song.
It overflows with beauty, passion, delight, and commitment between Lover and Beloved.

You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride.
You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
How delightful your caresses are, my sister, my bride.
Your caresses are much better than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume than any balsam.
(Song of Solomon 4:9-10)

Can you imagine the effect on your relationship if your spouse came home tonight and sang lyrics of love over you? Not sugary sweet nothings, but power-packed melodies of hope, truth, and unconditional love. What would his response be if you did the same?

To be sung over is akin to receiving an exquisite, lavish gift.
It’s life-giving, filling, nurturing, and sustaining.

A few years ago, I was up way too late shopping for Christmas gifts online with my long-distance mother-in-love over the phone. We laughed and chatted and somehow, lullabies came up and how special it was that my children asked her to sing over them when they visited. Jokingly, I commented I was jealous that I didn’t get a lullaby. Then, this woman who had birthed my husband and loved me like her own, sang her lullaby over me.

Sisters, hear me, I could not stop the tears. Those few seconds, the gentle sway of her voice, and the unabashed declaration of love will forever mark my life.

This is why the Father of our hearts sings over those who call on Him.

In His melodies, we hear the rhythm of His heart and learn to sway to the tempo of His faithful love.

When fear attacks.
When relationships hurt.
When we weep.
We listen for the song in the night.

“The Lord will send his faithful love by day;
His song will be with me in the night.”
(Psalm 42:8)

My hours-old daughter had done nothing to deserve my love for her. She hadn’t yet pirouetted through my house, received academic awards, or taught me to serve others with generosity. She had stretched my uterus thin, brought significant pain, and terrified me when she wasn’t breathing at birth. I loved her simply because she was mine.

This is why the Lover of our hearts, souls, and bodies sings His love song over us.

The cadence He breathes over us is always love, always victory, always delight in simply being His.

When our hearts rebelled against Him, choosing our sin over His righteousness.
When we couldn’t keep our tongues from sharing that gossip.
When we allowed our hands to impulsively act out our anger.
When we said that stream of hurtful words in defense of ourselves.
When we lied, when we lusted, when we acted in bitterness, when we stole, when we took a life, when we…, when we… and on goes our gross sinful offenses against the Holy God.

If we listen, His melodies continue, weaving in and out, drawing us out of our sin and into His forgiving grace. Pulling us away from our sin-ravaged patterns and into the rhythmic dance of His life of love.

Listen for the Love Song, Daughters; turn from your sin, your fear, and your shame, and sway to the symphonies of His Song.

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Beloved Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Blessed Day 15 Celebrate In Persecution

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:18-19
Acts 4:29-31
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Philippians 1:12-14
Romans 5:3-5

Blessed, Day 15

In the 1950s, a young missionary pilot had a passion for the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador. This tribe was suspicious of, and known to kill, all outsiders. But Jim Elliot felt called to reach them and share the Gospel. Step by step, he made inroads to reach the tribe.

Finally, he and his team built a camp not far from the Huaorani people. They made contact and even took one of the tribespeople for a plane ride. Later, a larger group of tribesmen came to the base expressing interest in the plane, instead, they turned and killed all five missionary men.

Jim’s wife, Elizabeth, and the other widows continued the work to reach the Huaorani people, despite the great danger they faced. She persisted in the belief that, as her husband was often quoted to say,

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Eventually, the women reached the entire Huaorani tribe for Christ, including those who had killed Jim and the others.

The Elliots experienced what Jesus promised would be true for all believers in this world, we will be hated and even killed (John 15:18-19, Matthew 10:22). The world rejected Jesus and attempted to end His work; we are to expect the same. So rather than being surprised and caught off-guard when we face persecution, let’s prepare ourselves so we can endure to the end.

The apostles certainly experienced persecution! But they persevered to spread the Good News. They prayed for each other, not to be removed from trouble, but to seek boldness to continue speaking the Word of God and performing miracles. As they prayed for endurance, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)

In my own life, there have been many trials and tribulations, and my ministry team has encountered persecution. But this opposition has drawn us even closer to God! We were made stronger in our faith and able to encourage others. Looking to Jesus kept us from becoming distressed and gave us boldness in ministry.

This boldness in kingdom work comes from equipping ourselves with the armor of God. Each piece of armor, fueled by the Spirit of God, adds strength and courage to our fight. As we don our armor daily, we are prepared for battle.

Paul wrote of his many trials in his epistles:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our bodies.”
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Rather than complaining about his poor treatment, Paul praised God in his suffering because it advanced the Gospel. (Philippians 1:12-14)

Yes! Because he was sent to prison, he testified not only to prison guards, but to the great leaders of the day. He would not have been allowed in their presence except to stand trial. In presenting his defense, he shared the Gospel with judges and counsels and great men, such as King Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32); Paul was even prepared to testify before Nero, who was Caesar at the time (Acts 27:4).

Paul, and other saints of old, surely experienced fear as they faced persecution and declared the Gospel to hostile leaders. Similarly, we are still human and may become fearful when confronted with opposition to the Good News. But, just as the prayers of fellow believers gave Paul courage to boldly speak the Word of God, we too can be strengthened and encouraged through prayer (Philipians 4:6-7).

We can even rejoice, not only because the Gospel is being spread, but also because of the transformation within our own spirits. As Paul explains,

 “We also rejoice in our afflictions,
because we know that affliction produces endurance,
endurance produces proven character,
and proven character produces hope.
This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Paul’s words encourage us even today! We can rejoice because our suffering produces character and hope within us. Hallelujah! God’s love is poured out into our hearts and we are able to share His Gospel Story.

Finally, the Bible promises reward to those who persevere through trials: the crown of life!

“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

Therefore, sisters, let’s endure persecution covered in the armor of God and shrouded in prayer; let’s rejoice in our suffering, ever keeping our eyes fixed on the promises of God to further the kingdom, transform our character, and bless us with the crown of life!

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
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Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
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Blessed Day 14 Blessed Are The Persecuted And Reviled: 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 Blessed Are The Reviled And Persecuted!

The Questions

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?

3) What is the great reward in heaven awaiting those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Original Intent

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?
The word ‘persecution’ in the Bible can refer to the idea of pursuing someone, to oppress and harass someone, and also to bring judgment or punishment. In this instance, Jesus is referring to persecution as the consequence of following Him. Jesus knew that every single person who would carry their own cross and follow Him, would eventually face some sort of persecution. If the world hated Christ, who came to die as a sin offering for them, of course the world would hate His followers as well. (John 15:18-25) All His disciples, but one, were literally persecuted to death. They were stoned, beaten, whipped, imprisoned, crucified, and beheaded. With these words, Jesus warned His followers of what would happen if they chose to follow Him. Yet, at the same time, He tells them they will be richly blessed if they continue to follow Him despite the suffering. Even better, He has a great reward for them!

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?Jesus reminds the disciples here that persecution isn’t something new. The prophets who came before, suffered insult and persecution as well as they spoke truth. Let’s have a look at one example in the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. (Daniel 6) During the reign of King Darius, several men couldn’t stand that Daniel had achieved such a high position of influence with the king as a direct result of his loyalty to God. They decided to persuade the king to make a decree that would command the people to pray only to King Darius. Of course, God’s law forbids such worship (Exodus 20:3) and Daniel faithfully continued praying three times a day to God as had been his habit. The men saw this and arrested Daniel who was thrown into the lions’ den. No one believed he’d survive, but because Daniel had remained faithful to God, even in times of persecution, the Lord sent His angel and sealed the lions’ mouths. When looking at the prophets from the past, we find courage and hope. Jesus will reward His faithful people and be with them, even unto the end of the world! (Matthew 28:20)

3) What is that great reward in heaven that awaits those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?
Jesus uses the word ‘reward’ quite a few times throughout His ministry on earth. He wanted His disciples to know a reward would be waiting for them in eternity, where “real life” begins. In Matthew 16:27 we read, “For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done”. It’s clear from this verse that the reward will not be received in this present life, but in the future kingdom of heaven when Jesus returns. Then, will He reward everyone according to the works they have done. In His time on earth, Jesus didn’t say much about what exactly the reward of eternity would look like, but He gave future generations more information through His beloved disciple John and his visions which are recorded in the book of Revelation.

Everyday Application

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?
Even though it may be hard to believe that Christians could face persecution in our western culture that would even come close to a death like the first disciples experienced, it does still happen. The Church is widely persecuted in many ways the majority of western believers can’t even imagine or consider. In some countries, Christians are severely punished even for spreading the Gospel to a single person. In other countries, there are people who face being bullied and discriminated against because of their belief in the Bible, the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ. We might ask, is persecution something to fear? Is persecution a reason to turn your back from Jesus? Definitely not! Because Jesus tells us in the same sentence that those who suffer persecution for His sake are blessed, and the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. Temporary suffering will one day be exchanged for eternal reward! What a wonderful promise to cling unto!

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?Feeling happy, and rejoicing in a state of suffering and persecution, doesn’t sound easy at all. How quickly do we murmur and complain if things don’t go right? Even something small! Yet, Jesus tells us ‘to be glad and rejoice’ in the midst of hardship. But how are we able to do so? Not only can we remember the prophets from the past who endured persecution, we can also look at the cross. Our own personal Saviour, the very Son of God, suffered tremendously, and this only because of your sin and mine. Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, but He conquered death! He overcame the world! (John 16:33) In this same verse, Jesus tells us, “… in Me you may have peace”. In order to be glad and rejoice during times of insult and persecution, we need only look straight to Jesus. He will bring us peace in the midst of our trials, but also strength (Philippians 4:13) to stand strong and keep going. Need some more encouragement to be glad during persecution? Remember the words of Paul, “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

3) What is that great reward in heaven that awaits those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?
In Revelation, we find a list of several rewards that will be granted to faithful followers of Christ. Here is a list of the rewards Jesus mentions to seven specific churches:

In 2 Timothy 4:8 we also read of a crown of righteousness reserved for “all those who have loved [Jesus] appearing”. The crown of life is not only mentioned in Revelation, but also in James 1:12. In this verse, we are reminded of the trials believers will endure, the blessing that comes from these trials, and our reward, “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”. Finally, Peter mentions a crown of glory we’ll receive when our Shepherd appears. (1 Peter 5:4) Regardless of our trials, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and remember we are blessed!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Blessed Are The Reviled And Persecuted!

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 Blessed 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.

Blessed Day 4 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: 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 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn!

The Questions

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?

3) How did God comfort David?

Psalm 51:6-13

Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,
and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.

10 God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me,
and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

Original Intent

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?
The prophet Nathan came to David one day telling him a story of two men: One poor, the other rich. The rich man had many sheep, but the poor man had only one lamb. The lamb was dear to the family and loved like a pet. One day, the rich man had a visitor and he needed to serve him dinner. But rather than slaughtering one of his own sheep, he took the poor man’s sheep and served it to his guest. When King David heard this story, he was furious. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!’” (2 Samuel 12:7-9) The whole sordid story can be found in 2 Samuel 11-12. When Nathan confronted David with his sin, David was immediately mournful and confessed his sin before God. David wasn’t repentant because he had been caught in his sin, but he realized he had sinned against God. His fellowship with God had been severed; this is what caused his great mourning.

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?
David’s sin was crushing his soul during this time. He must have been relieved to be found out and his sin exposed because this is when healing of our hearts can begin. In the many months between the time when David committed these sins and his confession, he had not escaped the sense of sin, it was always before him. (verse 3) He could not escape his sinfulness. He was miserable in his sin, as a child of God should be. (Guzik) When Nathan confronted him, he became very aware of the heaviness of heart that had been there all along. He knew his body ached to have that fellowship once again with the Father. In Psalm 32:3-4, David writes, “When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat.” David desired to be cleansed from his sin and his sin blotted out. He wanted to be able to rejoice in the Lord once again. (Psalm 51:7-9). Again, we see in Psalm 32, he wrote of how good it is to be forgiven. “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!”

3) How did God comfort David?
God comforted David foremost by returning His Spirit to David. His spirit was made right with God giving him the fellowship he desired once again. Though his son would die, God did not take Bathsheba away from him; indeed, their second son, Solomon, became the next king of Israel and God allowed Solomon the privilege of building the temple. God kept his promise to keep David’s family in the throne of Israel. David had a third son with Bathsheba, Nathan, who is the son in which the line of David (through Mary) would bring Jesus into the World. (Luke 3:23-38) What a comfort to have a new spirit, David was once again willing to serve God as He prescribed. David was again able to teach others about the joy of salvation and to sing of His righteousness and declare God’s praise. And ultimately, draw others to God.

Everyday Application

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?
The prophet Nathan came to David and confronted him about his sin. And David mourned. While we may have leaders or friends we are accountable to, more deeply, we have the Holy Spirit living within every believer, guiding our actions and convicting us of sin. If we are in tune with the Spirit, we mourn when we realize we have allowed sin to creep into our lives. The Apostle Paul mourned at his inability to please God. He wrote how we all know what is right, but we don’t do it. (Romans 7:14-25) Just as David cried out in Psalm 51, so did Paul cry out his mournful repentance. We also struggle with our carnal nature in keeping God’s law. C.S. Lewis said, “No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.” (Enduring Word, Romans 7) But Praise God! “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) After we are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, guides us, and convicts us of sin. We could not follow Jesus without His power. However, we cannot experience His power without totally yielding to Him. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Holy Spirit indwells, or resides in, every Christian. But to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, we must, as an act of our wills, completely surrender our lives in obedience to Christ. (Vonette Bright, CRU, Campus Crusade for Christ)

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?
The Apostle Paul shares with us in Romans 5:1-5 some of the blessings of our salvation.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God… But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21 There is no greater blessing than the joy found in forgiveness. Bill Gaither wrote, “Oh the joy that floods my soul!” A new song bubbles up with joy in our heart when we are forgiven and cleansed forever. And the Victory! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood! (Bartlett). What a treasure we have in this wonderful peace… For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul!” (Cornel) What a blessing to be found in Christ. Have you found the joy of salvation? Have you mourned over your sin and repented to God?

3) God comforted David. How does God comfort us?
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. When we sin against God and hurt others, it is as if we can’t breathe. I remember times when I have hurt others, I was afraid to go to them and confess. I feared their rejection and possible retaliation. But once I confessed and received that forgiveness, I could breathe again. My fear disappeared; my heart was comforted in the restoration of fellowship and a wonderful peace overtook my spirit. While believers never need to fear that the Holy Spirit will be removed from us, He is our permanent seal, our fellowship with God through the Spirit can be estranged and broken by our sin.
Yesterday, in her Journey Study, Lori said, “on the other side of mourning are abundant blessings.” Revelation 21:4 reminds us, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.”  Our vision is clouded by the sin we allow to persist by not fully addressing it or trying to excuse it. But if we are faithful to humble ourselves (I mean true, honest to goodness, on-our-knees-humbling ourselves) before God, then He is faithful to wipe away our tears and forgive our sin (1 John 1:9).  What a comfort to be completely forgiven and filled with His Spirit. And what an even greater comfort on the day when He wipes away every tear from our eyes forever!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Blessed Are Those Who Mourn!

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 Blessed 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.

Shielded Day 2 Shielded By The Unstoppable: 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 Shielded By The Unstoppable!

The Questions

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

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

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

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

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

Original Intent

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

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

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

Everyday Application

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

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

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

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Worship VI Day 6 Isn’t He?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 4:19-26
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 103:6-14
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Worship VI, Day 6

On Sundays, we read Scripture, sing of grace, and quietly pray.
Some simply observe, while others experience something powerful.
Why the disparity between worshipper’s experience?

Is “worship” the songs preceding the sermon?
Is it a reverent attitude with which we approach God?
Could it be both, and more?

In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus outlines the sort of worshipers He seeks. “. . . true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth…. God is spirit and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Genuine worship engages both the truth of Scripture and our spirit.  
Our being connects with the Spirit of God as we study and adore Him.
Worship can happen in a church service, in our car, in a pristine wilderness, or over a sink of dirty dishes. The melodic lyrics are intended to remind us of our great salvation and Scriptural truths, prompting us to worship.

Truth fuels our worship.
As wood is to fire, so truth is to our worship.
As we encounter the truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit rushes in, providing oxygen.
As oxygen is to fire, so is the Holy Spirit to our worship.

So, again, “Why the disparity between worshippers and their experience?”
Deep worship happens when we interact with truth on an experiential level.
This isn’t about knowing more, it’s about experiencing the reality of God and His character in our lives and through His Word.

When we sing, we find the threads of our stories in the lyrics.
His “Amazing grace. . . saved a wretch like me. . .”
Me. My sin. My hopelessness apart from Christ. My brokenness.

When we belt out “. . . my chains are gone. . .”,
we name our former chains while rejoicing over our release.

As we soulfully cry out to Him in our present “deep water” circumstance, pressing tear-stained faces into His chest, we clutch this Scripture truth,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Genuine worship sings truth, reads truth, and speaks truth.
In so-doing, we verbalize it for our own and others’ edification. The Spirit rises within us to confirm the truths our lips declare, igniting our hearts to draw close to His presence;
we are ablaze with worship.

In Natalie Grant’s song, “Isn’t He”, we celebrate two key truths leading us to ponder an earthshaking question.
“Captivator of the searching heart. . .” explores this first truth:
Jesus searches us out when we are not searching for Him.

In fact, He pursues us as we run in the opposite direction. When He catches us, to our amazement, there is no condemnation. Expecting shameful judgement, we find stunning kindness and lavish grace.

If such grace was not enough, this Captivator becomes our Healer, the second incredible truth of the song.
Christ finds us, slumped in the wreckage of failure, languishing in painful losses or enslaved in strongholds of our own making. This Jesus picks up our shattered pieces, frees us from our stonewalled strongholds, and bathes our gaping wounds with the healing balm of kindness.

Graciously giving more, He proclaims blessings over us, giving us hope and a future. He pieces together our shattered fragments, fashioning them into a magnificent masterpiece of grace.

Deeper still, this Healer takes the punishment our wrong-doing demands.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“. . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)

Our most shameful thoughts are no longer held against us once we lay down our hearts in surrender to Christ. The vile things we’ve seen, dark deeds we’ve committed, or those done against us, no longer define us.

The wrestling question begs an answer,
“Who would lavish such grace upon me?
Who is this Captivator?

Once again, Scripture reveals truth…
He is the same Whose Spirit hovered over the waters before creation (Genesis 1:1-2)

He is I AM Who revealed Himself to Moses on Sinai, and spoke through fire and cloud. (Exodus 33:7-23)

He is the One “. . . who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. . .” (Psalm 103:1-5)

He is the Suffering Servant Who “. . .  was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“He is the image of the invisible God; He is the firstborn over all Creation. . . He is before all things and in Him all things hold together…” (Colossian 1:15-23)

He is the Lamb receiving worship from saints and angels and the rider on the white horse returning as King of King and Lord of Lords! (Revelation 5 & Revelation 19:11-16)

Let these truths soak into your soul and shape you.
Dare to believe this magnificent grace, this lavish kindness is truly for you, and sink into wonder. “This Jesus” has drawn you to Himself with the cords of lovingkindness and you are loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Linger in this holy moment.
Worship.

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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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Esther Day 15 A Legacy Of Celebration

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 9:16-10:3
Psalm 78:1-8
Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 2:1-9

Esther, Day 15

Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal purple and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.  The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced, and the Jews celebrated with gladness, joy, and honor.  In every province and every city, wherever the king’s command and his law reached, joy and rejoicing took place among the Jews.  There was a celebration and a holiday. Esther 8:15-16 

The Jews had much to celebrate!
Imagine receiving a death sentence from a power-hungry leader for no other reason except he didn’t like your people. Imagine the fear and despair you’d feel; hopeless and helpless to save yourself or those you love.  Then you receive word of a new law to counter the first one and the leader being punished; you and your people are free!

There was rejoicing and shouting and celebrating going on in Susa!
Thanks to the courage of Esther, as she followed Mordecai’s wisdom and was covered by prayer and fasting of the Jewish people, God rescued His chosen people.  I doubt there is anyone who would look unfavorably upon them or think their celebration was too extravagant. I doubt the Jewish people themselves were concerned with how they were perceived by others.  Their death was imminent, but they had been spared!

After the Jews were saved from destruction, the holiday, Purim, was established and is still celebrated by Jews today.  The holiday is a joyous one, preceded by a day of fasting as they remember how the Jews fasted and prayed for Esther as she approached the king. The story of Esther may be read as they remember from where they have come, and from where their Help came. They rest and feast and celebrate! The celebration was a decree and was established as an official holiday so future generations would not forget the great rescue. Esther 9:27-28

Sometimes we forget how we, too, have been spared.
Ephesians 2 tells us that, as sinners, we are also dead, eternally separated from God because of our unrighteousness. We had no access to God and His holiness, and were destined to face eternity apart from Him.  But in His great mercy, God sent Jesus to rescue us so we can have a restored relationship with Him. We are made alive in Christ! Ephesians 2:1-9  That is reason to celebrate!

How can we celebrate?
One way is to share your story.

Every single Christ-follower has a story worthy of celebratory re-telling!
At one point we were all separated from God because of our sin.  Then, He, in His infinite grace, sent His only Son to take our sin upon Himself and put it to death on the cross.
Not only did He die for our sins, but He defied the enemy who thought he had won by rising from the grave, forever to live with our Father God in Heaven where He continues to fight for us.  Out of great love, He left His Holy Spirit to personally live inside each one who calls on His name. The Spirit guides into Truth and fills us with power to do the work He has called each of us to do.

He invited us into His story so we may draw others to Him as well.
As we share what He has done for us, others see His faithfulness and are drawn into a relationship with Him as well.

At the very moment we decide to follow Jesus with our whole being, our faith stories don’t end, but are only beginning! He continues the work in our hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit so we may encourage others and grow closer to Him as we journey through life.  He provides us encouragement while challenging us to lean on Him during trial so we can encourage others in their growth. I know it encourages me in difficult times to hear how God is moving in the lives of others, especially if I’m walking a path similar to another’s. As we continue to share our stories, God is glorified and we can celebrate together who He is and all He has done for us.

I’ve been convicted recently about how little I share my story of faith and growth.
Also, how infrequently I ask others about their journey.
Perhaps it’s fear of rejection or being thought too “religious”, or maybe I just don’t pay enough attention to those around me to be sensitive to what God is doing.

What if we spent some time in the mornings inviting God into our days,
thanking Him for the work He has done in our own hearts,
and asking Him to specifically show us someone who needs to hear the hope of the Gospel? What if we were intentionally open to readily sharing how God has proven Himself real in our own lives?
It may feel risky, but we have much to share with great reason to celebrate our Rescuer!
The God who created the universe invites each of us into a relationship with Him!

Who needs to hear about the hope that lives within you?
Who might God want you to share your story with so they can know Him?
Who in your life needs to be encouraged that God is still good and still at work?
Whose life will be forever changed because you chose to share?
Do your children know your own faith story so they are able to continue your legacy of faith to future generations?

The next time you hear about Esther and her reason to celebrate with her people, remember you have even more reason to declare the goodness of God!
Celebrate out loud for the world to hear!

A P.S. from Gracefully Truthful….
Maybe, you’ve never told your story to anyone before; today is a great day to start!
We want to make it easy for you to get started and we would be honored to help you share boldly through the Faces of Grace platform.
Check out the “Get Started” tips, then send in your story and begin celebrating out loud what God has done!


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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!