spirit

The GT Weekend Worship IX 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) Jesus said, “…True worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) Does that make you wonder if there are “fake” worshippers? Looking at Scripture, I would say yes. In Monday’s Journey Study we saw that worshipping in spirit means we are tuned into and obeying the Holy Spirit living within us. Worshipping in truth means our adoration flows out of knowing His Word and His identity as the unchanging One True God.  Consider some ways you can sharpen your ears to hear from the Holy Spirit? How might you begin putting these into practice starting this weekend? Another side to truth is intention. Worship cannot be like a cloak, used to cover the stain of our sin. We must truly be cleansed to be considered true worshippers. Have there been times when you were a “fake” worshipper? What steps did you take to return to the heart of true worship? What are some ways you can move worship from just “Sunday mornings during church” to the everyday moments of your life? Revisit the Journey Theme Character to remind yourself of the character of the God we serve and worship. Journal something new you learn about God, or are especially thankful for, each day this next week!

2) Did you know that many worship songs are based on Scripture? Does anyone else besides me pause at a passage or verse and start singing the associated song? Brenda taught us that even though songs can tug at our emotions, the most powerful songs are those which sing Scripture back to God. What better way to worship Him than to echo His words? Journal the names of some songs that are based on Scripture, adding the passage or verse and why it resonates with you. A beautiful aspect of worship is how it boasts about God. Who better to boast about?! King David even realized this when he wrote in Psalm 5:11, “…may those who love Your name boast about You”. Spend time this weekend looking up some of God’s promises. How do they spur you on to boast about Him? Recall some hard situations God has seen you through. If you haven’t boasted about His goodness and faithfulness to you during those times, use this weekend to do just that.

3) In Friday’s journey, Paula took us on a stunning journey through the Old Testament, pointing out “I AM” in many chapters and stories. We’re then transported to the New Testament where I AM came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ. If we worship Him for nothing else, this would be a sufficient reason. But even more so, He not only dwelt among us, but also redeemed us by taking our place as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Revelation 5 tells us all of Heaven will worship the Lamb. Can you think of anything better than focusing your worship on God? Revisit Worship VII, which focuses on God’s wondrous glory! Pick one day from each week of Worship VII (or more if you’re feeling ambitious!) and journal your thoughts on that day’s topic.

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 Colossians 1:15-17 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Prayer Journal
Father God, I think of the song that talks about “going back to the heart of worship”. I confess the times I’ve made worship about me and my preferences. Only true worship focuses on You because it’s about You in every aspect. I pray I can focus on Your unchanging character so I’m always mindful of how holy, great, and deserving You are of all my worship. May I remember Your faithfulness toward me even in the face of my unfaithfulness. As I live my daily life, I want others to see me worshipping You by the things I do and say, in the small choices and the big ones. Let my internal thoughts also contribute to a lifestyle of worship for You desire truth in every inmost place. (Psalm 51:6) You, God, are the One True God who has redeemed me from all my rebellious sin. I will worship You in spirit and truth because only You are worthy of that kind of whole-life praise.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Alive Day 7 Adopted: 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 Adopted!

The Questions

1) What is the spirit of slavery? (verse 15)

2) What is the Spirit of adoption? (verse 15)

3) What does it mean to suffer with Christ? (verse 17)

Romans 8:14-17

14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Original Intent

1) What is the spirit of slavery? (verse 15)
Slavery is a concept Paul’s readers would have known and understood as it was commonplace in their everyday lives from household slaves to business slaves. In Acts 16, Luke records the story of Paul’s interaction with a slave girl, setting her free from demons. (Acts 16:16-24) Paul’s Roman audience, a mix of both Jews and Gentiles, knew the history of Jews enslaved in Egypt for 400 years as told in the Torah, which is a Jewish holy text, comprising the first 5 books of what we know as the “Old Testament” in our Bibles. You can read of Jewish slavery in the book of Exodus. Slavery also existed in the Old Testament when a poor person would sell themselves to another person in order to pay a debt they owed. (Leviticus 25:39) However, God included clear commands in Leviticus instructing slave owners not to force these slaves into labor, but instead to view them as hired workers who would be released in the Year of Jubilee. (Leviticus 25:40-41) Paul is using this base knowledge with his audience to explain their condition as sinners. They were slaves of the debt they owed God because of their sin against Him.

2) What is the Spirit of adoption? (verse 15)
In Roman culture, an adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child in his new family. He became a full heir to his new father’s estate, while forfeiting all ties to his past. Paul uses this imagery to convey what happens spiritually when an individual accepts Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, which paid the debt of all sin. (1 John 2:2) This person has lost all ties, ownership, rights, and connection to the previous “family”, ruled by Sin and Death, they become adopted by God as members of His family. Through Jesus, God as Father, gives the person who fully surrenders themself to Him, the “right to become a child of God”. (John 1:12) This is the only way to be accepted by God and be given an inheritance of eternal life instead of the rightfully earned condemnation of eternal separation from Him. (John 14:6, Ephesians 1:3-12) Children of God no longer belong to the world and its slavery to sin, instead they are welcomed in to God’s family as co-heirs with Christ, the Son. (verse 17)

3) What does it mean to suffer with Christ? (verse 17)
Roman crucifixion was one of the worst forms of death, if not the worst form of punitive punishment, ever invented. It was grotesquely brutal and Paul’s audience knew it full well. Likely, some in his audience had even witnessed it firsthand or had heard the horrendous cries of anguish accompanying such a torturous death. The prophet Isaiah conveys the suffering of Jesus’ horrible death in Isaiah 52:13-53:12, hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented by the Romans. The recipients of Paul’s letter also knew there was a price for choosing to follow Christ, meaning many of these early believers would face persecution or death for their faith. Paul knew the persecution was growing more intense for the Church and he wrote to remind the believers that the price of following Jesus was known, expected, and shared among all true followers of Christ, but that reward was coming! (Luke 14:26-27, verse 18) They must be willing to suffer with Christ as part of their adoption. “…if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (verse 17)
However, there is the comfort in knowing nothing they would endure would compare to the suffering of Jesus as He bore the punishment for our sin. (1 Peter 2:24) Praise God, no believer will ever be alone after trusting Christ for salvation for God will always be present through the Holy Spirit!

Everyday Application

1) What is the spirit of slavery? (verse 15)
The type of slavery Paul referenced in this passage was not slavery we think of in western culture today. It was selling yourself as a hired hand to pay a debt, knowing you would one day be released, free of your debt, in the Year of Jubilee, which God had instituted. God outlined specifically how slaves were to be treated in Leviticus 25. Paul uses the term “spirit of slavery” to convey our position before the God of Justice without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. We are sinners bound to the debt we owe as sinners, which is death. (Romans 6:23) Each one of us rightfully deserves death and punishment for our sin and it’s fundamentally imperative we do not forget what we deserve.

2) What is the Spirit of adoption? (verse 15)
The day we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin we become co-heirs with Christ (verse 17). We are no longer bound by our sin but instead welcomed into God’s family. The ownership chains of sin and slavery have been removed, we are officially declared “dead to sin”. (Romans 6:11) He becomes our Abba, meaning Father, and, just as an ancient Roman son would become an heir to their father’s estate, so we become an heir to our Father’s inheritance. We are fully adopted into the family of God, our penalty of death is paid through Jesus’ death for us and we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to live within us, promising us our final inheritance is yet to come in eternity with our Father. (Ephesians 1:13-14) We are given the gift of a restored relationship with our Father, that was once broken because of our own sinfulness!

3) What does it mean to suffer with Christ? (verse 17)
In modern western culture, the concept of suffering and persecution as a believer for their faith is foreign. However, believers around the world are currently persecuted for their faith in Jesus, many in torturous ways or through death. If the Lord has currently blessed your life, keeping you from facing the same type of persecution other brothers and sisters in the faith face, I urge you to please use the freedom you’ve been given to share Christ! Regardless of where we live, or what the cost of following Jesus looks like for us specifically, we must not forget we are all called to a higher standard as a child of God. We are to be set apart from the world, which will inevitably make us “stick out”, often bringing on forms of suffering. Paul calls his readers not to be conformed to the world’s pattern of sin, but instead to be transformed by His Spirit (Romans 12:2); this leads to suffering. (John 15:18-21) We are called to love and serve like Jesus and this will come at a cost. The world hated Jesus, and it will hate all who follow Him as well. Jesus Himself calls believers to pick up their cross (Matthew 16:24-28), deny self, and follow Him. Each of us will pay a different price for our faith in Jesus, but we can be sure following Him won’t be suffering free. However, we can cling to the truths Paul wrote of to encourage the early believers. Jesus experienced worse than we can ever imagine, we are never alone, and the final battle for our souls has already been won. We can say with strength as the psalmist did, “The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?” (Psalm 118:6) We are able to endure whatever lies before us because of the One who has gone before us!

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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

Share What You’ve Learned!
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Our Current Study Theme!

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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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Fruitful Day 1 Anchoring Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 3:16-17
Romans 5:8-15
2 Peter 1:2-4
1 John 4:16-19
Galatians 5:22-25

Fruitful, Day 1

I’ve often heard the popular saying, “It is not the gift that matters, but the spirit behind it.”

While the giver’s intent is important, the gift itself often speaks volumes of the giver’s heart. Would we gift junk to someone dear to us?
No, love motivates us to give a precious gift to another.

Yet, our kind of love is imperfect. How we relate to and treat one another, how we love, is mostly dependent on their treatment of us.

But God’s love is not like ours; His love does not depend on our attitude.
He loves us irrespective of who we are, because He is love.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Jesus demonstrated His great love when He submitted Himself to the will of His Father without reservation, by offering His life as a sacrifice for our sins. What a great love! Now, we who believe in Him are the product of that love.

Before Jesus returned to the Father, He said,

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth [. . .] I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” (John 14:16-18)

The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, just as Jesus promised, on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4) We have also received the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in Christ!
The Holy Spirit is the gift of God’s presence in us, demonstrating His love for us.
Through His Spirit, He motivates and equips us to love one another, He comforts us in times of adversity, and fills us with joy even when we don’t have any physical reason to rejoice. He helps us  love even our enemies, and enables us to persevere in trials.

I can testify to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in me. When I encountered Jesus in my life, I began to learn of the depth of His love.

This hymn always reminds of His love; whenever I sing it, tears of joy roll down my cheeks.

“I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has given,
Wonderful things in the Bible I see.
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me,
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.”

This song reminds me of my character before my encounter with Jesus’ love. I can’t imagine why Jesus should love a person like me: a selfish, self-centered, self-righteous, unforgiving, and Mrs. Know-All person.

Yet He died for me and paid the full price for my sins.
When I was boasting in my emptiness, bragging of my good works,
He knew they wouldn’t save me.

He revealed Himself to me as the only way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) Only then did I begin to truly experience His love that goes far beyond our comprehension. Just as it is impossible to measure the quantity of water in the ocean, so is God’s love for us.

Wrapped in the embrace of His love, there was nothing left for me but to surrender my life to Him. I could not resist His compelling, motivating, magnetic love.
His love gave me peace I had never experienced before.
His love began cultivating the fruitfulness of His own character in me.
My life was transformed from one of self-indulgence and frustration to a life bubbling with joy.
Hallelujah! 

I am certainly not perfect, but I am not who I was before I encountered Christ’s love.
By the grace of God, my story is different.
Glory be to God!

I do not count on my selfish love to see me through weighty grievances or serious offences, but rather on God’s own love which He poured in my heart through the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5) I am absolutely certain of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what human ability cannot.

Considering this great, incomprehensible love of God, I conclude with the words of Apostle Paul,

“Who can separate us from the love of Christ? [. . .] For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 8:35a, 38-39)

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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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Word Day 5 Of Water & Spirit

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 3:1-21
Ephesians 1:3-14
Revelation 2:12-17

Word, Day 5

If my husband or I call our daughter anything other than her name, she is always quick to correct us. Like many families, nicknames are an affectionate habit, so we often use something like “sweat pea” or “snuggle bunny” instead of her given name. If she’s pretending to be a dog, frog, or other animal, we’ll say, “Oh my goodness, Elise turned into a.…insert animal name. “No, it’s me, Elise!”, she exclaims without missing a beat.

Over time, our four-year-old realized she has an identity.
One way she lays claim to her is her name.
It belongs to her, and no one can pin a name on her that doesn’t belong. Before she entered the world, her Dad and I chose a specific set of sounds, syllables, and letters to refer to her, and this combination was chosen with plenty of thought and intention.

When we come to know Christ, God gives us a new name.
Revelation 2:17 tells us our new identifier is written on a tablet, to be revealed later to us. Scripture is filled with other names we can now take ownership of as well, such as daughter (Mark 5:34), conqueror (Romans 8:37), and co-heir (Romans 8:17).

Despite these God-given titles, and like the man, Nicodemus, who came with plenty of questions to Jesus, we wonder what it truly means to be a Christian.
Can we know, without a doubt, if we are in Christ and part of His family?

For much of my life,
I defined belonging to Christ
as following a rigid set of rules.
Maybe this is true for you, too?

I spent my middle and high school years at a Christian school, and the rulebook was lengthy. After years of keeping in line with their strict code of conduct, I tired myself out.

The tireless grace of God was an aspect of His character I didn’t yet understand, and no one attempted to explain it to me. My senior year, I was caught breaking the rules several times, and nearly expelled. Because my grades were good, the staff agreed to let me graduate with the rest of my class, but I didn’t return to church for nearly a decade.

Even though I ran, God pursued me.
As He is for you!

I didn’t recognize His pursuit at the time, but the passing of years always brings perspective. It took a cross-country move and the birth of my first child for me to realize it wasn’t sacrifices and rule checklists that God wanted.

He wanted my heart.
And yours.

In his gospel, the eye-witness disciple, John, records Jesus’ interaction with a Pharisee who brought his confusion and questions with him. He wanted to know who Jesus really is, but he came to Jesus at night so no one would see him. Jesus saw Nicodemus’ greatest need, just as He does for each of us, and cut to the heart of the matter.

 “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

To be born of water is flesh birthing flesh, but to be birthed of the Spirit of the Living God is altogether other.

Like Nicodemus, I questioned Jesus.
I found answers to some of my questions, but not all of them.

My point of surrender came when my thirst for Christ became greater than my thirst for answers. It came, blessedly, when my desire to know Him and love Him became greater than my need to have everything explained to me.

Once I surrendered all I knew of myself
to all I knew of God,
I knew I was His.

I was born of His Spirit.

Like my daughter, I had an identity that was given to me, not because I earned it, but because of the unconditional love of a parent. I knew who I was because the desire to walk in step with his Spirit came without feelings of guilt or shame. I was no longer obedient out of a sense of obligation or fear of punishment. I followed Jesus because I wanted to; I wanted to be a living reflection of the radical change He made in my life.

A couple of years later, Mormon missionaries came to our door and asked if I died tomorrow, would I know where I was going. For the first time in my life, I answered confidently. I knew God’s Spirit was in me because He was changing me from the inside out. When others commented on the newness they saw, it solidified my assurance.

Jesus’ Spirit in us is our seal, guaranteeing our redemption and our eternal future with Him. Although we can grieve Him when we go our own way or give in to the selfish cravings of our flesh, He will never leave us.

“In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.” (Ephesians 1:13)

Do you know Him?
Do you share conversation with Him, listening for His gentle whispers to guide your days?

If you will surrender, He proves a constant Friend and steady Counselor.
If something is keeping you from Him today, confess it to Him.
Declare out loud that He is your Lord.

Do you believe this?
Because the answer to that question changes everything.


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

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Sketched VII Day 9 Born Again: 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 Born Again!

The Questions

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?

John 3:1-21

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2  This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him. 3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 ”How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit,  he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8  The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9  “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10  “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 22 But anyone who lives byJ the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Original Intent

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses when he was speaking to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?
Jesus is Emmanuel, God With Us. He is and always has been the God Who meets us where we are, and in his interaction with Nicodemus, we see this illustrated clearly. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the highest Jewish council in the first century. The Sanhedrin was comprised of 71 individuals, which included 69 common members and was presided over by the high priest. The 69 common members were divided into three courts of 23 members, and Moses was actually considered the 70th common member. The Sanhedrin served as the highest court of the Jews, and they even appointed members to lower courts throughout the land. Their decisions were honored by Jews regardless of where they resided. If a lower court decision were to be appealed, it would be sent before the Sanhedrin for review…not unlike a first century Supreme Court. Every member of the Sanhedrin was well versed in the Law, as well as the history of Moses. They would have been well versed in all 613 laws, as well as any religious customs their culture had adopted as rules. Nicodemus undoubtedly knew the Law backwards and forwards, as was required of his position and title. The story of Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness would have been as familiar to Nicodemus as the back of his hand. Because he was after Nicodemus’s heart, as he always is, Jesus spoke to him in the language he would immediately recognize and understand.

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?
Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus about the new life God extends to every believer when they submit their life to Him and accept the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus and salvation through Him alone. While conversing with Nicodemus, Jesus mentioned being born of water and the spirit. The phrase “born of water” likely refers to what Nicodemus would have recognized as familiar: spiritual cleansing by water. This is clearly referenced numerous times throughout the Old Testament. (Numbers 19:17-19; Psalm 51:2, 7; Ezekiel 36:25) The phrase “born of the Spirit” refers to the spiritual birth each person receives when they experience salvation and their sin nature is crucified with Christ. When we accept the gift of salvation, we are transferred into the kingdom of God and begin to be transformed into the likeness of Christ! As we allow Him to do the work necessary in our spirit, our soul and flesh fall into alignment and we begin to become more and more like Jesus. Praise God!

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?
Jesus was fully God and fully man. He knew His verbal exchange with Nicodemus that night would echo throughout the Jewish man’s mind, heart and life, as well as through the pages of Scripture for all time. This conversation was anything but casual. Jesus took this important moment to explain the miraculous spiritual transformation every believer can experience in their life. He had not yet been crucified, but being God, He knew the end of the story. Jesus wanted Nicodemus, and everyone who would read this passage of Scripture, to know what God had been telling the Jews since the first Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden: no one is able to become righteous in their own strength. Instead, spiritual salvation and transformation are required. In this passage, Jesus is explaining what it takes to enter the kingdom of God: the spiritual transformation which would be made possible only by His own death and resurrection.

Everyday Application

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses when he was speaking to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?
In the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus that night, we see the nature of God illustrated clearly, and we are encouraged to follow suit. Jesus could have spoken to Nicodemus in a parable, or through an angel, or through any supernatural or natural way he desired. However, he knew Nicodemus intimately. He chose to meet Nicodemus where he was and speak to him using the language and medium He knew Nicodemus would understand. As born again Christians, we are charged to fulfill the great commission, and in this interaction Jesus shows us the best way: by meeting people where they are and speaking truth to them in the way Holy Spirit leads. Doesn’t it make sense that He would encourage us to come alongside others as we share the good news of the gospel? Grab hold of the freedom we see Jesus extend to us here!

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?
God never changes, and He has been telling us the same truth since the beginning: we are incapable of saving ourselves. No human could ever fulfill the law or become righteous on their own; we all need someone sinless to stand in the gap for us because all have sinned. God is holy, and He can not contradict Himself. As much as He loved His creation, He could not remain in intimate relationship with them once sin had entered the picture because sin deserves punishment and God is just. But, God also knew His creation would foul things up and sin (over and over), and He had already designed a different outcome. Enter Jesus. God sent His only begotten son to atone for our sins, so we could enter into a right relationship with Him. When we accept this gift of salvation, we are also recipients of spiritual birth! Our sin debt was paid for once and for all by the precious blood of Jesus Christ when He defeated death and hell, and rose from the grave three days later. This ultimate sacrifice made it possible for us to be born of water and the Spirit!

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?
From the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and accept the salvation and new life He alone can give us, we become part of God’s family through the spirit of adoption. But that’s not all. We experience an immediate transfer into the kingdom of God, but this is only the beginning! As we grow in our faith and spiritual maturity, God is gracious to transform us from the inside out, renewing our mind to become like Jesus. Freedom is truly ours as we find there is absolutely nothing we can do to manufacture this incredible spiritual transformation on our own; instead, we are tasked to let Him do his work in us. We can fight it, sure. We can struggle, and resist. And the Lord will honor our desires. He will never force us to change, but if we will submit every area of our lives to him, He will go about the holy work of redeeming us and using us for His glory!

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

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 Sketched VII Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Ignite Day 7 60 Seconds Of 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 60 Seconds Of Truth!

The Questions

1) Why did Nicodemus go by night?

2) What is the birth of water and spirit Jesus refers to?

3) Does verse 20 mean believers will never do wrong again?

John 3:1-21

There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.

14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Original Intent

1) Why did Nicodemus go by night?
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, decided to visit Jesus at night. He knew Jesus must be from God because of the miracles Jesus had performed. However, this public display of miracles and teachings were not enough for Nicodemus. He wanted a more private discourse regarding salvation with Jesus. Nicodemus wanted answers to certain questions and wanted to be free to talk with Jesus openly. In public, Nicodemus was a Pharisee and expected to behave as such. The Pharisees publicly opposed Jesus and would never have engaged Jesus as Nicodemus did. By approaching Him at night, Nicodemus was able to dialogue with Jesus without the judgement of the other Pharisees. Matthew Henry says, “Probably it was the very next night after he saw Christ’s miracles, and he would not neglect the first opportunity of pursuing his convictions. He knew not how soon Christ might leave the town, nor what might happen betwixt that and another feast, and therefore would lose no time. In the night, his converse with Christ would be more free, and less liable to disturbance.” Nicodemus wanted answers and would not allow anything to stop him from getting those answers.

2) What is the birth of water and spirit Jesus refers to?
Nicodemus understands how people are physically born and is thinking purely in human terms when Jesus begins talking about being born again. Nicodemus doesn’t understand how one who was already born can repeat the process of entering and exiting the mothers’ womb. However, Jesus quickly explains He is not talking about an earthly birth, but a spiritual birth instead. This birth takes place in a completely different manner than a physical birth. Jesus helped us understand this birth by obeying what His Father asked of Him when He was baptized by John. (Matthew 3:13-17) Jesus explained to Nicodemus that this second birth happens through water and spirit. John baptized Jesus in water and that day the Spirit was present in the form of a dove overhead. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that, while he was once born of a human mother, in order receive the gift of salvation, he must be reborn of the spirit. This gift of salvation is only possible by what Jesus would do on the cross and can only be received through faith and belief in what Jesus did.

3) Does verse 20 mean believers will never do wrong again?
This verse is found in a discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus and therefore is not meant to be taken alone. Jesus had taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-16) that believers are the light of the world and here Jesus is saying evil (darkness) cannot be in the presence of light. If taken alone this verse may seem to be saying a believer cannot do evil. However, in this same discourse Jesus presents the Gospel to Nicodemus. Nicodemus learns He can never earn salvation on His own, but it is a gift of Jesus. Jesus is going to do what only He can do and what no man is capable of on His own by paying the penalty for our sin through His sacrificial death. The promise is in eternal life and the freedom from condemnation because of Christ, not of a life lived perfectly. This discourse ends by giving all credit to God. Jesus never tells Nicodemus that if He believes He will live perfectly, so Jesus is not promising the freedom from all evil only the forgiveness from evil.

Everyday Application

1) Why did Nicodemus go by night?
Nicodemus watched first hand as Jesus performed miracles and taught the masses. This left Nicodemus with questions he wanted answers. He waited until the most likely time to have an uninterrupted conversation with Jesus and sought Him out. As believers today, there is much we can learn from this. There are lessons we can only learn as we sit at the feet of Jesus and spend time with Him uninterrupted. While corporate gatherings of believers and fellowship together are wonderful and necessary, there is something irreplaceable in time spent alone with Jesus. In those moments, we are free to reveal our deepest thoughts, emotions, and questions to the Lord and He is able to meet us exactly where we are. In those moments, He can mold and shape us into who He desires to make us. We, like Nicodemus, need to make a priority of coming to Jesus when we can be free of interruption and simply sit at His feet.

2) What is the birth of water and spirit Jesus refers to?
Jesus welcomed Nicodemus’ questions and explained to Nicodemus how he must be reborn. However, this rebirth is not of flesh, but a birth of the spirit. We too, just as Nicodemus, must experience a rebirth if we are to receive the gift of salvation offered through Jesus’ sacrifice. We must accept, and hold firmly as our own, what Jesus did on our behalf on the cross by giving Himself as the payment for our sin followed by His victory over and defeat of death. To be reborn, we must see how we are the ones worthy of a death sentence and eternal separation from God because of our sin and believe Jesus as Lord over Sin and Death. When we do, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the spirit portion Jesus referred to in His conversation with Nicodemus. We are also called to follow in obedience as Jesus did and be baptized in water. As believers, we are baptized by water displaying an outward symbol of our belief in Jesus by which we have been baptized by His Spirit. When we are baptized in water it is a picture of our rebirth as a believer and shows the world the change that has taken place in our lives.

3) Does verse 20 mean believers will never do wrong again?
In John 8:21 Jesus calls Himself the light of the world and Matthew 5:14 refers to believers as the same.  However, this verse says if whoever does evil hates the light. If we read only John 3:20, it may seem that once we believe we will never do evil again and will be freed from it. However, that is not the promise Jesus makes. Jesus promises us the gift of eternal life and freedom from condemnation, the punishment for sin, when we believe in Him. There is only one who is capable of living with no evil and that is Jesus alone. However, that does not mean we continue in our old ways. Instead, as believers once we place our faith in Jesus, through the power of the Spirit we are now the light of the world. We have the source of all light living inside of us. As we allow God to work in us conforming us to look more like Him through the process of sanctification, there is less of us, less evil, to be found and more light as Jesus transforms us. This discourse closes by reminding us it is all the work of God and He deserves all credit… not us. It is never in our power, but only by His power we have been saved and are able to live as His light.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with 60 Seconds Of 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 Ignite Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

The GT Weekend ~ Seeds 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) Stacy shared, “If Jesus has changed me, I must believe He can do the same for others, even those I’m hesitant to engage.” Barnabas chose to engage despite apprehension of another’s reputation, and the Church grew radically as a result. A simple extension of encouragement, love, and support had radical ripple effects. If the same is true for us as we follow the Spirit’s leading, what is holding you back from doing the same?

2) A believer’s perspective on the ordinary, everyday moments of life and the extreme seasons of intense suffering is radically different than one who doesn’t have Jesus. List some scenarios you are currently experiencing where you feel Jesus is inviting you to worship more boldly for the distinct purpose of drawing others close to Him. What if our worship gave others a glimpse of a new, eternal perspective?!

3) Breaking down our self-made barriers we erect, often without even giving intentional thought to it, is something we are called to do, but something we need help doing. Grab a journal, pen, your Bible and take a few minutes to sit quiet and alone as you ask specifically for this help. As you pray, ask the Spirit to give you names, or even descriptions if you don’t know names, of people Jesus is asking you to go outside your lines to love. Be intentional about praying for them and connecting with them in the coming days and weeks!

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 Acts 10:28 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Prayer Journal
Ah Lord, how much I like to complicate Your mission. Strategies, books, plans, conversation lines, fear and “what if I don’t say it right or have all the answers.” But You push back, “what if you just refused to call any person “unreachable”?”.  What if your worship overflowed from a heart that loved Me first and most regardless of cost? What if I placed others around you for the purpose of redeeming them through your reach? What if you just loved them like I love you. Plain, simple, uncomplicated, just “what if…”. Help me to do exactly that, Lord, for, oh how I love You!

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

Cross Day 3 John The Baptist

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:5-25; 39-45
John 1:29-34
Luke 3:1-6
Matthew 3:4-12
Luke 7:18-23

Cross, Day 3

For a moment, I doubted.
I was stuck in a prison cell, jailed for calling out Herod Antipas for his sins.
I did no wrong; in fact, I was doing the will of God.
But was Jesus truly God? Was He the one we had been waiting for?
Was He really who He said He was?

I wondered if it was all worth it…
my being set apart from birth, the preparation, the preaching.
Was it enough?
Enough to justify prison and facing death?

From boyhood, my father told me I was special. I was a gift from God, sent to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah. He told me the angel, Gabriel, had announced my birth when he and my mother were very old. Gabriel’s announcement came with several specificities:
“…He will be a joy and delight to you,
and many will rejoice because of his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the righteous –
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
(Luke 1:14-17)

As a boy I didn’t know what it all meant, but I listened for the voice of God to lead me; I was so eager to fulfill His calling on my life. To make others ready for the Messiah!! What an honor!

My mother said Jesus was her cousin’s child, my distant relative. She remembers so vividly when I recognized Him, even while we were still unborn in our mothers’ wombs. This child, born after me, would be greater than me or anyone else who ever walked the earth because He was born of God’s Spirit, not from man.

My appointment was to call people to repent of their sins and ready themselves to receive Jesus as their Savior from sin!
I could baptize with water, but Jesus the Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit!

Instead of following in my father’s footsteps and studying under a rabbi to become a priest, I followed God out to the wilderness. I had no profession other than practicing the discipline of listening to the heart of God and worshipping Him. I had no true home and only the land to live on. I spent years wearing clothes made from camel hair and surviving on just locusts and wild honey. But God was with me, teaching me, preparing me to be an outspoken evangelist. I wasn’t caught up in caring what people thought, what they said, or even how I suffered.

I was singularly focused on my mission
because I spent decades focusing on God alone.

When He told me it was time, I set out from the wilderness toward Israel. As I encountered people, I told them exactly the Lord’s message as He had given it,
“Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!”
This was the fullness of my purpose, and with great zeal I leaned into the work!

People came out of the city to listen to me and be baptized.
Despite my father’s words that I was a special gift, I knew the true gift was what the Lord was doing in me. He prepared my own heart to receive His Salvation.
I was no one.
I was society’s reject.
I preached the unpopular sermon of repentance many prophets before me had declared.
Yet remarkably, I could see God point others beyond myself to One Coming.
The One.

I still remember the day Jesus came to the Jordan River to see me.
His purpose was so intentional.
How my hands shook as He entered the Jordan and our eyes met!
Here was the moment, Jesus was The One, yet I couldn’t help but back up.
He should be baptizing me! I was not worthy to untie His sandals, let alone baptize Him!
“Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness”, Jesus insisted.

Suddenly, everything became clear!
He went under the water like all the others I had baptized, but when He rose up, the skies opened and a white dove descended to rest on Him.

God had told me to look for that sign, for it would signify the Messiah.
What an honor! My heart came alive – truly alive!
Here was confirmation of God fulfilling His promise both to Israel and myself!

I stood motionless, taking in this magnificent occasion.
Arms stretched to heaven, I glorified God the Father as Jesus the Messiah, God in the flesh, stood with me in the river.

His ministry began and I continued to confront sin in peoples’ lives, clearing the path before the Savior of the World.  When it was King Herod whose sin I called out, I was locked up.
Faced with looming execution, the doubts and questions came rapid-fire.

Will Jesus save me from this?
Was I duped, or is He truly the Messiah?
Was my hope misplaced?
Were my efforts for naught?
Was my life wasted?

My life had been surrendered to ministry in Jesus’ Name since before I was born.
I’d experienced incredible moments – proofs – of Jesus having the very nature of God wrapped in humanity’s skin.
Still, I doubted.

I had heard, of course, about His miraculous acts:
the blind see,
the deaf hear,
the lame walk.
None but God could do these things.
Still, there I sat, awaiting death for doing the will of God.
I could not help but ask,
“Are you The One who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Jesus sent back a response reminding of truths I’d already witnessed and then finished with this, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

The language He had chosen was itself a message as I quickly recalled another prophet’s words, “And He will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense…”
Isaiah foretold how Jesus’ message would be offensive and bring persecution for those who loved Him. But as Jesus now reassured, this message was the one by which all peoples who embraced Him would be blessed.

Persecution would come.
The cost of sacrifice was for all followers.
Was it worth it to be counted among those who were granted eternal life because they were not offended by His grace?
Absolutely!

Jesus’ divine destiny was the undeserved persecution of the cross, enduring the fullness of God’s wrath, in order to take away the sins of the world (every person EVER) if they chose Him. (John 1:12; Acts 10:43)

Just as I have.
And here I rest in confident peace.

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A Note About Cross
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters in Scripture and looked through their eyes as they saw the cross. We do our best to research the culture and times and all biblical support surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives as they watched the crucifixion, but we can’t be 100% accurate. These first-person stories are our best interpretation of how these characters viewed Jesus as He gave Himself up for us. Our hope is that by looking through their eyes, we will see the Cross differently as well, and be dramatically changed as we encounter the Savior!
Enjoy!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

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

Incorruptible Day 14 Sweet Sufferings: 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 Sweet Sufferings!

The Questions

1) Am I not living for Christ if I don’t undergo a fiery trial? 

2) Am I supposed to celebrate a trial or suffering?

3) In reading 4:19, does God will us to suffer?

1 Peter 4:12-19

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.
 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.
 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.
 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.
 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God ‘s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
 18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

Original Intent

1) Am I not living for Christ if I don’t undergo a fiery trial?
The apostle Peter is writing to the body of Christ who is quite literally under fire and have, therefore, been exiled and scattered. The great city of Rome has burned down, people are displaced from their homes and livelihoods, separated from their communities, and in survival mode trying stay alive and care for their families while mourning lives of lost loved ones. 
By a false testimony, this devastation was blamed on the Christians. It is common understanding that the leader, Nero, himself burned the city and needed a scapegoat. The apostle Peter is writing to people whose devotion to follow Christ is the reason they are fearing for their lives and fleeing their communities. 
But persecution is wide spread and running away is not a simple answer. As Peter encourages these people to stand strong in Christ, he sprinkles reminders of those who have suffered before them for the Gospel of Christ and for striving to live righteously like prophets of the Old Testament (1:10), but primarily Christ himself, who lived perfectly and fulfilled prophecies, yet died a persecuted death to take on our judgement. 

2) Am I supposed to celebrate a trial or suffering?
On reading 1 Peter 4:13, one may find it an odd command to “rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ.” Even the strongest of Christians might honestly feel they were lying to themselves and others if they said they were celebrating at the same time they were hurting. 
It’s important to remember this verse is wrapped in the middle of a longer dialogue. It’s contrasting the statement to not be surprised by suffering for following Christ. Verse 14 brings clarity to what the rejoicing is regarding, “because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 
Though the persecuted church is innocently enduring unfathomable pains, there is something greater to celebrate.  If they are, “insulted for the name of Christ,” they are suffering for His honor. 
This is a fruit-bearing process for believers who have been cleansed from unrighteousness, and have been spared a greater judgment by God. They have been raised from their spiritual dead state to being alive in Christ and given an eternal, incorruptible inheritance. The joy of this undeserved grace is a gift worthy of rejoicing!
Peter isn’t saying to celebrate hardship. Rather, joy is available because of our rich inheritance in Christ. Much like the timeless example of a laboring mother rejoicing in the coming of her baby. 

3) In reading 4:19, does God will us to suffer?
For qualified and extensive explanations on “God’s will,” sources as Reverend John Piper’s Desiring God website are recommended. However, in reading these verses, this may be a fair question to wrestle. This phrase could be taken to mean those who are suffering because they are doing God’s will or that they are suffering according to what God has allowed or “willed”. Either way, Peter is pointing them to lean into the Lord. Peter is reminding the persecuted church that God is faithful and trustworthy. God is Creator and this points to His sovereignty. The Matthew Henry Commentary notes the overarching purpose of this verse is to encourage the church to “look chiefly to the safety of their souls… which cannot be kept secure otherwise than by committing them to God.”

Everyday Application

1) Am I not living for Christ if I don’t undergo a fiery trial?
Have you ever felt like the only way you could live for Christ is if He calls you to a dramatic life change of service? Sometimes God does call His people to these things. Peter reminds believers that even Christ was persecuted while being righteous (1 Peter 2:19-21). Our fundamental call is to strive for righteous living in the quiet times and in the difficult struggles, wherever we are in life.
In chapters 2-5 Peter keeps circling back to how to live:
–“put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander” (2:1);
–“abstain from passions of the flesh” (2:11);
–“keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable” (2:12);
–instructing husbands and wives to honor each other (Chapter 3);
–“be self-controlled and sober minded” (4:7);
–“show hospitality without grumbling” (4:9); 
–humble yourselves before others and God (5:5-6). 
When we, in God’s strength, live out these instructions (especially in times of difficulty), we are living out a testimony for Christ. In the daily pantry-type decisions (as noted in the Journey Study) to honor God instead of escaping discomfort, thus “adorning the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10; Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth notes this application in her book, Adorned). Our focus is not the trial, but rather upholding Christ in every action. 

2) Am I supposed to celebrate a trial or suffering?
Have you ever followed through on a decision that aligned with Scripture, yet things didn’t go smoothly? 
A breadwinner learns their employer is participating in something against Scripture and decides to look for a different job. Someone who reaches out and loves on the outcast of the group, facing their own isolation. A person who offers to pray for a co-worker is fired for making others uncomfortable. 
Striving to honor Christ leads to trial and suffering. Trials and suffering may take on different forms, but 1 Peter is specifically referring to one who is suffering despite the fact that they are doing good. The sadness or difficulty of a situation is not to be down-played or dismissed. 
But, despite the type of suffering, be encouraged and strengthened as a Christian to look beyond the physical trial and re-connect with the joy of a greater news. Christ is risen and His people will one day share in Christ’s incorruptible glory!  Sufferings do not have power to take that hope away from us! 

3) In reading 4:19, does God will us to suffer?
When reflecting on those before us who have endured persecution for their faith in Christ (not due to evil deeds), it is common to pause in fear.
“I don’t think I could do that… is my faith strong enough to go through that pain?”
Or, perhaps, wrestle with believing God is good in allowing or “willing” such things to occur. It can be both perplexing and comforting to recall that God had a hedge of protection around Job in the Old Testament and Satan had to ask permission from God to bring calamity to Job’s family (Job 1:6-12) 
A few things to remember when wrestling questions about the suffering God as allowed into your life:
1.1 Peter 1:7 gives an example of purpose for trials, “so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In this view, the cost is worth it! 
2. God works all things together for the good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). While we humans are concerned with the now and physical of a trial, God is concerned with the eternal preservation of souls and purification of His people (Philippians 1:6, Zechariah 13:9) 
If God, in His sovereignty were to “will” suffering and trials, He would only do so for a purpose of eternal value in His Bride, the Church, and that His Name would be made known that all may know that He alone is God. We see with cloudy vision, but He sees perfectly. What we can confidently know is that this God is entirely trustworthy!

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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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