#Ephesians 5:22-33
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Men and Women in Creation
14 Points from Genesis that emphasize male-female differentiation
What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman?
While it seems that this discussion is a fruitless endeavor that results in people only stating their personal preferences, we do find an objective perspective given to us in the first three chapters of Genesis that demonstrate the essential equality of men and…
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#1 Corinthians 11:3-11#1 Timothy 2:12-15#complementarianism#Ephesians 5:22-33#feminism#Genesis 1-3#headship and submission#masculinity
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"PRACTICE SPIRITUAL WARFARE FOR YOUR MARRIAGE"
If I were to choose the most important thing as the key that has kept my marriage united and healthy, I would have to say it is loving my husband and family more than myself and practicing spiritual warfare EVERY DAY!
Since we are spiritual beings, we cannot direct our combat against a human person. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and…
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#1 John 4:18#2 Corinthians 10:4-5#Believers#Bible#Chef Shermaine#Church#Encouragement#Ephesians 4:22-24#Ephesians 5:21-33#Ephesians 6:11-18#Faith#Galatians 5:19-21#Galatians 5:22-25#God#Holy Spirit#Jesus Christ#John 14:26#Love#Luke 10:19#Marriage#Matthew 22:34-40#Matthew 4:1-11#Proverbs 18:15#Scripture#Spiritual Warfare#Word of God
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God Gripped
We are gripped by God in an embrace of unconditional love, mercy and grace. We are never forsaken by God.
You always have God’s presence. For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!”So we can say with great confidence: “I know the Lord is for me and I will never be afraid of what people may do to me!”Hebrews 13
Grow At Your Pace
I know I am not perfect. I know God won’t leave me or forsake me, He will grow me through. I have no doubt about…
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#1 Minute Encouragement#Betrayal#Bottom Line#broad road#Cleft Of The Rock#condemnation#designed by God#Ephesians 3:17-20#Ephesians 4:15-16#Exodus 33:19-22#fearfully made#followship#forgiven#forsaken#Freedom#future hope#ghosting#God Created#God For Us#God Gripped#God relationship#God with us#God&039;s grace#God&039;s Kingdom#God&039;s Mercy#grow through#Hebrews 13:5-6#Hope In God#Imperfectly Perfect#Jesus
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He Cares For You Affectionately and Cares About You Watchfully (247) - May 25 2024
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1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC) – Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
This program covers the following scriptures from the Amplified Classic version (AMPC): 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 8:1-2; Matthew 6:33; 1 John 4:19;…
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#1 John 4:19#1 Peter 5:7#2 Corinthians 5:17#anxiety#care#cares#casting#christ#Ephesians 3:20#faith#fear#god#heart#Hebrews 10:23#Jesus#Joel 3:16#Matthew 11:28-30#Matthew 6:33#mind#peace#protection#Proverbs 18:10#Psalm 33:18-22#Psalm 71:1-24#Psalm 9:9#Romans 8:1-2#soul#trauma#worry
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how to read the Bible
this is in order!
1. John
2. Mark
3. Matthew
4. Luke
5. Genesis
6. Exodus
7. Leviticus
8. Numbers
9. Dueteronomy
10. Romans
11. Galatians
12. Colossians
13. Proverbs
14. Ecclesiastes
15. Job
16. 1 Peter
17. 1 Corinthians
18. 2 Corinthians
19. Ephesians
20. Philippians
21. 1 Thessalonians
22. 2 Thessalonians
23. 1 Timothy
24. 2 Timothy
25. James
26. 2 Peter
27. 1 John
28. 2 John
29. 3 John
30. Jude
31. Psalms
32. Joshua
33. Judges
34. 1 Samuel
35. 2 Samuel
36. 1 Kings
37. 2 Kings
38. 1 Chronicles
39. 2 Chronicles
40. Ezra
41. Nehemiah
42. Jeremiah
43. Lamentations
44. Ezekiel
45. Joel
46. Amos
47. Obadiah
48. Nahum
49. Habakkuk
50. Zephaniah
51. Haggai
52. Zechariah
53. Malachi
54. Micah
55. Hosea
56. Luke
57. Esther
58. Jonah
59. Song of Solomon
60. Acts
61. Titus
62. Philemon
63. Hebrew
64. Isaiah
65. Daniel
66. Revelation
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Jon Root:
"I pray this month everyone is reminded of the truths that:
- Marriage is between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 7:2-16; Ephesians 5:23-33)
- God is love (1 John 4:7-21)
- The rainbow is about a promise from God to never flood the earth again (Genesis 9:11–15)
- Homosexuality is a sin (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9)
- The sexually immoral will not enter heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
- No matter your sexual sin, there is hope, peace and most importantly, forgiveness upon true repentance. (1 John 1:9)
"These are foundational, objective truths. They don’t change because God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and always (Hebrews 13:8). I take pride in these truths."
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A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, But the mouth of fools gush out folly.
3 The LORD's eyes are everywhere, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's correction, But he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, But the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; Not so with the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 She'ol and Avaddon are before the LORD -- How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; He will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face; But an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, But one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, But one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; But in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, To keep him from going downward to She'ol.
25 The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, But he will keep the widow's borders intact.
26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, But the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, But the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 The ear that listens to the reproof lives, And will be at home among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
— Proverbs 15 | Hebrew Names Version (HNV)
The Hebrew Names Version Bible is in the public domain
Cross References: Genesis 13:8; Leviticus 7:18; Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 32:22; Judges 8:1; 1 Kings 1:12; Nehemiah 2:2; Psalm 59:7; Proverbs 1:2; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 1:25; Proverbs 8:21; Proverbs 9:7; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 17:1; Proverbs 18:15; Proverbs 22:5; Proverbs 25:25; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 7:5; John 9:31; Acts 1:24; Ephesians 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:9; 1 Timothy 6:11; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 2:7
#righteousness#wisdom#self-control#life#guidance#discretion#Proverbs 15#Book of Proverbs#Old Testament#HNV#Hebrew Names Version bible
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Discovering the Power of God's Word:
A Journey Through Scripture
Introduction:
Embark on a captivating journey through the timeless wisdom and power of God's Word as we delve into the pages of Scripture. Join us as we uncover the transformative truths, hidden treasures, and life-changing promises waiting to be revealed in the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Cross References: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22-25
Commentary:
In Psalm 119:105, the psalmist declares, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The Word of God serves as a guiding light, illuminating our way and directing our steps in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture, declaring that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It penetrates deep into the innermost recesses of our being, exposing truth and bringing transformation.
James 1:22-25 admonishes believers not only to be hearers of the Word but also doers, for blessed are those who hear the Word and obey it. The Word of God is likened to a mirror, reflecting our true spiritual condition and revealing areas in need of alignment with God's will.
John 15:1-17 - Jesus' teaching on abiding in Him as the vine and bearing fruit.
Colossians 3:12-17 - Paul's exhortation to clothe ourselves with virtues such as kindness, humility, and forgiveness.
Matthew 7:16-20 - Jesus' teaching on recognizing false prophets by their fruits.
Ephesians 5:9 - Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as being in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Matthew 12:33 - Jesus speaks about how a tree is known by its fruit.
James 3:17-18 - James describes the wisdom from above as being pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of good fruits.
Proverbs 11:30 - "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
Psalm 1:3 - "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Galatians 5:16-26 - The contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
Luke 6:43-45 - Jesus' teaching on how a good tree brings forth good fruit, and an evil tree brings forth evil fruit.
These cross-references provide additional insights and perspectives on the fruit of the Spirit, encouraging further study and reflection on this vital aspect of the Christian life.
Questions:
How does the Word of God guide and illuminate your path in life?
In what ways do you actively engage with Scripture to experience its transformative power?
How can you apply the truths and principles found in God's Word to your everyday life and decision-making?
What steps can you take to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the King James Version of the Bible?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Open our hearts and minds to receive the truths and promises contained within its pages, and empower us to live according to your will. May your Word dwell richly in us, guiding, transforming, and renewing us day by day. Amen.
#faith#christianity#christian faith#bible#jesus christ#faith in jesus#bible scripture#christ#bible verse#christianlife#Scripture#BibleStudy#KJV#TransformativePower#DivineInspiration#Guidance#Truth#Light#Wisdom#daily bible verse#bible study#holy bible#christianty#christian blog#god words#godspromises#god is good#godismyshepherd#godsprovision#godsword
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really funny how this valentines day every post from the queers on my social media is about loving their partner and gay sex etc. but every post from straight christians is like "marriage is SO hard and awful we know :( but here's how i forced it to work by reading the bible and ephesians 5:22-33'ing about it and praying sooooo hard and now we're doing SO great god is good and our kids are normal :) marriage counseling is useless actually" have you guys considered you're insane
#by social media i mean facebook unfortunately because tumblr doesn't count and i dont really use instagram#i realize this is my own fault for staying friends with christians and using facebook#but like why don't they marry people they like. i know the answer is theyre straight and evangelical but come on#me
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Husband and Wife in Christ (Eph 5:22-33)
Husband and Wife in Christ (Eph 5:22-33)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here.
No sermon audio available
*Originally preached August 22nd, 2021*
Throughout the Bible God depicts His relationship with His people in many different ways: like a Father and a son; like a King and His subjects; like a friend. One way God often presents His relationship with His people,…
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Previously, on Apocrypals part 5: The Fifth One
As we begin our sixth (!) calendar year of Apocrypals, here is a list of the texts we have covered so far on the show in case you want to read along or catch up. They’re arranged in a way that appeases my systematic nature.
Tanakh/Old Testament:
Genesis (episodes 16-20)
Exodus (episodes 33 and 35)
Leviticus (episode 59)
Numbers (episode 62)
Deuteronomy (episode 65)
Joshua (episode 73)
Judges (episode 80)
Ruth (episode 45)
1 Samuel (episode 89)
2 Samuel (episode 90-91)
1 Kings (episode 99)
2 Kings (episode 106)
Esther (episode 37)
Job (episode 101)
Ecclesiastes (episode 52)
Song of Songs (episode 34)
Isaiah (episode 4)
Jeremiah (episode 43-44)
Lamentations (episode 48)
Ezekiel (episode 55-56)
Daniel (episode 2)
Hosea (episode 108)
Jonah (episode 31)
Micah (episode 74)
Nahum (episode 74)
Deuterocanon/capital-A Apocrypha:
Tobit (episode 13)
Judith (episode 22)
Greek Additions to Esther (episode 37)
1 Maccabees (episode 27)
2 Maccabees (episode 28)
3 Maccabees (episode 53)
4 Maccabees (episode 78)
The Prayer of Azariah aka the Song of the Three Holy Children (episode 2)
Susanna (episode 2)
Bel and the Dragon (episode 2)
The Prayer of Manasseh (episode 6)
New Testament:
Matthew (episodes 8-9)
Mark (episode 7)
Luke (episode 10)
John (episode 11-12)
Acts of the Apostles (episode 1)
Romans (episode 5)
1 Corinthians (episode 25)
2 Corinthians (episode 42)
Galatians (episode 72)
Ephesians (episode 81)
Hebrews (episode 104)
1 John (episode 49)
2 John (episode 49)
3 John (episode 49)
Revelation (episode 50)
Pseudepigrapha (Jewish apocrypha):
The Testament of Solomon (episode 24)
The Story of Ahikar (episode 14)
The Ascension of Isaiah (episode 6)
1 Enoch (episode 39-40)
2 Enoch (episode 61)
3 Enoch (episode 86-87)
Jubilees (episodes 82 and 83)
The Letter of Aristeas (episode 70)
The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (episode 71)
Joseph and Aseneth (episode 93)
New Testament apocrypha:
The Protevangelium aka Infancy Gospel of James (episode 29)
The Acts of Pilate/Gospel of Nicodemus (episode 23)
Mors Pilati/Death of Pilate (episode 23)
The Acts of Paul and Thecla (episode 22)
The Acts of Peter (episode 3)
The Acts of Peter and Paul (episode 3)
The Acts of Andrew and Matthias (episode 60)
The Acts of Thomas and His Wonderworking Skin (episode 66)
The Life of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca (episode 57)
Questions of Bartholomew (episode 41)
Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew (episode 41)
The Book of Bartholomew (episode 67)
Acts of John (episode 46)
The Acts of Andrew (episode 97)
Syriac Infancy Gospel (episode 47)
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (episode 54)
Infancy Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (episode 79)
The Adoration of the Magi (2020 Christmas bonus episode)
The History of Joseph the Carpenter (episode 103)
The First Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Second Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Third Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Apocalypse of Peter (episode 75)
The Apocalypse of Paul (episode 95)
The Gospel of Philip (episode 92)
The Gospel of Mary (episode 92)
The Gospel of Jesus’s Wife (episode 92)
The Gospel of Judas (episode 100)
The Greater Questions of Mary (episode Secret 69)
The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine:
The Life of Saint Nicholas (episode 26)
The Life of Saint Lucy (episode 26)
The Life of Saint Christopher (episode 15)
The Life of Saint Benedict (episode 15)
excerpts from The Passion of the Lord (episode 23)
The Life of Saint Sebastian (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Blaise (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Agatha (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Roch (episode 63)
The Life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (episode 77)
The Life of Saint Barbara (episode 77)
The Life of Saint Dunstan (episode 85)
The Life of Mary Magdalene (episode 94)
The Life of Saint Martha of Bethany (episode 102)
The Life of Saint Margaret of Antioch (episode 102)
Other:
Historia Trium Regum/The Legend of the Three Kings by John of Hildesheim (episode 30)
Muirchu’s Life of Saint Patrick (episode 36)
The Life of Saint Guinefort (episode 63)
The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt (episode 69)
The Life of Saint Pelagia (episode 69)
The Life of Saint Martin by Sulpicius Severus (episode 76)
The Life of Saint Columba (episode 84)
The Life of Saint Wilgefortis (episode 94)
Lives of cephalophoric saints (bonus episode cephalo4)
Stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 96)
More stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 107)
Solomon and Ashmedai (bonus episode double chai)
Listener questions (episode 32)
Bible trivia questions (episode 38)
Halloween-themed Chick tracts (episode 51)
Christmas-themed Chick tracts (episode 98)
Bible Adventures and the Wisdom Tree catalogue of video games (episode 64)
The Da Vinci Code, the movie (episode 88)
Guess the Bible character from Persona 5 (bonus episode Persona 5)
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (episode 105)
You can find links to all these episodes with show notes and more on the Apocrypals wiki
#apocrypals#podcast#podcasts#religion#bible#christianity#judaism#apocrypha#old testament#new testament#hagiography
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Are You Free?
We have freedom in Christ Jesus, so if our freedom here, where we are now on this side of heaven, if that liberty begins to erode, we still have hope, because nothing can separate us from God and the freedom we have in Jesus.
Are You Free?
Does your nation know the blessing of freedom? Are you free? Are You One Nation Under God With Liberty And Justice For All? Freedom! Human Beings… what a fragile freedom we have because people, with no power higher than self want to steal it. But we STILL have it, we were born to be free with the liberty of choice. God choose His Servant Warriors to fight for our God given…
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#1 John 2:15#1 John 2:3#1 John 4:16-10#1 Peter 2:1-25#2 Peter 3-5#3 John 1:11#Be God’s#be so#Beach#Beach Devotional#Christian#Creator’s Male And Female#Enlisted By God#Ephesians 2:19-22#Ephesians 5:1-33#faith#flag#For Christ#For God#Forever Free#Freedom#Freedom Of Choice#Freedom Of Speech#Galatians 1:4#God#God Supremacy#God with us#God&039;s Authority#God&039;s Image#God&039;s justice
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲
The Greek word for the spiritual gift of mercy is eleeo. It means to be patient and compassionate toward those who are suffering or afflicted. The concern for the physical as well as spiritual need of those who are hurting is covered by the gift of mercy. Those with this gift have great empathy for others in their trials and sufferings. They are able to come alongside people over extended periods of time and see them through their healing process. They are truly and literally the hands and feet of God to the afflicted.
All Christians are called to be merciful because God has been merciful to us.
³³ “Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?”
—Matthew 18:33
⁴ “But God is rich in his mercy, and because he had such great love for us, ⁵ He brought us to life with Christ when we were already dead through sin—it is by grace that you have been saved. ⁶ He raised us up in union with Christ Jesus and enthroned us with him in the heavens,”
—Ephesians 2:4-6
The Holy Spirit gives the spiritual gift of mercy to some in the church to love and assist those who are suffering, and walk with them until The Lord allows their burden to be lifted. The gift of mercy is founded in God’s mercy towards us as sinners and is consistently expressed with measurable compassion. Those with this gift are able to:
¹⁵ “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
—Romans 12:15
and
² “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
—Galatians 6:2
They are sensitive to the feelings and circumstances of others and can quickly discern when someone is not doing well. They are typically good listeners and feel the need to simply “be there” for others.
⁸ “...whoever performs acts of mercy should do so cheerfully.”
—Romans 12:8
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful,
for they will obtain mercy.”
—Matthew 5:7
³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him and beat him, and then went off leaving him half-dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be traveling along that same road, but when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² A Levite likewise came to that spot and saw him, but he too passed by on the other side.
³³ “But a Samaritan who was traveling along that road came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. ³⁴ He went up to him and bandaged his wounds after having poured oil and wine on them. Then he brought him upon his own animal to an inn and looked after him.
³⁵ “The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Look after him, and when I return I will repay you for anything more you might spend.’
³⁶ “Which of those three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷He answered, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
—Luke 10:30-37
¹⁷ “However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”
—James 3:17
²² “Have compassion for those who are wavering. ²³Save others by snatching them out of the fire. And for still others have compassion mixed with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.”
—Jude 22-23.
#spiritual gifts#mercy#God's gifts#God#bible study#bible verse#bible scripture#scripture#love#compassion#christian#christian blog#christianity#christian faith#christian motivation#bible quote#writeblr#Jesus#Jesus Christ#life#writing#writers on tumblr#writersociety#writerscommunity#thoughts#spirituality#christian quotes#Christ#roman catholic#catholic
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Lessons from the Beatitudes Part 3
Blessed are the Meek
Matt. 5:3 “Blessed are those who recognise they are spiritually helpless.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 Blessed are those who mourn.
They will be comforted.
5 Blessed are those who are gentle (meek). They will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval.
They will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are those who show mercy.
They will be treated mercifully.
8 Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure.
They will see God.
9 Blessed are those who make peace.
They will be called God’s children.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- God’s Word Translation
The Blessing of God
The Beatitudes or ‘Blessed Sayings’ means ‘blessed is’ or ‘happy is’. Happy unfortunately has lost its meaning in modern times and is now used for a superficial moment of contentment. Someone has said that if would mean much more if we could qualify it by saying. “Oh how incredibly happy!” It means supremely blessed or fortunate. The One who is doing the blessing has our absolute good as his highest interest.
When God blessed Adam in Genesis 1:22 and Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 he meant that everything else around them would be working together to bring about God’s favour.
We should live in a favourable and prosperous state that is not based on worldly circumstances but on divine conditions. These conditional blessings are frequent in Hebrew scriptures, including the wisdom literature, especially the Psalms (Job 5:17; Ps. 1:1; 32:1-2; 33:12; 41:1; 106:3; Prov. 8:34; 28:14).
The Beatitudes contrast Jesus' values with the values of the world
Jesus’ Values vs World’s Values
Poor in spirit Self confident, complete
Mourning Pleasure seeking, hedonistic
Meek Proud, self importance
Hunger for God Self made, self reliant
Merciful Assertive, forceful
Pure in heart Hidden, secretive
Peacemakers Competitive, aggressive
Persecuted Popular, crowd pleasing
Like most of Jesus’ teaching the beatitudes are contrary to the values that the world offers [1]. Leaders must serve if they want to rule; if they want to live they must first die; if they want to receive then they must to give away; if they want to be made worthy they should first recognise their unworthiness; if they want to be happy they first need make others happy.
Blessed are the Meek
In the church today there is little emphasis on humility or self-emptying. There are many Christian books on how to be happy, how to be successful, how to overcome problems, and so on. But sadly there are very few books in print on how to empty ourselves, how to deny ourselves, or how to take up our cross.
There are numerous commands about humbling ourselves (Matt. 18:4; 23:12; James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5).
The first step in experiencing humility is to turn our eyes away from ourselves and to look to God. It is the vision of an infinitely Holy God in all His sinless purity and perfection that enables us to see ourselves as sinners. To seek humility, we do not look at ourselves to find our faults, but to the perfection of God. Jesus invites the weary and overburdened of this world to take upon themselves his yoke and discover that he is “gentle and humble in heart.”[2]
People are increasingly aggressive and unkind (including Christians) to each other. There is a real need to nurture a gentle and kind spirit.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
๏ Meekness is learning to be kind
๏ Meekness is learning to not take offence
๏ Meekness is is not being angry or aggressive
๏ Meekness is not allowing people to affect our mood
Meekness should not be confused with weakness. Jesus didn’t let people control him. He was quite willing to confront and challenge. He wouldn't let them ‘make him king’, he overturned the tables when His Father’s house was being desecrated, he strongly denounced the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy.
Meekness does not mean that we fail to challenge, correct, rebuke or speak the truth in love.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
‘For They will Inherit the Earth’
Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
To inherit the land has a twofold application, present and future.
Those that are at peace with themselves will be at peace with their surroundings. The world will be enjoyed and appreciated so much more when we have a tranquil spirit.
Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
His kingdom principles define and shape us. This is the meekness to which Jesus calls his followers. It is the meek who will “inherit the land and enjoy great peace”. It is those of a ‘gentle spirit’ (NEB), not the grasping or the greedy, who will receive from life its most satisfying rewards. The aggressive are unable to enjoy their ill–gotten gains. Only the meek have the capacity to enjoy in life all those things that provide genuine and lasting satisfaction.[3]
One day the earth will be transformed where the children of God will live. Those who are transformed by Christ will inherit the earth.
Amen
Personal prayer
This was a joint teaching from Pastor Paul Meiklejohn and Charles Green
[1] The NIV Application Commentary, p223
[2] New International Bible Commentary, Matthew chapter 5. Electronic version.
[3] Ibid
#christianity#bible study#bibletruth#blog post#blessings#psalmonesermons#faith#victory#devotional#beatitudes#meek not weak#blessed are the meek
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The Proverbs of Solomon
1 The wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
2 To have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about the words of reason:
3 To be trained in the ways of wisdom, in righteousness and judging truly and straight behaviour:
4 To make the simple-minded sharp, and to give the young man knowledge, and serious purpose:
5 (The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:)
6 To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching.
Advice to a Son
8 My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:
9 For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way, do not go with them.
11 If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;
12 Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death;
13 Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth;
14 Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag:
15 My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways:
16 For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life.
17 Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird:
18 And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves.
19 Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.
The Good Woman—Wisdom
20 Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places;
21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town:
22 How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear to you? and pride a delight to the haters of authority? how long will the foolish go on hating knowledge?
23 Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you.
24 Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand;
25 You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to do with my sharp words:
26 So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear;
27 When your fear comes on you like a storm, and your trouble like a rushing wind; when pain and sorrow come on you.
28 Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for me early, they will not see me:
29 For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord:
30 They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them.
31 So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full.
32 For the turning back of the simple from teaching will be the cause of their death, and the peace of the foolish will be their destruction.
33 But whoever gives ear to me will take his rest safely, living in peace without fear of evil.
— Proverbs 1 | Bible in Basic English (BBE)
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Cross References: Genesis 41:42; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 4:6; Deuteronomy 21:18; Deuteronomy 28:63; 1 Samuel 19:10; 1 Kings 4:32; Job 4:8; Job 21:14; Job 27:9; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 10:8; Psalm 25:12-13; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 81:11; Psalm 116:6; Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 5:12; Proverbs 5:22; Proverbs 8:1; Proverbs 9:9; Proverbs 15:27; Proverbs 16:19; Luke 7:30; John 7:39; Romans 2:5; Romans 10:21; Ephesians 5:11; James 4:3
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PUTTING ON LOVE - PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES
I love You, God, because You first loved me. (1 John 4:19)
You sent Your only begotten Son, Jesus, to this earth out of Your love for me and for others. I have believed on Him and now, I will not perish - I have everlasting life. You did not send Jesus to condemn me, but to save me, and I thank You for that! (John 3:16,17)
God, if You loved me that much, I should give love to others. (1 John 4:11)
So, I will love others. It's a sign that I've been born of You, because You are love. But if I fail to love others, I fail to love You. Help me to always love! (1 John 4:7,8)
I put on love each day, as if it's a coat, because I know that You consider it the highest of all virtues - Your love binds every other good virtue together and makes them one. (Colossians 3:14)
Love is the most important sacrifice to another person that I can make. I will love God with all my heart, soul, mind and all my strength, Lord, and I will love my neghbor as myself. (Mark 12:33)
Help me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. I do this in obedience to You, my Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:44)
I love others because You have loved me, and people will know that I'm a disciple of Yours because of the love that I show. (John 13:34-35)
Circumcise my heart, God. Consecrate me and help me to love You with all my heart and soul so that I may truly live well! (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Father, help me to remain in Your love just like Jesus. He always obeyed Your commands and always remained in Your love. (John 15:10)
Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Through Him, You have poured Your great love into my heart! (Romans 5:5)
God, I know the Your love matters the most - though I speak many words, including the tongues of angels, if I don't love others, my words are nothing but a lot of noise! I can prophesy, understand everything there is to know, and have faith enough to move mountains. I can give everything I have to feed the poor, even if I give my own body as a sacrifice to You, but without love, none of these things do any good at all: Love matters most! (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Help me to see Your love for what it is - patient and kind, never envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, or easily angered. You love stops me from keeping a record of wrongs or delighting in what is evil. Your love helps me to rejoice in truth and always protect, trust, hope, and persevere! (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Whatever I do, Lord, help me to do it in love! (1 Corinthians 16:14)
The covenant I have with You, God, is not because of something physical, like circumcision. My covenant was made through Jesus Christ - and my faith works by love! (Galatians 5:6)
The fruit of your Spirit is love. (Galatians 5:22)
I was called by God to be free! But, I don't use my freedom as an excuse to live in sin and do only what I want. Instead, I serve others in the way of love. (Galatians 5:13)
God, You are rich in mercy and because of Your great love for me, You have made me alive with Christ! Even when I was dead in sin, you made a way of grace so that I could be saved! (Ephesians 2:4-5)
I am being rooted and established in love. I'm gaining the power to grasp the amazing measurements of Your love. I realize that it surpasses all knowledge, but in "seeking" to find its measurements, I am being filled with the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)
I'm a volunteer prisoner of You and I will live a life worthy of Your calling. In humility, gentleness, and patience, I will bear what others do in love. I will strive to always keep the unity of Your Spirit and keep the peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
I speak the truth in love and it causes me to grow up in all things - I'm a part of the body of Christ and we serve under the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ! We work together in love and this unites the whole body of Christ! (Ephesians 4:15,16)
Like a child imitates those he admires, I imitate You Jesus, and live a life of love! Because You loved me and gave Yourself for me as a good-smelling offering to God, I will give myself to others, as an offering to You. (Ephesians 5:1)
I will speak peace, love, and faith over all my brothers and sisters today! (Ephesians 6:23)
Thank You for correcting my heart when I do wrong. I know that You discipline those You love. (Hebrews 12:6)
I will live in harmony with others and be sympathetic, compassionate, and humble. (1 Peter 3:8)
Above it all, I will love others deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
I have known and believed in the love that You have for me. You are Love and I make my life in You. Your great love is being perfected in me day-to-day. I will be able to have boldness in the day of judgment because I have a life of love! 1 John 4:16,17)
I won't fear! Your love in me casts fear out! I'm being made perfect in Your love day by day! (1 John 4:18)
ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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