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Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in our fellowship. The topic of my sharing today is “cherish.” God (our heavenly father), his son Jesus Christ, and the apostle Paul all use the idea of “mother” to describe what real “caring” looks like among us believers. Please turn to Isaiah 66. There's a thread that runs through the Bible, from Isaiah, through Jesus's words in Matthew, and right into Paul's letters. And it lands… today… on one word — a Mother's Day word. That word is cherish. In the next several minutes: We'll see how God uses the word cherish in Isaiah. We'll watch Jesus use a motherly cherish idea in Matthew 23. We'll go to Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians and study a Greek word about cherish. And then we'll get practical. We’ll answer the question, “What does cherishing each other actually look like for us in this fellowship? God's Heart Long before Mother's Day was a holiday, God was already using… a mother… to describe his own care. Listen to Isaiah 66, verse 13: As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. That's God speaking. “As his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” He chose a mother for this image. Not a king, not a general, not a prophet or a teacher — a mother. He says, the way a mother comforts her child… that's how I'm going to comfort you. Have you ever watched how a mom takes care of her little kid? Yes? Well, then you've seen the picture God uses here… in Isaiah… to describe his own heart. “Just as a mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” God is our heavenly Father (as Ephesians 4:6 says), but even God uses motherly imagery when describing how he comforts people. Jesus Now jump forward to Matthew Chapter 23. Let’s take a look at what Jesus says. Here’s the context for Mathew 23. Jesus is near the end of his earthly ministry. He’s speaking in Jerusalem. Most of Matthew 23 is about Jesus calling out the religious leaders. He uses strong language, a lot of "woe unto you" stuff. But right at the end of the chapter, his tone shifts. Matthew 23, verse 37: (37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Check that out. Jesus — the Son of God, the perfect man, the Christ — describes himself in that moment as… a mother hen. Think about it. When a windy rain rolls in (It’s been raining in Raleigh), a mother hen will squat down, spread her wings, and cluck, to keep her chicks safe. We’ve raised chickens, we know this to be true. Whatever's coming… could be a hawk circling above… that mother hen puts herself between it and her babies. That's the picture Jesus chose for himself. Not Jesus as a lion. Not a warrior. But… as a mother hen… with her wings spread out, calling and gathering her children to safety. Jesus said this! Now, keep in mind — Jesus is speaking before Pentecost, before the gift of holy spirit was made available to believers. Why is this important to remember? Because, Jesus is speaking under the law administration in Matthew 23. So, this sheltering by Jesus, is not applicable. It’s not instruction for us as born-again believers. Jesus doesn’t need to shelter me and you under his wings… you’ve got Christ in you! (Col 1:27, John 14:16-20, John 14:23, John 15:4-5, John 17:21-23, John 17:26). Remember, the Gospels are NOT written to us, born again believers, to apply to our lives. But it's a window into the heart of Jesus Christ. And that mothering, gathering, sheltering heart… is going to show up again… later by Paul… so that we CAN apply the idea of “cherishing” to our lives. Please turn to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2. So, we’re checking out “mothering” and “cherishing” from Isaiah, to Matthew, to Thessalonians. Cool, right? Paul We’re in 1 Thessalonians. Chapter 2. Here, this is Paul writing a letter which is doctrine for us today as born-again believers who live in the Grace administration. But in the letter, Paul is writing to the Thessalonian believers, whom he knows, reminding them of what his ministry among them has looked like. 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8: (5) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: (Paul says that he never used flattery or greed.) (6) nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. (Paul says we didn’t seek glory or honor from anybody.) (7) But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: (We were like a mother caring for her own kids.) (8) so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. In verse 7. "We were gentle among you, as a nurse cherishes her children." Paul — the man of God, who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, the man who got stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and thrown in prison — describes his own ministry as… a nurse cherishing her children. This is the same kind of image that God used in Isaiah 66 and Jesus used in Matthew 23. And just a few verses later here in verse 11, Paul adds another image. 1 Thessalonians 2:11: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children." A mother's tenderness (verse 7)… and a father's exhortation (verse 11). Those two combined verses make up a full parental package. Greek Word Study Look again at 1 Thessalonians 2:7: “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” What’s a nurse doing with kids? Well, let’s look at two Greek words in verse 7. First word: nurse. “As a nurse cherishes her children.” The Greek is trophos. It’s used only once in the bible. And it comes from a root word that means, "to nourish, to feed, to bring up." A trophos, a nurse, is a woman who nourishes, feeds, and brings up kids. She knows when the baby's hungry. She can tell the difference between a tired baby crying and a hungry baby crying. This is someone who keeps a child alive and growing. Tender, hands-on, day-by-day nourishing. That’s what that word in verse 7 means. Nurse. Trophos. Nourish. Second word: cherisheth. “As a nurse cherishes her children.” The Greek is thalpō, which means "to warm, to keep warm." It’s the way birds cover their young with their wings to keep them warm. In the Septuagint — the Greek Old Testament — thalpō shows up in Deuteronomy 22:6 that describes a mother bird sitting on her nest. So, Paul's word for cherish in 1 Thessalonians 2:7... is the about the warming wings spread out… from a mother-bird that cares for her kids. That’s what is pictured here by Paul, and also by Jesus back in Matthew Chapter 23. Cherish. Thalpo. Warming. Jesus said, "I would have gathered you under my wings." Paul says, "I cherished you" — using a word that literally means to warm with wings spread out. Same heart. Same imagery. Two teachers, same teaching. Cherish. To cherish, in this Greek sense, isn't a feeling. It's to cover someone. To warm them. To put yourself between them and what's coming. It's what the mother hen does. It’s what the nurse does. It’s what moms with little kids do. It’s what our heavenly Father did, what his Son did, what Paul did — and it's what we are called to do, right here, today. Cherishing Is for the Body of Christ So, here’s the application for us, born-again believers, today. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:25-27. This letter is written to us, to apply to our lives today. (25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Paul here is writing about the body of Christ, where every born-again believer is a member of one body, regardless of denomination. We are members who have the same care for another. Same trophos nourishing heart. Same thalpō warming. We're not total strangers… who happen to show up at the same house twice a week for fellowship. Instead… we're members of one body, designed to take care of each other, to cherish one another. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another's burdens.” When somebody is carrying something heavy, help them carry it. Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour, preferring one another.” For example, you say, “You go first.” Or, “Here, you sit here.” Or “Take it. You can have that instead of me.” That's cherishing, taking care of, being kind, one to another. What This Looks Like in Real Life Most of us in this living room are navigating jobs, handling roommates, dating, there’s school, new cities, deadlines, and we each have a phone that just won't stop trying to get us to stare at it all day. There’s a lot going on. So, let's get focused. What does cherishing one another… actually look like for you and me, this week? Here’s 5 things we can do. Pick one and run with it. 1. Notice the person who has gone quiet. Maybe somebody in your chat group or your friend group has been a little distant. Don't let it slide. Send a real text — "Hey, I noticed you've been quiet. What's actually going on? Tell me.” Try to get a real answer. 2. Show up in person. Liking a comment isn't cherishing. But… driving over after work, talking instead of texting, hanging out on the couch with somebody — that's thalpō (warm attention). That's wings spread. We live in a time where everyone is online, but no one is physically present. Be the friend who shows up in person. 3. Deliver some food. Maybe someone you know is going through a breakup, a deadline, a cold, a death in the family. Don't ask if they need anything. Just bring over some food. Drop off some hot matcha. Something small, something useful. Something real speaks louder than "let me know if you need anything." Paul put it this way in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 — we were willing to have imparted unto you, not only the gospel, but also our own souls. That's trophos (nourishing) attention. 4. Defend someone’s name when they're not in the room. When a conversation drifts toward gossip about a friend of yours, change the conversation. That's that Romans 12:10 we read earlier. We prefer one another. It’s a quiet way of cherishing someone… who may never know it. 5. Pray WITH them, not just FOR them. Right there, in the moment. In the car, on the phone, in the coffee shop. Pray. I think there’s a lot of people… who have nobody… praying out loud… WITH them… to help take care of things… in their lives. Be that for somebody. Not one of these 5 things takes more than a few minutes or a few bucks. Cherishing isn't a big production. It's a small act of love. Mothers have been quietly doing exactly that… for millions of years. And we read today how God says the church is supposed to be doing that too. Summary Today: We learned how God describes his own comfort in a motherly way (Isaiah 66:13). We saw Jesus picture himself as a mother hen gathering her chicks (Matthew 23:37). In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul says he ministered like a nurse cherishing her children. We researched the Greek word thalpō which helps us understand about the warming, wing-spread, mother-bird picture Jesus used. Cherishing care in the body of believers is "the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). Lastly, we have five things we can do: notice who's quiet, show up in person, cover a meal, defend their name, pray with them in the moment. Let’s spread our wings around people we love, in the way Jesus said he wanted to, the way Paul said he did, and the way mothers have been doing since the beginning of time. And mothers in this fellowship, we say, “Thank you.” You show us what God’s heart and love really looks like. Today, on Mother's Day, we cherish you right back. Amen?

I work on my computer a lot. And while I work, I listen to music. Spotify. There's something we listen to more than anything else on earth. What do you think that is? It's not Spotify. It's not your favorite podcast. It's not even your best friend. It's the running conversation going on… inside our own heads. Our own self-talk. From morning to night, that voice, in our heads, never stops. We are the most listened-to voice in our lives. So the question is, “What’s that voice saying?” Let’s learn more about that. Please turn to Romans. There’s one thing I know for sure: When the words coming out of my mouth… match the Words… coming from God (the spiritual truths in the Bible), then my life… starts to look like… the life God says I have. When my mouth says what God says, my life… starts to look like… the life God says I have. So, let’s talk about 4 things: Romans 10. What Paul says about the connection between our mouths and our hearts. We'll dig into one Greek word about confessing. We'll look at a woman in Mark 5. Please turn to Romans 10. The Word Is in Your Mouth and in Your Heart A couple thousand years ago, Paul wrote a letter to some born-again believers - like us. And he's describing… what we tell ourselves. That is… how we believe, how we receive, and how we walk… in the more abundant life that God has made available to us. Let’s start with Romans 10:8. Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. So, where is the Word? “The word is nigh thee.” Nigh is an old-school KJV word that just means near or close. How close? Even in thy mouth. It's in your mouth. And in your heart. And Paul puts these in order. Mouth is first, then heart. He said "in thy mouth, and in thy heart." Because there is a connection between what comes out of your mouth and what's in your heart, and Paul is about to spell it out for us in the next two verses. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Paul puts confessing with the mouth… and believing in the heart… together. They work as a team. Mouth and heart. Heart and mouth. It’s impossible to believe something… while your mouth says the opposite. Here’s an example. Have you ever tried to believe… the verse… that says "God shall supply all my needs" while your mouth keeps saying, "I'm broke, I can't afford that, I'll never get ahead"? It does not work. My mouth and my heart have to be on the same page. When my mouth confesses (says) what God says, my heart starts to catch up with what I’m saying. That is how this works. Same Word in my mouth. Same Word in my heart. Same Word manifested in my life. Same Word, Same Life. Greek Word Study: Homologeo Let's look into one word here in Romans 10:9. The word "confess" — "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth". That is the Greek word homo-lo-geo. Homologeo is built from two Greek words. Homuo (hom ew), which means "the same" and logos which means “the word." That word “confess” (in Romans 10:9) means… Same Word. So when Paul writes in Romans 10:9, "confess with thy mouth," what he's literally saying is "say the same word." Same word as what? Same as God’s Word. In the world, the word "confess" usually means admitting you did something wrong. Confess to the priest. Confess to your friend that you ate the last donut. But that's not what biblical confession means. Biblical confession means saying the same thing God says. Confess: homo-lo-geo. I’ll give you some examples of confession. When God says you are righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV), your confession is saying, "I’m righteous in Christ Jesus." When God says you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37 KJV), your confession is saying, "I’m more than a conqueror." When God says by his stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24 KJV), your confession is saying, "By his stripes I was healed." That's homo-lo-geo. Same word as God's Word. Now, here is where self-talk comes in. Many people out there… walk around all day… saying things… that are NOT the same… as what God says. I’ll give you some examples. Someone might say, "I'm such a mess. I'm not good enough." But God says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature — old things are passed away, behold all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Someone might say, "Boy, I really f’d up." But God says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 KJV). Someone might say, "I can't do this. I'll never get past this." But God says you are more than a conqueror through him that loved you (Romans 8:37 KJV). Someone might say, "I'm just sick all the time." But God says by his stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24 KJV). Someone might be looking at a big exam result coming back from a not-so-great professor and say, "Oh, man, this is not going to be good." But God says all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28 KJV). Someone might say, "This whole finding-an-apartment-and-a-roommate thing stinks." But the Bible says that my God shall supply all my need. (Philippians 4:19 KJV). Someone might say, "This is way too much for me to handle. I can’t do it." But God says greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4 KJV). Every word that comes out of your mouth is either “same-word” or “different-word.” It's either lining up… with what God says about you, or it's lining up... with something else — your feelings, your circumstances, what somebody told you when you were eight years old, what the doctor said, what the bank said, what the news said. Paul says (in Romans 10) when you say the same thing as God… with your mouth… and you believe it in your heart… things move. Things change. Life becomes abundant. Blessings happen. Same word, same life. Whosoever Calls Let's stay right here in Romans 10 and keep reading. Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Whosoever in verse 13. That word includes me and you. For whosoever calls. And that's a mouth thing. Then in verse 14 Paul shifts gears. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Paul gives us a chain right here. A chain of events - connected things. Somebody has to be sent. People walk out. They talk, confess, and preach. People hear. Hearing leads to believing. Believing leads to calling out. Calling on the name of the Lord. It’s a sequence. And then verse 17 gives us the key to the whole thing. Romans 10:17 So then faith (believing) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith — that's believing — comes by hearing. Hearing the word. When you say words out loud, you are hearing it. When you confess God's Word with your own mouth, you hear it. Your brain processes it. And your believing grows. Believing comes by hearing (verse 17). And hearing… the word. It's a beautiful loop. You speak God's Word. You hear yourself speak it. And your believing grows. You speak it again with even more conviction. Believing grows more. And on it goes. That's how I can build my mind. That’s how the renewing of the mind actually works in practice. As your mouth says what God says, day after day, and your heart follows. That’s what’s written in Romans. The Woman Who Kept Saying It Turn to Mark 5. We're going outside Romans 10 for one quick stop, because this story is pretty good. You may have heard it already. There was a woman who'd had an issue with her blood for twelve years. The Word says she had spent everything she had on doctors, and she actually got worse… instead of better. She was at the end of her rope. Then she heard about Jesus. And she was walking through a crowd of people coming to see Jesus. And here's what she did. Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. She said. Now, the word "said" in that verse is in what's called the imperfect tense in Greek. The imperfect tense means continuous action in the past. It's not a one-and-done. It means she was saying it. And saying it. And saying it. To herself. Over and over. That word “said” in verse 28. The word “said” means in Greek - harangue: a long, loud, and aggressive speech delivered in public assemblies. It serves as a intense verbal attack or rant, intended to persuade through intense emotion. Ever do that during an intense workout or a run. “Keep going.” “Come on.” “Let’s go.” She kept saying it, all the way through that crowd. "If I may touch his clothes, I shall be whole. If I may touch his clothes, I shall be whole.” Same words. Same words. And by the time she actually got close enough to reach her hand out and touch the hem of his garment, what do you think was in her heart? Whatever she had been saying. She had been preaching to herself the whole way there. Mouth and heart, lining up. And when her fingers brushed that garment, she was made whole. That's homologeo. Greek words that mean "the same word." Summary We saw in Romans 10 that the Word is near you — in our mouths, and in our hearts. Paul put those two things together on purpose. With the heart you believe. With the mouth you confess. Mouth and heart, work as a team. We learned the Greek word for confess is homologeo, which literally means "same word." Saying the same thing God says. We saw that faith comes by hearing — and when you say God's Word out loud, you hear it. Your own voice preaching to your own ears. That's how believing grows. And we saw a woman who kept saying what she expected to receive, And she walked away whole. Same word, same life. When you start saying… what God says about you, your life starts to look like… what God says about you. Do the Word This week, let’s pick one promise from God's Word. Maybe it's, "My God shall supply all my need." Then, write it down. Then, say it out loud. And repeat. This is the renewing of the mind. This is how we can live the more abundant life Jesus came to make available. Let’s say what God says. Amen?

When we were born again, we were born into a wonderful family in which we are sons of God (I John 3:1). In this family, we each have Christ in us, and being filled with holy spirit, we have the God-given ability to love with the love of God (Romans 5:5). Living God’s love is so vital to our lives as Christian believers. To help us grow and mature in our understanding of this love, let’s see from God’s Word what it is, why we should live it, and how we can live it. What is God’s love I John 4:15,16: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. There are such great truths here in God’s Word. God is love. His very nature is love. The Greek word for “love” here is agapē, which means divine love, or the love of God. That is what this love is. Agapē love is much greater than human love or romantic love or brotherly love. This agapē love that we have is spiritual. It can only be evidenced by those who are born again of God’s holy spirit. This love has a strength and beauty above any other type of love that has ever existed. I Corinthians 13 is an excellent source for learning more about the rich qualities of agapē love. This love was demonstrated first and foremost by God Almighty, Who is love. Why should we live God’s love? John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is why we should live God’s love—because He has so graciously loved us. I John 4:19: We love him [God], because he first loved us. He loved us when we were lost and unlovable, and He loved us into loving. Now we can love with His love as His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, did. John 13:34,35: A new commandment I [Jesus] give unto you, That ye love [agapaō] one another; as I have loved [agapaō] you, that ye also love [agapaō] one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love [agapē] one to another. We want to take the love we have inside and bring it into evidence outwardly. So how do we live this love? Our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, is our greatest example—he loved with God’s love in all that he said and did. He always did the Father’s will. As we look at Jesus Christ’s example in the pages of God’s Word, we discover that we can live God’s love by renewing our minds to put on the mind of Christ, think his thoughts, and walk powerfully in his steps. Philippians 2:2-5: Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, controlled his thoughts and actions in every situation that he faced. He chose to seek God’s will rather than his own, and he chose to live God’s love in all he did. We have the God-given ability to walk in God’s love. We know this agapē love we have residing in us is the same divine, spiritual love that God demonstrates. God, Who loved us first, has enriched us with this love. And we can choose to live it as His Son, Jesus Christ, did and walk in the strength and beauty of what we have been given. So, what does it actually mean to walk in that love day to day? How is God’s love different from normal, human love? The Bible speaks of human love and brotherly love, using Greek words like philia and philadelphia. Any person can love with philia love, which is basically friendship. However, agapē love is so much more. God’s love can only be manifested by those who are born again of God’s spirit. It has a strength and beauty above any other type of love that ever existed. Earlier, we read Jesus’ commandment in John 13 to love one another as he loved us. Loving one another with this spiritual love of God became fully possible on the day of Pentecost, when becoming born again of God’s spirit was made available. Now we can actually manifest it. How do we live God’s love in our everyday life? I Corinthians 13 shows us exactly what this love looks like in action: I Corinthians 13:4-6: Charity [agapē] suffereth long [is long-tempered], and is kind [good, gentle]; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly [has a concern to do things properly, such as good manners], seeketh not her own [is not selfish], is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Showing God’s love means we practice patience and are kind. We aren’t selfish. We display good manners. We are not thinking evil, but rather, we are endeavoring to think only good of others according to God’s Word. Human love, philia, doesn’t always line up with these characteristics, but God’s love certainly does. When we live God’s love with one another, it unites God’s believing family and draws others who also want God’s love. Our human families are made up of many parts—father, mother, sister, brother, and so on. When we’re born again, we become part of God’s spiritual family with Jesus Christ as our big brother and God as our heavenly Father. God’s Word tells us in Colossians 3 that living God’s love is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14: And above all these things put on charity [agapē, the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation], which is the bond of perfectness. Agapē love is the bond of perfectness. It binds. It holds tight. This love ties God’s family together and shows others the limitless beauty and strength of God’s love. Others see how we care for one another in our spiritual family. They see how connected and united we are, and some will want to become a part of God’s family. Living God’s love with one another takes renewing our minds. We’ve seen what God’s love is—it is divine love, not human love. It is the love that God Almighty loved us with and gave us so that we could love Him and others. In showing God’s love we practice long-suffering, kindness, unselfishness, and good manners. We want to live God’s love because God’s family is known by His love, and this love wins others to God. Let’s live that love, being powerful witnesses to the world as we hold God’s Word in mind and act on it.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jesus told us two things here in John 16:33 In the world, we will have pressure, AND we can be of good cheer because he overcame the world. He didn't promise a pressure-free life. He promised peace IN it. What Is Pressure? The Greek word is thlipsis — it means pressed, squeezed, burdened. Think of a balloon filling with air. The more that goes in, the more the pressure builds. Two kinds of pressure: Internal — what we put on ourselves. Overloaded plates, poor planning, procrastination. all pressure begins in the mind. We allow ourselves to be pressured. External / Spiritual — pressure that comes from outside us, including pressure for standing on the Word. Key point: Pressure and stress are not the same thing. Pressure is the situation. Stress is what happens when we don't handle it well. We get to choose. A Biblical Example Matthew 26:36-40 — Garden of Gethsemane Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Jesus was facing the weight of what was about to happen. That was real spiritual pressure. What did he do? He went straight to his Father in prayer and shared his heart completely. We will face spiritual pressure for standing on the Word. And like Jesus, we can pray and endure. Being Rooted Matthew 13:18-23 — Parable of the Sower 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. The seeds on stony ground received the Word with joy. But they had no root. When pressure (thlipsis) came, they stumbled. What happened to the seeds in good soil? They brought forth fruit. The difference was depth. Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. The only way to have strength that holds is to be deeply rooted in the Word. II Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. God is the Father of mercies and the God of ALL comfort. He comforts us in our pressure so we can comfort others with the same comfort we received. Practical Actions Seven things we can do right now: Identify where the pressure is coming from. Internal or external? Once you know the source, you can figure out the action. Pray like Jesus did. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Bring everything to God with thanksgiving, and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. That's a promise. Claim one verse for your situation. Psalms 94:19 In the swarm of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Find the one that speaks to what you're facing and hold it. Have a plan and set priorities. Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. ponder the path of your feet. Make a list. Work the list. Pressure that comes from chaos can be reduced by order. Keep a merry heart. Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. A merry heart does good like medicine. Godly humor gives you a lighter heart in the middle of hard things. Move your body. I Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Bodily exercise profits. It clears the mind, releases tension, and builds physical capacity to resist strain. Share with another believer. Paul received comfort from fellowship in times of pressure (II Corinthians 7:4-7). We are not meant to carry it alone. Romans 8:35 and 37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Nothing separates us from the love of Christ. Not pressure, not distress, not persecution. Nothing. We will face pressure as long as we are living for God and doing His Word. That is just the truth. But we already have the victory. Jesus overcame the world. That means we endure with peace and strength, not because the pressure isn't real, but because we know how it ends. The next time pressure hits, ask: where is it coming from, and what action can I take? Then pray, stay rooted, and trust that God always gives the victory.

If you have a bible, let's turn to Philippians chapter 3, verses 13 and 14. Philippians 3:13 and 14: (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Tonight we're going to talk about what Paul meant when he said, "I press toward the mark." And here's the one big idea to remember: Every child of God has a race to run, a Christ to know, and the power of holy spirit already at work in them — so press toward the mark and expect God's blessings every day. We're going to look at three things together: What it means to press toward the mark What we need to lay aside to run our race What the mark really is — and the power that's already in you But don't take my word for it. Let's dig into the Word. Topic #1. Pressing Toward the Mark Have you ever watched a race? Maybe it was the Olympics, or your high school or college-level track race. But here's what you notice about real runners: they wear almost nothing. No heavy coat. No backpack. No wool hat. They strip down to shorts, a tank top, and a pair of shoes. Why? Because every ounce of extra weight slows them down. Paul knew this. He lived in a time (2,000 years ago) when the Greek athletic games were the Super Bowl of the ancient world. Back then, everybody understood foot races. So when Paul wanted to paint a picture of the Christian life, he reached right for the racetrack. Look at that word "press" in verse 14. It comes from the Greek word diōkō (pronounced dee-OH-koh). I use the blueletterbible.com app. Diōkō means to run swiftly after something, to pursue it, to chase it down until you catch it. It's the picture of a runner sprinting for the finish line with every fiber of her being, locked onto that goal. Paul is saying, "I'm not strolling. I'm not window-shopping. I'm running. Hard. Toward one thing." And "the mark" — that's the finish line. The goal. The thing we're aiming at. So what's the finish line for a son or daughter of God? Paul tells us: "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We're going to unpack exactly what that means in just a minute. Topic #2. Lay It Aside Now, how can we apply this verse to our lives? Paul said in verse 13, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." Let me ask you something. Do you really think Paul forgot his past? Do you think the man who wrote half the New Testament couldn't remember what he had for breakfast? Of course he remembered. "Forgetting" here doesn't mean completely losing your memory. What it actually means is… no longer caring for — no longer giving your attention or your time to — the things that are behind you. Think of it this way. If you're driving down the highway, heading to the beach, you've got a rearview mirror. You glance at it now and then. But if you stare at that rearview mirror the whole trip, you're going to end up in a ditch. You'll crash! The past is in our rearview mirror. A quick glance, that's fine. A steady stare, not a chance. Now, what was in Paul's rearview mirror? Look at Philippians 3, just a few verses back. Paul lists his credentials. He describes who he WAS: Philippians 3:5 and 6: (5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Paul was the blue-blooded, Ivy-League, top-of-his-class Pharisee. He had the resume. He was "a somebody" of the Jewish Law. And look what he said about all of it in verses 7 and 8: (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Dung. That's the King James way of saying shit. Paul said, "All that stuff I used to be proud of? Trash compared to knowing Christ." Here's the question for us: what are we carrying right now that's slowing us down? For Paul, it was his religious resume. For us, it might be: An old hurt we keep picking at A habit we know isn't helping us A fear of what other people will think A distraction that eats up our time A past failure we keep rehearsing in our minds Let me give you an example from my own life. Have you ever picked up your phone in the morning… just for a quick glance, and suddenly it's forty-five minutes later, you've scrolled through a ton of videos and pics… about things… you can't control… and didn't even ask to see. I've been there. Now, the phone can't make me lose my salvation. I'm born again. I'm a child of God. I'm righteous. And nothing can take that away from me. BUT… what it shows me… can be extra weight that I'm carrying… in the race of life. So, maybe… I can start leaving it in another room. And instead… remind myself of God's blessings in my life, or maybe remember a favorite verse in the morning instead. It's just one small change. But a huge difference. Whatever weight we’re carrying — let’s lay it aside. Forget those things which are behind. Not because it makes me a bad person to remember it. But because I can't run with it strapped to my back. Topic #3. What's the Mark? Philippians 3:14 says, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." So what exactly are we pressing toward? What IS the mark? Well, Paul already told us. We just need to back up a few verses. Philippians 3:10: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Right there. That's what Paul is running after. "That I may know him." Know Jesus Christ. Not just know ABOUT him, but actually know him. It's personal. It's deep. And look what comes next in verse 10: "and the power of his resurrection." Paul wanted to know Christ AND walk in that power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Paul wanted a piece of that. Not somewhere down the road. Not in some far-off future. Right now. In this life. Now, somebody might think, "Well, that's Paul. He was an apostle. That's not for me." Back up one more verse. Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. You're righteous. Not because you worked for it. Not because you earned it. By faith — translated from the Greek word "pistis" — by believing. Paul didn't press toward the mark hoping God would accept him. He knew he was already accepted. That's the foundation. Everything else is built on top of that. Faith, or believing.  You're a child of God. You're righteous. You've got Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). You've got holy spirit on the inside. That's already true. God has already done his part. So what's our part? Keep reading. Philippians 3:16: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Let us walk… in what we've already got. Whatever God has already made available — let’s walk in it.  THAT is pressing toward the mark. It's not climbing a ladder trying to reach God. He already came to you. He's already in you. Pressing toward the mark is walking, day by day, in the power that's already there. Knowing Christ. Believing bigger. Expecting results. Because believing equals receiving. Every morning is a new… lap around the track. Every day is a new opportunity… to believe God for something. Every day… is a day to expect God to bless you. Believe. Believe… God for your family. Your health. Prosperity. Love. Open doors. Wisdom. Miracles — big ones and small ones. That's what pressing toward the mark looks like in real life. Not straining. Not striving. It's walking in what's already yours… and believing God to show up. And he always does. Because that's what a good Father does. Now, look at how Paul wraps up the whole chapter. Philippians 3:21: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. That word "working" in Greek is energeō (en-er-GEH-oh). It's where we get our English word "energy." It means power at work. Operation. Active, getting-things-done power. Paul says this same power — the same power that will one day change our bodies to be like Christ's glorious body — is able to "subdue all things." Put everything in its place. Handle anything. And guess where that power is right now? In you. That same working power. That same energeō. At work. On the inside. Ready to go. That's what we're running toward. Press toward the mark. Let's Recap Here's what we learned tonight: "Press toward the mark" means to run, with purpose, toward knowing Christ and walking in power. "Forgetting those things which are behind" doesn't mean losing your memory. It means no longer caring for the things behind you, so you can reach forward. Paul laid aside his religious resume, because nothing compared to knowing Christ. The mark isn't a far-off reward. It's knowing him, believing him, and walking in the power that's already in you. The same energeō that raised Jesus from the dead is at work… inside of you right now. And remember the one thing: Every child of God has a race to run, a Christ to know, and the power of holy spirit already at work — so press toward the mark and expect God's blessings every day. Do the Word Here's your homework for this week. Two simple actions. First, identify one weight. One thing you're carrying that's slowing you down. A distraction. A worry. A habit. A hurt from the past you keep staring at in the rearview mirror. Name it. Write it down on a post-it. Then lay it aside. Put the phone in another room during your time with God. Forgive the person you've been replaying an argument with in your head. Let go of the resume-item you keep thinking about. Whatever it is — stretch forward and reach for what's ahead. Second, believe God for one specific thing this week. Pick one blessing. One miracle. One need. Something for you, for your family, for somebody you love. Write it down. Pray about it. Then believe you receive it. Expect God to show up. Because he will. Believing equals receiving. You've got the power on the inside to run this race and run it well. Holy Spirit… in you… is a fact. Christ in you… is a reality. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead… is at work in you right now. So lace up those running shoes. Travel light. Keep your head up and eyes forward. Press toward the mark. Amen?

Please turn to Mark 11.  I have a question for you. What is the last thing you said about a problem you were dealing with?  Well, here's what we're going to look at in the next several minutes — and this is the one thing I want you to walk away with: What you say, combined with what you believe, determines what you see. That's it. That's the whole teaching. Say it. Believe it. See it. Now I know that might sound simple — maybe even too simple. But we're NOT  going to take my  word for it.  We're going to go straight to the Word and let it speak for itself.  We're going to look at what Jesus Christ taught about words and believing, dig into one of those words in the original Greek to see what it really means, and then look at one example of this principle — a woman whose son was dead, who opened her mouth, and said something that changed everything. Say it. Believe it. See it.  Jesus Jesus taught his disciples something that… should change the way we talk. It's in Mark chapter 11, verse 23. Mark 11:23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt  in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Count how many times Jesus used the word "say" or "saith". Four times. I say  unto you… Whosoever shall say ... those things which he saith ... he shall have whatsoever he saith . Jesus is teaching that the words you speak are connected to the results you get. And he said whosoever  — that includes everyone in this room. And he said he shall have …  whatsoever he saith. And that includes … whatsoever . Whosoever, whatsoever.  So there are two working parts here: what you say , and what you believe .  Let's look at the believing  side for a moment, because there's a word in this verse that is really interesting when you look at it in the Greek. Greek Word Study: "Doubt" The verse says, "shall not doubt in his heart." Now, we could read that and think… doubt just means… not being sure about something. But the Greek word for "doubt" here tells us something a lot more than that. Greek Word Study: "doubt" Strong's G1252 “diakrinō” Pronunciation: dee-ak-REE-no Definition : to separate, to judge against, to be divided in one's mind. From "dia" (through, between) + "krinō" (to judge, to decide).  Literally: to judge between two things — to have a mind divided against itself. diakrinō dee-ak-REE-no The Greek word for doubt here… means to be divided — to have your mind pulling in two directions at once. It's not just a little uncertainty. It's a heart that is fighting against itself. So… When Jesus refers to "doubt in his heart," he was describing someone whose inside world… and outside words… are going in opposite  directions.  I say one thing with my mouth, but my heart is going against it. That internal division is what that Greek, diakrinō, means. So Jesus is saying to NOT  do that. Don’t doubt. Don’t get your heart and your mouth going in the same direction. Don't  be divided.  Instead, say what you believe, and believe what you say.  When those two things line up — you’ll receive what you said. That’s what Jesus said in Mark 11:23: “ and shall not doubt  in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Now what if our believing feels a little small? What if my believing isn’t big but it just feels a little tiny about something. Jesus covered that too.  Matthew 17:20:  “...for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith (believing in the Greek) as a grain of mustard seed , ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you .” A mustard seed… this is a very tiny thing. But  a mustard seed is alive — it grows.  Even the smallest real, undivided believing can be enough.  Nothing shall be impossible unto you. That's the promise. The Shunammite Woman: II Kings 4 Now, let’s look at a story that illustrates this principle in life that we’re learning about today. It's in II Kings chapter 4. The Prophet Elisha spoke to a woman from the city of Shunem — she was going to have a son.  And she did. She had a boy.  But then one day, when the child was older, he went out to his father in the field and collapsed. He complained of a terrible headache. By noon, he was dead. The woman laid her son on a bed and set out to find Elisha.  She was moving fast. And on her way, she met Elisha's servant Gehazi, who had been sent to ask about her family.  Here is the moment. Her son is dead. Went to find Elisha. Got Gehazi. Look at what she said. II Kings 4:25,26:  So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child?  And she answered, It is well. She answered: “It is well.” Her son is dead. The facts of her situation are devastating. And she said, “It is well.” Now let's be clear — this is not denial. She knows what happened. She is going to get help. But she is not going to open her mouth and rehearse the tragedy. She is not going to say what the facts are saying. She is going to say what she is believing God for. This is exactly what Jesus was teaching us in Mark 11:23.  She was not divided — her mouth and her heart ARE going in the SAME direction.  She said what she believed, NOT what she saw.  And what happened? Elisha went back with her, prayed, and her son was raised from the dead.  Verse 36 — Elisha said, "Take up thy son." And she did. She got what she said.  She said it.  She believed it.  And she saw it come to pass. These Old Testament stories are not written to  us, but they are written for  us to read and learn from. And when these old stories… apply spiritual truths and principles… that are an alignment and harmony with the teachings that are written to us, then we can truly learn from them. Turn to Colossians 1. What This Means for Us Today Because these are old stories, and we are living in the Grace Administration, we have something even greater… available to us… that was NOT available to people in II Kings. Colossians 1:27 tells us that we have “Christ in you.” We have the gift of holy spirit inside us. Turn to Romans 10. That is the reality of every born-again believer. We are not trying to reach up and hope God hears us. We are not hoping that the power or answers show up eventually. We’ve got Christ is in us… right now. The power of God is already present inside you. And Romans 10:9 and 10 show us that believing and confessing — say and believe — are woven into the fabric of being born again. Romans 10:9,10 says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” With the heart man believeth. With the mouth, confession is made. With the heart, you believe. With your mouth, you confess… you say… what you believe. That is the pattern we walk by every day.  Say what the Word says.  Believe what the Word says.  And watch what God does. Summary So here's what we’ve learned. Mark 11:23 — Jesus said the words you speak and the believing in your heart… work together… to produce results.  Say it and believe it, and you'll have it. The Greek word for doubt, diakrinō, means… being divided, having your heart pulling against your mouth.  The goal is to get undivided  — same direction inside and out. Matthew 17:20 — you don't need mountain-sized believing. You need real, alive, undivided believing. Even a mustard seed can move mountains. The Shunammite woman — her son was dead, and she said "It is well." She said… what she was believing for, not  what she was looking at. And she got her son back. Colossians 1:27 and Romans 10:9-10 — we have Christ in us.  The power is already present. “Say and believe” is how we got saved, and it's how we walk every day. And, the one point: What you say, combined with what you believe, determines what you see. What you say, combined with what you believe, determines what you see. Word of Encouragement In closing, whatever you are facing right now — whatever mountain is sitting in front of you — you are not at the mercy of it.  You have the Word of God. You have Christ in you.  God is not waiting for you to get everything figured out before He acts. He is not waiting for you to be perfect or have everything together. He works with a grain-of-mustard-seed of real, undivided believing.  You are not the Shunammite woman. You have something she didn't — you have Christ living inside you right now.  And if she  could speak what she believed, imagine what is possible for us. Do the Word — This Week This week, let’s listen to what we say. What do we say about our health, our finances, our situation? Are those words in alignment with what the Word says? Then, let’s find one promise in the Word that applies to what’s happening in our lives (whatever challenge we’re facing). Just one verse. Write it down. Say it out loud. Say it like we mean it. Say it. Believe it. See it.  Now let’s go do it. Amen?

Every single day, we face a competition. Not on a playing field. Not at the office. Not against anybody else. The competition is in our own minds. And the contest is between two different kinds of knowledge -- what our five senses are telling us, and what God's Word says. Now, we all need natural knowledge. How to drive a car. How to cook spinach pie. How to do your job. We live in a body-soul world, and natural knowledge is part of that.  But for us as born-again believers -- children of God, ambassadors for Christ -- the standard we're supposed to live by is spiritual knowledge. God’s Word. That's the competition (natural vs spiritual). And today we're going to look at what God says… about those two things… and how to win the competition in life .    God Laid It Out Simply Let's start in Deuteronomy chapter 30. God is talking to Israel here, but look at the clarity of what He says, and what we can learn. Deuteronomy 30:15  -- See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. Deuteronomy 30:19  -- I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life  and death , blessing and cursing: therefore choose life , that both thou and thy seed may live. He lays out the options -- life or death , blessing or cursing -- and then He gives you the answer. Choose life. That's it. The Word is our standard. Our playbook. In football, your team runs plays. And the Word is filled with what play to run. In any situation. And God is NOT trying to hide the ball from us.  He's saying: here's what I've set before you. Here's the right choice. Now walk in it. Natural knowledge  -- going by what I see, what I feel, what the world is telling me -- that pulls me one direction . Spiritual knowledge , the Word, that pulls me in the other . And where that tension plays out is right between your ears. The competition in life is in the mind.    Two Trees Let’s turn to Jeremiah 17. Jeremiah 17 gives us one of the most vivid pictures in all of scripture about what's going on in this “mind” competition. Look at Jeremiah 17, verses 5 through 8. Jeremiah 17:5-6:  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm , and whose heart departeth from the LORD: for he shall be like the heath in the desert , and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Jeremiah 17:7-8  -- Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters , and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (that’s “don’t be anxious”) in the year of drought,  neither shall cease from yielding fruit. So, two trees. Two very different outcomes. The first man  trusts his own arm. He's living by what he can see, what he can feel, what he cando, what he can figure out on his own. And the picture is a scraggly bush out in the desert -- not seeing when good comes, planted in parched ground, in a salt land. That's not the life anybody wants. The second person  trusts the Lord. She's living by spiritual knowledge -- by what God says. And the picture is a tree planted right by the river. Roots spreading deep into the water. Leaves green even in drought. And yielding fruit when everybody else has dried up. That second tree? That's what “walking by the Word” or “doing the Word” looks like. Not anxious. No fear. That tree… that tree… is NOT moved by the drought around it. Because it's connected to something that doesn't run dry. Please turn to Romans 8.   Romans 8: Life and Peace Romans chapter 8. This is a church epistle -- written to us, for us, in the Grace Administration. Let's start at verse 1.  Romans 8:1-2  -- There is therefore now no condemnation  to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh , but after the Spirit . For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin  and death. Right out of the gate -- no condemnation. None. Why? Because the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free. Then look at verses 5 and 6.  Romans 8:5-6  -- For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally  minded is death; but to be spiritually  minded is life and peace. Carnally  minded -- walking by the five senses, by natural knowledge -- that leads to death. Spiritually  minded -- walking by God's Word -- that's life and peace. Sound familiar? That's the same choice God laid out in Deuteronomy 30. Life or death. Blessing or cursing. Choose life.  The message is consistent from Moses to Paul, because it's all God-breathed and it all fits together. And here's the thing about peace. Peace isn't the absence of hard times in your life. It's what you have… in any situation… when you're rooted in the Word, even while hard circumstances are happening. That's the tree in Jeremiah 17 -- not careful (we’re not worrying) even “in the year of drought.”   The Competition Is Always Present Please turn to Galatians chapter 5. Let’s read Galatians 5:16-17  -- This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other. These two can be contrary  to one other. They can pull us in opposite directions. And the competition… this pulling… doesn't just go away. The flesh is always  going to have an opinion. Your senses  are always going to report back to you what they see, hear, or feel. Doubt, worry, fear -- they're always knocking on the door. They want to come in. Knock, knock. What matters is… whether we’re going to open the door or not . Whether we're actively choosing to walk by the Word or whether we’re just going along with whatever our senses are telling us. Walking in the spirit is a decision.  We make that decision every day. Today. And then the next day. And the day after that. That's what it means to “do the Word,” not just hear it.   Two Kinds of Wisdom Please turn to James chapter 3. Our last verse.  Let’s read James 3:15  -- “This wisdom [the 5 senses stuff from the world] descendeth NOT from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” The wisdom of this world -- the stuff that comes from living purely by natural knowledge, by what you can see, hear, feel and measure -- it isn't from God. It's finite. It's limited. And often unreliable. But then look at verse 17.  James 3:17  -- But  the wisdom that is from above  is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits , without partiality, and without hypocrisy. The Word from above is pure. Peaceable. Full of good fruit. No partiality, no hidden agenda.  And it's the same for everybody who opens the Word, reads it, studies it, and works on it. That's what we get. We get to build our lives on a standard. Not the noise of this world, but the spiritual truths from God, which is infinite, unlimited, and reliable.   The Word Works Here's what we've learned today. There is a real competition happening in our minds. It's between n atural knowledge  (what our 5 senses tell us) and spiritual knowledge .  That competition is always present, and it always has real results. But God made it simple. Deuteronomy 30 says choose life . Jeremiah 17 shows you two trees  -- one in the desert, one by the river.  Romans 8 says to be spiritually-minded is life and peace .  Galatians 5 says walk in the spirit .  James 3 says the wisdom from above is full of good fruit . The Word is NOT complicated. God isn't withholding the playbooks. The answers to life are right there.  And the instruction is clear. Trust His Word over your senses. Walk by the spirit. Root yourself in what God says about who you are, what you have, and what you can do with it. The Word works. When we walk by it -- when we do it, not just hear it -- we win the competition in life. Let’s do the Word today. Amen?  You’re God’s best.

Please turn to Romans Chapter 8.  Let’s take a few moments to talk about a phrase we may have heard before — “practicing the presence of God.” Ever hear of that phrase?  It actually comes from a little book written by a French monk named Brother Lawrence. He lived 80 years, a hard life, from 1611-1691. He worked in a monastery kitchen. And he believed that washing dishes, and things like that, can bring you closer to God. That’s really nice.  BUT… that phrase (practicing the presence of God) assumes something. It assumes God is out there (or up there) somewhere, and our job is to reach Him. To reach a higher state of consciousness or awareness of God Almighty. Maybe we can create a feeling of His nearness… through effort and discipline (like washing dishes or planting trees or meditating and chanting). And so… we practice, we practice, and practice some more, until we get really good at it. Right?  NO. If you have been born again, born again in the spirit (John 3:3, Romans 10:9-10, Titus 3:5), the Bible says something completely different. It says that God is not somewhere… somewhere you have to reach. It’s written that… He is already in you (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16).  So in the next several minutes, I want to correct that phrase (“practicing the presence of God”) and reclaim it — because practicing the presence of God, when you understand what the Word actually says, is not about effort. It is about BELIEVING… believing what spiritual truths… that we’ve been given… says about us - who we are, what we have, and what we can do with it. That is the ONE THING I want you to walk away with: born-again believers do not practice reaching  God. We practice believing  He’s already here. Now… to get there, let us talk about where this letter came from. Paul was wrapping up his third missionary journey, traveling through Greece, and he stopped in Corinth — a real city today, about an hour from Athens. From there, he wrote this letter to believers in Rome he had never met. Here is a little detail I enjoy. At the end of the letter, in Romans 16, Paul sends greetings from a man named Erastus  — a government official. And 2 Timothy 4:20 says that Erastus lived in Corinth. So, the Word puts Paul in Corinth. In 1929, archaeologists digging near a theater in Corinth found a stone pavement with a Latin inscription carved right into it. It reads: “Erastus laid this street pavement at his own expense.”  Same guy, same city. So all of that puts Paul right there in Corinth (Greece), among real people, in a real city, writing a real letter to real believers in Rome (Italy). And it’s also addressed to us.  Now here’s what makes the letter of Romans unique. Paul had never been to Rome. He is writing to a group of believers he had never met, laying out the full scope of the good news before he ever arrives. And yet, Romans is Paul's most thorough and detailed letter . If you want to understand how God loves born-again believers — people who live right now, today — this is the letter to read. By the time Paul gets to chapter 8 of Romans, he has already worked through sin, the law, and justification by believing. Chapter 8 is the big moment. It is where he says: “here is what it actually looks like to live in the spirit.” And it opens with one of the most powerful sentences in all of Paul’s writing. Let’s take a look. We’re in Romans Chapter 8, verse 1:   There is therefore now no condemnation  to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. No condemnation. That is our starting point. Paul does not begin Chapter 8 by telling you that you’re a sinner and not good enough, to try harder or do better, or wash more dishes, or meditate longer. He begins by telling you… who you are. (Remember, remember who you are, what you have, and what you can do with it).  The Greek word for “condemnation” here is katakrima — it means a judicial sentence against you. A penalty. A verdict. And Paul says… that verdict… against you… is gone. Wiped clean. Case closed. So when you walk in the spirit, you are not doing it to earn something (like Brother Lawrence). You are doing it because you already have everything. We already have everything.  Romans 8: 5-6:   (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind  the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded  is death; but to be spiritually minded  is life and peace . Here is where it gets practical. That word MIND  — in the Greek it is phroneo — it means to set your mind on something, to direct your thinking toward it, to give your full attention to it. Paul is not talking about some mystical spiritual state of universal consciousness that you have to rise up to. No. He is talking about focusing your mind - your thoughts. And to be “carnally minded”  (from verse 6) — focused on the physical, the temporal, 5 senses stuff, the problems right in front of you — that, that stuff leads to death. Spiritually minded  (verse 6) — focused on the things of the Spirit — leads to life and peace. And notice what Paul says: life and peace . Not striving and peace. Not suffering and peace. Life. Because this is supposed to be natural. Life. Living. The Spirit is already in you. You are not reaching up — you are believing... as you already are. Romans 8:9-11  — this is the heart of it all.  (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be… that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Now, wait a minute. Slow down. What’s all that mean? Let’s take it verse by verse. In verse 9, Paul says the Spirit of God dwells in you. The Greek word for dwell is oikeo — it means to take up residence, to live in a place, like a person lives in a house. This is not a short visit. This is not an experience or a moment you achieve through spiritual discipline or morning routines or enough time on your knees. Nope. If you are born again, the Spirit of God lives in you. That is the street address. That is where He is. That’s where God in Christ dwells. In you. In you. And you. And you. And me.  Verse 11, Paul makes it even bigger. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead — that Spirit is in you right now. Think about that…  the next time you feel like you just don’t have what it takes… to get through the day. The power that conquered death… is NOT far away. It is NOT waiting for you to earn it. It is IN YOU. Romans 8:14-16:   (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons and daughters of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Verse 14, “sons and daughters of God.” We’re NOT trying to BECOME children of God — we ALREADY ARE!  And we didn’t receive a spirit of fear or bondage (verse 15) — we received the Spirit of adoption (like 2 Timothy 1:7 says). Here the verse says “We cry, Abba, Father.” That word “Abba” is an Aramaic word — it is what a young child calls her father. Not a formal title. Intimate. Close. The word a child uses when she comes to her dad. Look at verse 16. The Spirit itself bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. That. That right there – is presence . The presence of God. It’s not a feeling you have to make. It’s not something you build through years of spiritual discipline and meditation and chanting. This is a reality of a present – right now – truth.  So here’s what we’ve learned. Brother Lawrence had the right heart. He wanted to live in constant awareness of God — and there is nothing wrong with that desire. But here is the correction the Word gives us: born-again believers do not need to practice reaching God, because God already reached us. He is not outside the kitchen… waiting for you to invite Him in… while you wash the dishes. He is already there. In you. The Spirit of the living God — the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead — took up residence in you… on the day you were born again. So, what does “practicing the presence of God” actually look like… for a born-again believer? It looks like verse 6. Romans Chapter 8. Verse 6.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Minding the things of the Spirit. Choosing what you think about. When a doubt, worry, or fear  comes at you, you say, “I have the Spirit of God in me, and that Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6).” When you feel weak , you say, “The power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me (Romans 8:11).” When you feel far from God , separated — and we all have those moments — we say, “God is not far away. He dwells in me (Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27).” That is believing. Simple believing. And believing is something every single one of us can do – right now — today – at any time.  Born-again believers do not practice reaching  God. We practice believing  He is already here. You are God’s best. Amen? Does anyone have any questions or comments? Let’s talk.

If you've got a Bible, go ahead and turn to Philippians. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians) I want to tell you a story. A couple thousand years ago, a man named Paul and his buddy Silas are traveling through Macedonia — that's modern-day northern Greece — and they end up in a city called Philippi. Big Roman colony. Important city on a major road. They make some friends. Things are going good. And then Paul casts a spirit out of a slave girl who had been making money for her owners as a fortune teller. Her owners are furious — their income just disappeared. So they drag Paul and Silas before the city magistrates, and they get beaten — and then they're thrown into jail. Chains on their feet. So Paul and Silas are bruised, bleeding, locked up in the deepest part of a Roman jail. Middle of the night. And guess that they’re doing?  Singing. Hymns. Like the ones we sing in fellowship. They’re singing to each other. And to the rest of the prisoners. And to the people in charge of the prison.  Then… an earthquake hits. All of the prison doors fly open. Every chain comes loose. The jailer wakes up, sees the doors open, draws his sword to kill himself — because in Rome if your prisoners escape, you pay with your life. But Paul shouts out — don't do it, we're all still here. The jailer, astonished, asks Paul, “What must I do to be saved?" Paul says, “Believe.” That’s it. The jailer takes them home that night, cleans their wounds, his whole household believes and gets born again. And out of that whole wild night — the beating, the jail, the earthquake, the singing — a fellowship is started in Philippi. Now fast forward about ten years. Paul is in prison again. This time, it’s in Rome. Far away from Philippi. And the fellowship back in Philippi — those same people… they send someone all the way to Rome with money to take care of Paul while he's in the slammer. And Paul writes them a letter to say thank you. That letter is Philippians. Please turn to Philippians Chapter 4 (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians). We're about to read a small part of that letter. When we read it, I want you to remember who's writing it and who he's writing to. This is a man, now in prison, in Rome. And he’s the same guy who got beaten and thrown in jail 10 years ago in Philippi… for doing the same stuff – talking about God to others. He's writing to those believers. His friends. People he loves. But just like we learned in the Foundational Class that we just had here, this letter is also… written to us. Today. It actually is addressed… in the beginning of the letter.. to all believers.  Now turn to Philippians Chapter 4. Let’s read what’s been written to us. (You got to know what parts of the Bible are written to you and which are not).  --- Here's the main point today: “ God gave you a mind, and what you do with it matters.” Now, WAIT. Put your finger in Philippians Chapter 4, and let’s turn to and look at Proverbs 23:7 real quick.     "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." — Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) 10 words. 10 little words. They mean everything. What you think about consistently,  in your heart — is what you become. You think you're stuck? You'll act stuck. But IF you think God's got your back AND you're more than a conqueror? You'll act like that.  For as you think in your heart, so you are. Your mind is where your life actually happens. What you think, is what you are. That’s what the Word says.  And Paul — sitting in a Roman prison — writing a letter to his fellowship buddies in Philippi a couple thousand years ago – is about to tell us — us living today – exactly what to do with our minds.  Turn back to Philippians Chapter 4. You kept your finger there? Verses 4-9. Let’s read what’s written. Philippians 4:4-9. (Verse 4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” He says, "Think on these things” in verse 8.  This is not… "don't worry, be happy." This is a specific instruction from a man in chains. Paul gives us a list — true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy. Eight categories. 8 things to think about.  “Hey, Alicia, whatcha thinking about?” Fill your mind with these, says Paul. And notice what he says in verse 6: “Be careful for nothing.”  The word careful in Greek is mer-im-nah'-o and means anxious. "Be anxious (troubled, worried) for nothing." Don’t be worried about anything.  When was the last time you ever said to yourself, “Boy, I’m so glad I worried myself to death about that. Worrying really works.” NEVER. Paul, inspired by God, writes to us in verse 6… don't just pray in general. Bring your specific needs to God. Tell Him exactly what you need. Earnestly. Honestly. And do it with a thankful heart. Not with worry or anxiousness.  And what happens (as the result)? The peace of God  in Verse 7. The peace of God. The kind that goes beyond what your brain can even work out, will guard your heart and mind. Let’s look again at the verses. Phil 4:4-9: (Verse 4) Rejoice on purpose. (Verse 5) Be gracious and steady toward others, because God is right here. (Verse 6) Don't be anxious about anything — bring it to God with thanksgiving instead. (Verse 7) The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds. (Verse 8) Then, focus your mind on the right things. (Verse 9) Do these things, and you’ll live in peace.  That's not a self-help program. That's the Word. This is what is written. To us. And Paul proved it works from a jail cell.  --- Now, let’s turn to Romans Chapter 12, verse 2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed  by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  Two commands. Be not conformed. Be transformed. Conformed  — in the Greek that means pressed and squished into something from the outside. The world is constantly trying to press you into its shape. The world wants you to be anxious (press). Be afraid (squish). Negative (push). Self-focused. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed .” Transformed  — that's the Greek word where we get metamorphosis. Change from within - change from the inside out. Not shaped by outside pressure, but changed by something working within you. How does that happen? By renewing your mind.  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” You have the gift of holy spirit. That’s Christ in You. You have the Word of God. But if we keep feeding our mind the same old fears and complaints and lies about ourselves — we’re letting the world… win a battle… that God… already won, through the accomplishments of his son, if you believe, in your heart and your mind.  You can't accidentally renew your mind. You do it on purpose. Sometimes every day. And you can do that… by what Alicia taught on Thursday night - she taught how to FOCUS and put on the Word in your mind, then act on it. If you need her notes, she’s got them.  --- One more verse. 2 Corinthians Chapter 10. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians). Let’s turn to and read 2 Corinthians 10:5: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Whew! What the heck does that mean? Well, I enjoy using the Amplified version of the bible for verses like this one. AMP. Listen. “We are destroying the sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive [prisoner] to the obedience of Christ.” Thoughts and arguments can build themselves up in our minds. Gosh, just look what our minds ingest when we scroll reels. And Paul says… some of those thoughts and ideas will exalt themselves against what God says about you. Some of the stuff that others say, or even you tell yourself, rises up and plants itself right between you and what God says is true about you. It positions itself above the Word and says — no, what I'm telling you is more true than what God says. Things like — you’re ugly, you’re dumb, you’ll never be any better. And Paul says — knock them down. Cast them imaginations down. Tear down  every high  thing that exalts  itself against you knowing God. They have no right to be above what God says about you. And then Paul says — take every thought and purpose captive [prisoner] to the obedience of Christ.” Think about who's writing that. This man is in captivity . He's a prisoner. And he's telling us — take our thoughts prisoner.  Who better to know what that word really means than a man sitting in chains? Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:22. Listen to what he said: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." Ain’t that beautiful.  Where your attention goes, your life follows. We’re not passive receivers of our thoughts. We have control over your minds. When “our eye be single,” when we focus our thoughts, then our whole body is full of light.  --- So here's where we've been. A man named Paul got beaten and thrown in jail in Philippi for talking about God and believing his Son. He sang at midnight. An earthquake hit. A jailer got saved. A fellowship got started. Ten years later, Paul's in jail again in Rome, and that same fellowship is taking care of him. And from that Roman prison he writes a letter: rejoice, pray with thanksgiving, guard your mind, and fill your thoughts with things that are true and lovely and of good report. And the peace of God will be with you.  Here's the main point one more time: God gave you a mind, and what you do with it matters. You have Christ in you. You have the Word. You have the peace of God that passes understanding. The question is — what are you going to think about today? Don't just hear this and go home.  Here's something all of us  can do this week. Just like Alicia taught on Thursday.  Write out Philippians 4:8 on a post-it or on your phone. When an anxious or negative thought comes up, run your mind through Paul's list. Is this true? Honest? Lovely? Of good report? If not, replace it with something that is. Pick one thing every morning to be thankful for … BEFORE  you look at your phone. One thing. Let’s train our minds… to start from what God has done… instead of what the world tells us to do and think. And if you catch yourself saying something negative about yourself — stop. That thought is a prisoner that got loose. Take it captive. Say out loud what God says about you instead. This isn't “positive thinking” from a self-help class. This is renewing your mind according to the Word. This is walking with power for an abundant life.  God bless you. You are the best. Amen?

There are roughly 100 billion galaxies in the universe. Each one contains about 100 billion stars. Our own galaxy — the Milky Way — is just one of them. And our sun is just one of a hundred billion stars inside our galaxy. Our sun is moving at about 13 miles per second  around the Milky Way galaxy. That's really fast. But, the galaxy is so big, it takes 250 million years for the sun to complete one orbit. In the entire history of the human race, we've traveled about 1/10th of 1% of that orbit. That’s really small. Compared to the galaxy.  That is how big the universe is. And that is how big God is. And here's what’s amazing to me — that same God is not far away, somewhere in the stars. He is not far away and not-involved. He is actually… inside you. That is what I’d like to talk about. If you have a bible, please turn to Psalms Chapter 8. I’d like to talk about 3 things:  First  — how big God is, and what it means that He is mindful of you. Second  — the time we are living in right now, and why it is the greatest time in history. Third  — what we are asked to do with what we have been given. Let's learn how to redeem your time with love. But first, David. HOW BIG IS GOD? Now, David. Before he became a king, he was a shepherd boy. Spent his nights out in the fields with his sheep, under those same stars. No telescope. Just him and the sky. And here's what David wrote in Psalm 8:3-4 AMPC: When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man  that You are mindful  of him, and the son of [an earthborn] man that You care for him? Child of earthborn man. That's us. And God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 2:4-5; Jeremiah 29:11). David looks at the entire expanse of creation — billions of stars — and his jaw just drops that God is even thinking about people. Let alone caring for them. Mindful of him. Turn to Colossians 1.  Here's what David didn't know back then… that we get to know now. It's not that God is mindful of us… like from a distance… from the stars in the universe. Huh-uh. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:27:   To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you , the hope of glory. Christ in you. Not Christ near you. Not Christ watching over you. Christ in you! David would have been shocked by that. He wouldn’t have even been able understood it. But for us... that’s the life we are living in… right now . It’s God in Christ in us. (John 14:20; 2 Corinthians 5:19; John 14:10; John 14:11; John 10:38; Colossians 2:9; John 10:38; John 17:21; John 14:20; John 17:23; Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 3:17; 1 John 4:12; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 4:16).  Turn to Ecclesiastes 3.  THE SEASON WE'RE IN About 3,000 years ago, Solomon (king of all Israel, wealthiest and wisest man who ever lived, ruler from the Euphrates River to Egypt, with 700 wives and 300 concubines) wrote one of the most famous passages in all of scripture. And he ended it with a question – THE question. And here it is: Ecclesiastes 3:1: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. (3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. (4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. (5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. (6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. (7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. (8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.  And then after all of that, he asks in verse 9: What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? What is the point? He asks. What does any of this amount to? What are we to do in this time that we have? Solomon was asking the right questions. He just didn't have the answer yet. But we do. Let’s fast forward to Apostle Paul.  In Galatians 4. Here, Paul writes to born-again believers and in Galatians 4:4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption of sons. The fullness of time (in verse 4). God waited for exactly the right moment in history, and then He acted. Sent his son. Jesus died. He rose. And everything changed… in that moment. Born-again believers in the Grace Administration are now living on the other side of that moment in time. We received the “adoption of sons.” We have holy spirit inside us. We have Christ in us. And therefore, we are now sons and daughters of God. God adopted us. Into His family.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:20 (I’ll read it) what that actually means to us: Now unto him [God] that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. God in Christ in us “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” That power is working in us right now. That’s what’s written right there. God in Christ. In you. In me. This is the “season” that King Solomon was asking about. This is what he (and everyone back then) didn't have. And we now have it. REDEEMING THE TIME Let’s look at Ephesians 5. Here, Paul writes in Ephesians 5 ( 15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. So Paul writes to born-again believers — and he says something important. The word is "redeeming." A little research in the Greek, the word is exagorazō. It comes from the word for marketplace — the agora. Think of a busy market square. Goods laid out on the tables. A buyer walks through and spots something valuable. He doesn't browse around. He doesn't come back tomorrow. He buys it up right then and there — because if he waits, it'll be gone. Redeem the time. That's the picture. Seize it. Buy it up. Don't let it slip past you. Do it now. Now’s the time. Make the most of it.  Read Ephesians 5:15-16 with that picture in mind: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The Amplified Bible says: ...making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. Making the very most of your time. Recognizing every opportunity. That is the instruction from the Bible. Not because time is running out — but because you have something powerful inside you… and every single moment… is an opportunity… to act on it. Paul says it again in Colossians 4:5: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Paul says it in Ephesians and again in Colossians. You have Christ in you, you have power that works in you exceeding abundantly — now walk wisely and make the most of every moment you have been given. WHAT ARE WE REDEEMING TIME FOR? So what does walking wisely look like? How do we “redeem” and make the most of our time? It is written. Please turn to Mark 12.  Jesus gave the clearest answer to those questions. Someone asked him once… what’s the greatest commandment?. And in Mark 12, this is Jesus speaking to Israel under the law — that's the context.  Mark 12:28-31: And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. So that’s Jesus to Israel. Now, turn to Romans 13. Here's Paul… writing to us. Romans 13:8 says, “ Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  Galatians 5:14 says, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love. That is what we are redeeming time for. The only thing you owe anybody is love. That's what our time is for. Do it now. Now’s the time. Make the most of your time.  And Romans 12:2 tells us how it works: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. You renew your mind to what God says is true about you — that you have Christ in you, that his power is working in you right now — and love flows out of that.  Turn to 1 John 4. Our last verse.  1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not… knoweth not God; for God is love. God is love. And you have God in you. Which means.. love is in you. Redeeming the time is not about trying harder — it is about walking in (or acting on) what you already have. Remember, it’s important to remember: who you are, what you have, and what you can do with it.  HERE'S WHAT WE COVERED  God made a universe so big it takes your breath away. And that same God is inside you right now. David was amazed that God was even mindful of man. But we get something better — Christ in us. Solomon asked… what was the whole point of it all. We have the answer: the fullness of time has come, we are sons and daughters of God, and we have power working in us… exceeding abundantly above anything we could ask or think. So we redeem the time. Seize every opportunity. Not because time is running out — but because what you have is too good to waste . You walk in love. You walk in wisdom. That’s the time that we live in. Right now. And that’s what you have. Pick one person — your friend, your spouse, your neighbor, your coworker — and make one intentional act of love toward them. Not because you have to. But because you have God in Christ in you.  Amen? Any questions?

Today, we will learn  Why do we read the Bible?  To get to know God and His great love for us and the power available to us. How do we read the Bible?  Daily, with readiness of mind. What do we read?  Psalms, Proverbs, and Romans through Thessalonians are a good place to start. Why Read the Bible?  To get to know God and His great love for us .  Psalm 33:11 "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." When we go to the Word, we are finding the thoughts of God's heart. In God’s Word, learn of His goodness, faithfulness, power, His love for us and all the characteristics of God. Psalm 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The more we know God by reading His Word, the more we love Him. As we learn about how much He loves us, our response is to love him back.  When we read the Bible we also learn of the power available to us  as God's children.  Ephesians 1:18, 19 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe according to the working of his mighty power.  God wants us to know  His exceedingly great, super-abundant power to us who believe. When we read God’s Word, we grow in godliness,  which is our true and vital spiritual relationship with God  2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 'godliness' here means a genuine true relationship with God. Reading the Word is how we get to know God as our Father. And the result is confidence. We start seeing real results in our lives because we know God’s promises. We can say, 'God and I are like this 🤞." So we just learned that we read the bible to know God and his love for us, the power we have, and to grow in our relationship with God. Practical ways we can make reading the Bible a part of our daily life. How to Read the Bible Have a Ready Mind & Read daily Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." This verse covers two things: They received the word with all readiness of mind: Get ready to learn something that will bless you. Searched the scriptures daily. Start small to build the habit. Maybe 1 verse a day (little blue booklet of verses). Then maybe increase to 2 or more verses a day. Or maybe set a time, like 5 min. A day and work up to 10 or 15 min/day. Or maybe you want to read a book of the Bible, and you read 1 chapter a day. There are also lots of Bible reading apps that can help you, too. I know two people in our fellowship who have a little Bible-reading arrangement. They read the Bible until they come to a verse that they love, and they text the other person that verse. They read it for themselves to get blessed, then share it to bless their friend, which adds a little bit of accountability. You just enjoy reading the Bible- to get to know God and his heart and love for you. 3. How much do we read? Enough! Whatever that means for you on that day or according to your plan. My friend Amy said that when she was in college, she would open her Bible to Psalms or Proverbs and just read until she found a verse she liked. Then she would write it on a sticky note and put it on the wall. Ok, so you have a plan and you're ready to build that habit and read your Bible every day.  What to Read? The Bible: It took 1,500 years to write.  It was written by 40 different people. kings, commercial fishermen, a medical doctor, a tax collector, and a shepherd. 2 Peter 1:21 and 2 Timothy 3:16. Say that God is the author  it spans 3 continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, in  three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). It tells one unified story of Jesus Christ In an Eastern culture, totally different from our modern Western culture today We research the word to get back to God’s original intent. So it takes some work and research to know what to read. If you open up your Bible and read Deuteronomy, you might be discouraged if you don't know what you're reading or that it wasn’t written to you. The Old Testament, Genesis through John, is the Old Testament is for our learning.  Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. "Aforetime." = in the past. Since Paul is writing the book of Romans directly to the church during the Grace Administration, anything written "aforetime" (in the past) refers to the Old Testament and the Gospel records. The verse says that those past writings are "for our learning." 1 Corinthians 10:11 says that the Old Testament is for our example to learn from Psalms and Proverbs are easy to understand. They are in the Old Testament, so they are written for our learning . Whatever you read in the Old Testament has to line up with Romans through Thessalonians (The church epistles).  The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) These are the accounts of Jesus Christ's ministry, life, and death, as he walked on the earth performing miracles. The Gospels cover a time before  the Day of Pentecost . The new birth and the gift of holy spirit were not available yet. Spiritually speaking, the Gospels are technically still part of the Old Testament period. We can learn from them, but they are not written to us. Acts (The Bridge) Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the Church Epistles. It records the acts of the born-again believers after  Jesus ascended. Acts 2  is the absolute core of the book. It was the exact day the new birth became available. The gift of holy spirit was poured out, and believers spoke in tongues for the first time. Before this, the spirit was upon people conditionally. After Pentecost , it was Christ in them permanently. The rest of Acts is the historical record of believers figuring out how to walk powerfully with this new reality of the gift of holy spirit. The Church Epistles (Romans – Thessalonians) These are written directly to  us. They apply to our lives today. The rest of the Bible is written for our learning, but the Church Epistles are written to us. If you read Habakkuk and it says to wear brown sandals, you look at Romans through Thessalonians. Is it in there? No? Okay, so I don't have to wear brown sandals. Does that make sense? The Church Epistles tell us how to live today It’s like in the glovebox of your truck or car, there’s probably a manual on how to operate your truck or car The Word is the instruction manual for life. Ephesians is sometimes called “The Breakfast of Champions” because it’s about our spiritual identity and power! Just like a protein-packed breakfast gives you fuel for the day, Ephesians fuels the believer with the reality of who they are in Christ. Conclusion As we make reading our bible a daily habit, we can expect our personal relationship with God to grow.  By reading the Word, we get close to God as we learn about Him and His great love for us.  We also grow in our knowledge of the power that we have as we believe God’s Word. Today, we learned how to walk powerfully in our daily lives by starting each day by reading the Bible. We literally learned how to read the Bible. This week, I encourage you to start your day by reading the bible to build your relationship with God, see His love for you and the power you have. If you want to  learn how to Read Your Bible with Confidence,  click  here  to see  every book of the Bible, who it’s written to, and what it’s about. (Genesis - Revelation).  Ps. Consider starting with the King James Version of the Bible. It’s used to keep things uniform. It’s preferred because the original translators put added words in italics, so you can easily spot what wasn't in the original Greek or Hebrew text. It's also the version that most major concordances and interlinears are keyed to, which makes word studies a lot easier. Use other versions of the Bible to build the depth and research Word. Here’s are some: The Amplified Bible The Amplified Bible Classic Edition George Lamsa's Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text The Companion Bible New American Standard Bible English Standard Bible God bless you. You are the BEST!

1. The Seven Administrations (Time Periods) God changes how He deals with mankind depending on the spiritual rules of the specific time period. Knowing the administration tells you if the rules apply to you today. Original Paradise:  Genesis 1–3. This covers everything from the creation of the world right up to the Fall of Adam and Eve. Patriarchal:  Genesis 4 through Exodus 19. This covers the time of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ending right before Moses goes up Mount Sinai. The Law:  Exodus 20 through Malachi. This is the bulk of the Old Testament. It starts with the Ten Commandments and covers all the kings, prophets, and the strict rules Israel had to follow. Christ:  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus was walking the earth during this time, living under the Law to fulfill it before the Day of Pentecost. The Grace Administration (Current):  Acts (the bridge) and Romans through Philemon. Romans through Thessalonians are the specific "Church Epistles" written directly to us as our instruction manual for living with the power of the holy spirit today. The Appearance:  Hebrews through Revelation. These books point toward the future. Revelation specifically covers the Tribulation and the wild events of Christ's return. Final Paradise:  Revelation 21–22. This is the very end of the book, covering the new heaven and the new earth where God dwells with mankind forever. 2. The Groupings of the Books The Bible is not in chronological order. It is grouped by subject matter and who it is addressed to. The Old Testament (Written for  our learning) The Law (5 books):  Genesis – Deuteronomy. Origins, Israel's history, and the exact rules of the Law of Moses. History (12 books):  Joshua – Esther. The historical record of Israel's kings, battles, and captivity. Poetry and Wisdom (5 books):  Job – Song of Solomon. (Includes Psalms and Proverbs). The emotional heart and practical wisdom of Israel. The Prophets (17 books):  Isaiah – Malachi. Warnings to Israel and prophecies about the coming Messiah. The New Testament The Gospels (4 books):  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. The historical record of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. (Spiritually, this is still the Old Testament period). History & Transition (1 book):  Acts. The bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. It records the Day of Pentecost and the birth of the Grace Administration. The Church Epistles (9 books):  Romans – Thessalonians. Written directly to  us.  They contain the exact doctrine, reproof, and correction for the Grace Administration today. Ephesians is sometimes called the breakfast of champions because it tells you who you are in Christ and the power and authority you have. The Hebrew / General Epistles (9 books):  Hebrews – Jude. Written primarily to Israel and Jewish believers. We can learn from them, but their main doctrinal application is for future administrations. Prophecy (1 book):  Revelation. The apocalyptic record of the future Appearance and Final Paradise. Some facts about the Bible It took 1,500 years to write.  It was written by 40 different people. kings, commercial fishermen, a medical doctor, a tax collector, and a shepherd. 2 Peter 1:21 and 2 Timothy 3:16. Say that God is the author,  it spans 3 continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, in  three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). It tells one unified story of Jesus Christ In an Eastern culture, totally different from our modern Western culture today