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How to Walk Powerfully in Daily Life We can walk with power in our daily lives.  There are three ways we do this:  through God’s Word,  prayer, and  speaking in tongues (SIT). Romans 10:9-10   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. These verses tell us how to be born again:  confess  with our mouth the Lord Jesus and  believe  in our heart that God raised Him from the dead.  The second we do these two things, we are born again. Think about it this way: You were born physically to your parents, and you were body and soul (breath life - your personality - what makes you, you).  Then, you were born again  into God’s family. He gives you a "birthday gift"—the gift of holy spirit. Now you are body, soul, and spirit . Great, that’s nice, Alicia, but how do I walk powerfully after I’m born again, it’s just holy spirit on the inside. How does that help me? Acts 1:8   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. That word "receive" is lambanō  in the Greek. It means to manifest or show evidence of. It’s like being happy, you can’t see my happy until I manifest it by smiling or laughing. God gave us this power so we would use  it. 1. Manifesting the Power of God’s Word Please turn to 2 Timothy 1:17 .  Growing up, I thought life just happened randomly. I’d work hard and just hope I’d "luck out" and get through the day. But as believers, we can walk powerfully and make things happen in our lives.  When I was 21 and started as a special ed teacher, my classroom was full of kids with intense emotional needs. I was worried and full of anxiety. Then my mom gave me a verse:  2 Timothy 1:7 .  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. The situation didn't change overnight, but my fear vanished. God’s power protected me, and that gave me the power, love, and sound mind to be more than a conqueror in that situation and to take believing action and get a new job. 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: There is a verse for everything —health, peace, confidence. Walking powerfully means finding that verse and claiming it, believing it, and acting accordingly. 2. The Power of Prayer We walk powerfully in daily life when we pray.  Mark 11:24   Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. "receive" = ( lambanō )  Again, that’s receiving into manifestation. James 5:16   The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. That means our prayers prevail! When my daughter was little. She had a fever and was sleeping on the couch. When she woke up, I put her on my lap and was talking to her, giving her water, feeling her forehead, and she looked up at me, her eyes rolled back, stopped breathing, and she went limp in my arms. I yelled, "In the name of Jesus Christ, wake up! It’s by the stripes of Jesus Christ that you are healed. In the name of Jesus Christ, wake up." She opened her eyes, took a breath, and started talking like nothing had happened. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I do know that was the power of prayer in action. Whether it’s a big issue or just asking God to help you find your sneakers, taking an exam, getting a new job…. He cares about every detail of our lives.  Psalm 55:17   Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.   John 10:10...Eph 3:20… Malachi 3:10b… our God wants to hear from us, and he wants to bless us with the more abundant life that is exceedingly abundant above all we could ask or think, and he wants to open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing more than there's room to receive. Our God is a God of abundance. 3. The Power of SIT (Speaking in Tongues) Romans 8:26   Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Speaking in tongues fills the gap in our knowledge or understanding of what to pray for.  SIT is perfect prayer to God. And here's an example of how I used SIT in my daily life. Last week we went on a trip, we got in the truck and I prayed, God thank you for a great trip, for us driving to the airport, for the hedge of protection about us as we travel, for our plane and parking and the weather and for the resort being great and the water being great and for us having a real fun relaxing time. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. That's praying with my understanding.  But there are things I don’t know but God does. So when I’m at the airport waiting for my plane or on the tarmac waiting to take off. I speak in tongues to myself. Not out loud. I don’t know about the plane’s mechanics or the air traffic, but God does. SIT is perfect prayer to God, and it fills the gaps of things I don’t know. It ensures we are covered even when our own knowledge falls short. Conclusion 1 John 1:5   God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all .  He isn't waiting to punish you; He wants to bless you "exceeding abundantly above all you could ask or think, and he wants to open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing more than there's room enough to receive." This week, I encourage you to walk powerfully in your daily life by choosing just one of these things. Choose just one of these: Pick a verse to claim & Believe and act on. Pray with your understanding Or SIT to manifest power in your daily life. And if you need help with any of these or all of these, you can ask anybody in fellowship, and we can help you. God bless you. You are the best!

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?

One night, a couple thousand years ago , Jesus got asked a question by a religious leader. His name was Nicodemus. And Jesus told him something that we can learn from and apply to our lives… today.  Turn to John 3. Here’s what we’re going to learn: The connection Jesus had with God is available to you and me. Because of what he did in his life back then, we now… get to walk with “Christ in us.” Not “with Jesus” but with “Christ in us.” Sounds a little strange, right?  That is what.. being born again… makes possible: Christ in you.  So, the Word teaches us the difference between being baptized in water  and being born again of the spirit . A lot of people today are going through “the water” and missing out on being born again of holy spirit… that Jesus taught about. Part 1: Jesus Introduces Being Born Again In John 3:2, Nicodemus shows up at night and says, “Rabbi, we know that you a teacher and you come from God.” And Jesus answered in verse 3, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus is confused. He’s thinking “physical.” But Jesus is talking “spiritual.”  Read verses 5 and 6: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Jesus is teaching about two births. Flesh (that’s how we’re all born, flesh) and spirit. The phrase “born of the Spirit” in Greek is “gennao ek pneuma.” Gennao means to be born, to be brought into existence. Pneuma is spirit.  This isn’t a metaphor. This is something that actually comes into existence… inside a person that wasn’t there before. God creates spirit within you. That’s the new birth Jesus is teaching here - “born of the spirit.” Now here’s the important thing: being born again of the spirit wasn’t available during this conversation . Jesus was telling Nicodemus about something that was NOT yet available. Nobody could be born again of the spirit until Jesus accomplished everything — his death, the burial, his resurrection, the ascension. Nicodemus couldn’t leave that conversation… born again. Jesus couldn’t teach and guide anyone to be born again of the spirit . It wasn’t available during Jesus’s lifetime.    Turn to and read Colossians 1:25-27. This is Paul. So Paul calls this being born again as “the mystery,” and it’s not that Jesus never mentioned it. Jesus absolutely talked about it — with Nicodemus. But it couldn’t become a reality until Jesus finished his work. Jesus was talking about being born again with holy spirit (pneuma hagion) which is what Paul would later explain in detail as “Christ in you.” Part 2: Water Baptism vs. Born Again of the Spirit Turn to Matthew 3.  In many churches today, people get baptized in water, and they think that’s what Jesus was talking about. Nope. There’s a huge difference between water baptism  and being born again of the spirit . Water baptism was in the time of John the Baptist. Look at what John himself said in Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with… the Holy Ghost (holy spirit), and with fire.” This is John foretelling what would happen on Pentecost, where believers for the first time would be born again of… holy spirit. John says, “I’m doing water. But the one coming after me? He’s going to baptize you with (pneuma hagion) holy spirit.”  That’s the new birth. Jesus confirms this… right before his ascension in Acts 1:5. And this is Jesus talking, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” He’s telling them: what John did with water is not what’s about to happen to you. You’re about to be filled with… holy spirit. A lot of good-hearted people today have been dunked, sprinkled, and gone through the water ceremony. I did. I was baptized in water at a Russian Orthodox church in Pennsylvania by a priest when I was a baby.  If we just keep doing “water,” then we’re still on the “John” side of things.  We’re missing what Jesus (and John) was actually teaching. Jesus said we must be born of the spirit. That’s what he and John said. That’s what makes us a son or daughter of God. And that’s what gives us access to everything God has for us. That’s what gives us… the same connection to God… that Jesus had… thousands of years ago.  Turn to John 14. Part 3: Jesus Shows What It Looks Like — God in Him Jesus had God in him.  Turn to and read John 14:10: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” The Father lives in me. The words come from Him. The miracles? He’s doing the works. And then here’s the promise. John 14:20: “At that day, ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” “At that day.” He’s talking about the future again. At that day (in the future), the Father will be in Christ. And Christ will be in you.  A chain of connection, from God, to Jesus Christ, to you, and me. Part 4: The Comforter — Jesus Points Forward to Pentecost After talking to Nicodemus, Jesus tells his disciples… what’s about to happen. John 14:16-17: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” “Comforter” is the Greek word “parakletos” — meaning “one called alongside you to help,” an “advocate for you.”  This Comforter “dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” We’re moving from external (flesh, water) to internal (spirit, spiritual, Christ in you). What’s this comforter?  Turn to and read John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (pneuma hagion, holy spirit) whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” God is Holy Spirit. That’s what He’s made of. He gives what He is. The gift of holy spirit is God’s own nature coming to dwell inside you. Then in John 16:7: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”  He said it will “dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Jesus said to his friends, it’s better for everyone that I leave. He’s only one guy, one person, walking around. But now, Christ (holy spirit) is spread abroad, in every born again believer.  Part 5: Pentecost — Everything Changes Turn to Acts 2:1-4. This is the moment. Everything Jesus promised becomes reality here: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” For the first time in history, people were born again. Filled with holy spirit. And the very first thing they did was speak in tongues. That’s one of nine manifestations of the spirit in action. None of the manifestations were available before Pentecost.  The disciples couldn’t operate them while walking with Jesus, because they weren’t born again yet. They didn’t have the spirit in them. Everything changed at Pentecost. That’s when the new birth became available, and that’s when the power to operate these manifestations came with it.  Part 6: Paul Reveals the Reality — Christ in You Jesus promised it, Pentecost delivered it, and Paul explained it.  Paul explains it and calls it “the mystery.” Hidden for ages, now revealed. It’s “Christ in you.” And you. And you. And me too. (Colossians 1:26-27, Galatians 2:20). Part 7: Why This Changes How We Read the Bible Now here’s where this really matters for how we live. During Jesus’s earthly ministry, nobody was born again of the spirit. The disciples walked literally “with Jesus,” but they did not have “Christ in” them. That didn’t happen until Pentecost.  So when Jesus gave instructions during his ministry (like when he was talking with Nicodemus), he was talking to people who were not born again. That’s why many people who only follow Jesus’s earthly teachings aren’t fully grasping what’s available to them. They’re following teachings given to people who didn’t have what we have today. They hear “take up your cross” in Matthew 16:24 and think God wants them to suffer. Nope.  They follow Jesus, not learning that they can have “Christ in them.”  They get baptized in water and think they’ve done what Jesus taught. Nope.  Jesus was actually teaching about something far greater — as we read in the Word. Jesus (and John) taught about being born again of the spirit. Jesus did the suffering. We get the healing.  He bore the cross. We get the freedom.  This is why we read and study what’s written. It’s not about what I think, or what Alicia thinks, or what The Way ministry says, or what your pastor thinks. It’s what the Word says. Wrap-Up Jesus told Nicodemus about being born again of the spirit. But it couldn’t happen yet. He was pointing forward to what was going to come. He described what the connection… to God… looks like… God was in him. And He is in us. He promised the Comforter. Said it was better than having him walk around. Then Jesus accomplished everything — death, burial, resurrection, ascension.  And on the day of Pentecost, it happened for the first time ever. People were born again. Filled with holy spirit. Speaking in tongues. Manifestations. Everything changed. Then, Paul reveals the mystery: It’s “Christ in you.” And because we’re born again, we don’t go backwards and live under the law. We don’t settle for water baptism… when spirit baptism… is what makes us sons and daughters.  We read the Word… and live from what the Word teaches about who we are. You have Christ in you and every benefit available as a son or daughter of God.  Amen?  You are the best.  Word Study gennao ek pneuma — to be born of spirit; a real spiritual birth (John 3:6) pneuma — spirit, breath, wind; the immaterial part of a being (John 3:6, 4:24) pneuma hagion — holy spirit; God’s gift of His own nature to the believer (John 14:26, Acts 2:4) parakletos — comforter, advocate, one called alongside to help (John 14:16, 16:7) orthotomeo — to cut straight, to rightly divide, to handle correctly (2 Timothy 2:15) Key Scriptures John 3:3, 5-6 — Born again; born of water and Spirit Matthew 3:11 — John baptizes water; Jesus baptizes Holy Ghost Acts 1:5 — Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost John 14:10 — The Father dwelleth in me John 3:34 — God gave Jesus the Spirit without measure John 14:16-17 — The Comforter shall be in you John 14:20 — Ye in me, and I in you John 14:26 — The Comforter, the Holy Ghost (pneuma hagion) John 16:7 — It is expedient that I go away Acts 2:1-4 — Day of Pentecost; filled with the Holy Ghost 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 — Nine manifestations of the spirit Colossians 1:26-27 — The mystery: Christ in you Galatians 2:20 — Christ liveth in me Romans 10:9 — Confess and believe = saved 1 John 4:15 — God dwelleth in him, and he in God Isaiah 53:5 — Wounded for our transgressions Romans 8:1 — No condemnation in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:15 — Rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Peter 1:20 — No private interpretation

God bless you. I write training courses for home inspectors. I know how important a good instruction manual is. A good manual explains how that “thing” works. If you don't know how something works (like a tool, a battery-operated drill, or a machine, a car, or a clothes washer and dryer) then you won’t be able to use it properly. You’ll get frustrated. Might even hurt yourself. Someone has to teach you how this thing works.  Life is complex. Relationships are complex. Dating. Marriage. Raising kids. Doing your job. Running a business. It’s all challenging. And yet, many people try to navigate all of it… without ever consulting a training manual. So, here’s the main point that I’d love for you to remember:  God wrote down His will for your life. Just read the instruction manual for power. The Bible is God’s will in written form. That’s the manual. What does God want for you and me? We don’t have to guess. It tells us exactly how the machinery of life is supposed to work. So, in the next few minutes, let’s read what the manual actually says about life, about you, and about me. Let’s look at what’s written (written thousands of years ago) about what God wants for us… today. The Scripture — Read the Manual There’s a lot of confusion about what God wants for us. Does He want us to be sick  in order to teach us humility? Does He want us poor  in order to make us holy? Does He want us to struggle  so we can learn some lessons? I’ve heard many pastors from many churches… with many sincere and passionate opinions and personal interpretations. But we don’t have to take anyone’s word for it, because we can read it for ourselves. Let’s stop guessing and read the manual. It is written. Turn with me to 3 John, chapter 1, verse 2. Let’s read what the word says.  3 John 1:2: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." Let that sink in for just a second.  The very first word — “Beloved.” That’s us.  If we’ve confessed with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we are beloved.  That’s not a quick, “Hey, there. Sup?” That’s God’s Word… telling you… that you are deeply, deeply loved. Beloved. The Greek Word Study — What the Manual Really Says  Now, let’s dig into this verse (3 John 1:2) a little deeper, because the English version doesn’t give us the full picture. If you go to BlueLetterBible.org  dive deep into what the Greek words are in this verse. And the Greek can provide a fuller understanding.  “I wish.” Beloved, I wish above all things… In Greek, this word is euchomai (pronounced yoo-khom-ahee). This “I wish” isn’t a casual “I wish you well” — like when someone says “have a nice day.” This is actually like a prayer. It’s an earnest request to God. “I wish.” “I wish above all things” means God’s deepest desire — His number one priority for you — is what comes next.  The word “prosper.”  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper… The Greek word “prosper” here is euodoō (pronounced yoo-od-oh-oh). It comes from two root words meaning “good” and “a road” or “a journey.” When you put them together, it literally means to have a good journey. To be led along a good path. To succeed. To move forward. God wants your road in life to be a good one — your work, your family, your decisions. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper…” The phrase “be in health.” Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health… The Greek word here is hygiaino (pronounced hoo-gee-ah-ee-no). It’s the root word for our English word hygiene. It means to be sound, to be well, to be whole in body. God’s will for you — written right here in the manual — is physical health and well-being. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health… So let’s put it all together. God’s earnest prayer is written down. It’s for us to read, believe, confess, and receive it. It is written that God’s prayer, above everything else, is that we have a good journey and that our bodies are healthy and whole. That’s the manufacturer’s intent. That’s what’s written in the manual.  The Explanation — Breakdowns Are Not the Maker’s Design Now, breakdowns are not the Maker’s design. Think about a machine. If the instruction manual says the manufacturer of the machine designed it to run smoothly and powerfully, then a breakdown is not the will of the Maker. A flat tire is not a feature. An oil leak or a squeaky wheel is not part of the original design. Sickness is NOT a gift from God. Poverty is NOT a teaching tool from the Father. Fear is NOT something He handed you to make you stronger. Those are breakdowns. Those are the result of living in this body in this world.  But the manual tells us… what the Maker intended. And the Maker intended what? (for you and me) Prosperity and health . And here’s where it connects to the power we talked about in our previous fellowship. Look at 2 Timothy 1:7. 2 Timothy 1:7 : "For God hath not given us the spirit of FEAR ; but of POWER, and of LOVE , and of a SOUND MIND ." God didn’t give you fear. He gave you power. He gave you love. He gave you a sound mind. That’s what’s written… in the manual. If the manual says the machine comes equipped with power, love, and a sound mind, then fear, doubt, and confusion are not factory-installed. Those came from somewhere else. God wrote down His will for our lives. We just need to read the manual. And the manual says: we were designed to prosper, to be healthy, and to operate with power, love, and a sound mind. That’s what the Word says. The Word says what it means, and means what it says.  The Application — How to Fix the Machine So if the manual tells us how the machine is supposed to run, how do we fix it when it’s not running right? That’s a great question. And the Word has the answer. Please turn to Romans 12:2. Romans 12:2:  "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." How do we fix the machine? We renew our minds. That’s the repair process. Start with the mind, and the body will follow. We take out the old, faulty information the world tries to install in our minds — the fear, the doubt, the guilt, the confusion, the suffering, the sin, the “you’re not good enough” thinking — and we replace it with what the Word ACTUALLY says. The world says you’re on your own. The manual says God is with you (John 14:18). The world says be afraid. The manual says you have power (John 14:27). The world says you’ll never be good enough. The manual says you are beloved (John 16:27). 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. Just look at the result of renewing your mind to the Word: “THAT ye may PROVE what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The word “prove” means to test, genuinely examine, to scrutinize (to see whether a thing is worthy or not). When you align your thinking with the ultimate manual for living, you don’t just know God’s will — you begin to think like it. You start to confess it. You walk in it. You talk like it. You live like you're powerful, prosperous, healthy, and loved. Your life… becomes the living proof that the manual works. Your Assignment This Week Here’s what I encourage you to do this week. Pick one of these three scriptures – 3 John 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:7, or Romans 12:2 – and read it every day. Just one. Read it out loud if you’d like. Say it like you believe it (because we should). It’s what the Maker wrote… for us. When FEAR shows up, read the manual. When DOUBT creeps in, read the manual. When the world tells you that God doesn’t care about your HEALTH or your SUCCESS, read the manual. Summary God wrote down His will for your life.  The greatest secret is that God isn’t hiding His will from you. There’s no mystery here. It is written. It’s written that God wants you to prosper. He wants you healthy. He gave you power, love, and a sound mind. And when you renew your mind with His Word, you begin to live it. We are beloved. Let’s read the Word, believe what it says, and watch our lives transform.  Amen?

A Teaching on Ephesians 3:20 I want to talk about something that changed my life, and I think it might change yours too. I want to talk about the best deal you'll ever get. Better than any contract you've ever signed, any agreement you've ever made, or any offer you've ever received. Let's look at one verse — Ephesians 3:20 — and here's what I want you to walk away knowing: There are incredible things available to you in life. And there's only one requirement on your part in order to receive them: believing . That's it. That's actually my whole teaching. Believing equals receiving. So we could just stop right there, but let’s keep going and dive deeper into this a little more. Okay? Because I want to share with you what the Bible says is available in life, how you get it, and what you do with it once you got it. PART 1: THE VERSE — What God Can Do Let's read the verse. About what God can do. Ephesians 3:20: "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 is able to do — how much? Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. That's NOT just "a lot." That's more than you can even imagine. More than you'd ever THINK to ask for.  But here's the part most people miss (and what many churches don’t teach) — the last part: "according to the power that worketh in us." According to what? The power that works INSIDE US. Not out there somewhere. Not in a building or cathedral. Not in the sky or the clouds. Not even according to Jesus. BUT, according to the power that works inside us. That's what the Word says. It interprets itself right in the verse. So, there’s something working inside of you? Yeah.  And what God can do… in your life… is connected to it? Exactly. That's what the Word says. So the question becomes: what is it? What is “the power that works in us?” And how does it work? I’m glad you asked.  PART 2: THE CONTRACT — How This Works Here's how I like to think about it. Think of the Bible like a contract — the best contract ever written. God is one party, and you're the other. Now, in any good contract, you've got to read the fine print… the details… the clauses. Each clause of a contract spells out what one side agrees to do and what the other side agrees to do. In the Bible, every promise God makes is like a clause of a contractual agreement. Every verse that says "I will" or "ye shall receive" — that's God telling you what he’ll do… for you… and it’s in his writing.  And I'm not the only one who sees it this way. I want to share a quick video. This is the comedian Katt Williams. Listen to what he says: https://youtube.com/shorts/xvdbLjU5B8Q?si=gJRulY39scF4wa6v   Did you catch that? He said God's got contractual obligations. There are certain things God has to do in certain situations. And it's okay if you put Him in those situations. It's okay for you to say, "I believe there's a God, and He loves me, and He would help me in this situation." That's right. And the Bible backs it up. Here are a few of God's clauses that backs up this idea of a contract with God and his contractual obligations. Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." That's a clause. God agrees to supply all your need. Not some. All. Romans 8:32: "He [God] that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" That's another clause. If God already gave you the biggest gift — His son — why would He hold back anything else? God freely gives us all things we need.  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." God has given to us all things that pertain to life. Health. Prosperity. Knowledge. Peace. Love.  Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Trust in God. Don’t lean into your own understanding. And you’ll know which way to go. Your path will be clear. That's what's written. Now here's the beautiful part: this contract is completely voluntary. God's not forcing anybody. You have free will. God put everything out on the table and said, "It's here it is…if you want it." It's an open offer. He’s written it down for us to understand. We get to read it. Study it. Question it. Talk about it. Test it… to see if it works (Malachi 3:10).  Why do I believe in God… and his promises? Take a look around. My most beautiful wife. My wonderful kids. My nice house. My wallet. The big stuff. And the little things. And everything in between. I know who I am. I didn't do all of this. This wasn’t all me. There’s something else at play here. God. And what was my part in all of this? What did I agree to? Well… it’s actually very simple. PART 3: OUR PART — Believing and Loving So what does God require from us? Two things. And they're 2 things we already know how to do. Believe. Love . Let's start with believing. What does the Word say? Romans 10:9-10: "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." This verse… is the starting point. This is how we can get INTO this contract. You BELIEVE in your heart and you CONFESS with your mouth... And that's it. You're in! And once you're in, that same act, that thing you do, BELIEVING — is how you access everything else in the contract.  Look at Mark 11:24 . Jesus said: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that ye receive them, and YE SHALL HAVE them."  That’s not me saying that. That’s what Jesus said. And it’s written down. That’s a universal law… written down. For you. To believe. What is it?  BELIEVING EQUALS RECEIVING. It's a universal law in God's Word. It works every time. You BELIEVE it in your heart, you CONFESS it with your mouth, and you RECEIVE it. This is how the whole thing works from start to finish. And remember what Katt said — it's impossible for you to believe, and watch something happen in your life, and NOT know where it came from. When you BELIEVE and then you SEE God move mountains in your life, then you know. That builds up your trust in God. You don’t just lean into yourself and your ability to make things happen. You realize what’s actually happening in life.  So what does God require from you? Two things. Number one: Believe. Number two: Love. Let's read about love. 1 John 3:23: "And this is his commandment: That we should BELIEVE on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment." You see that? God put both (believing and love) in one verse. Believe and love. That's it. That's your whole part of the contract. You trust God, and you treat people right. When you love God and love the people around you, your believing gets activated by that which works inside you. It's not complicated. So… God's side of the contract is: abundance, supply for every need, peace, power, a sound mind, direction, health, healing, prosperity, wisdom, strength, joy, freedom, no condemnation, righteousness, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, longsuffering, life more abundantly, more than conquerors, unconditional love, and on and on and on. And your side is: believe and love. That is the best deal anyone has ever been offered. PART 4: WHAT'S INSIDE YOU — The Power Now let's go back to Ephesians 3:20 — "according to the power that worketh in us." When we get born again, we receive a gift from God. You can’t see it. Can’t touch it. Can’t measure it. But you can see it manifesting in your life. You can see the fruit that it produces ( Galatians 5:22-23). It worketh in us. It works.  You don't have to earn it. You don't have to be good enough ( Ephesians 2:8-9). You just have to believe it's there and start living your part of the bargain.  And remember what Katt also said the video — make sure your relationship with God is one of the relationships you're working on, because it really is the difference maker in how things work in life ( Matthew 6:33) . That's true.  WRAP-UP & APPLICATION So, here's what we covered: God has written the most generous contract in the history of the universe. The clauses are His promises — and every single one of them is available to you. What's available? Everything that pertains to life and godliness.  How do you get it? You believe. B elieving equals receiving . That's the law. That's how it works. What do you do with it? You love. You walk in it. You live your life knowing that the God of the universe has your back, and you treat people the way He treats you. And what's required? Just your decision . This contract is sitting on the table. God already signed His part. This week, I encourage you to pick one promise from God's Word — just one clause in the contract — and believe it. Say it out loud. Write it on a sticky note and put it on your fridge. Let it get into your heart ( Colossians 3:16) . And watch what happens when you start believing what God already said is yours. Ephesians 3:20 — God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. And it's according to the power that's already working inside you. That's the best deal you'll ever get. Amen?

Have you ever been frustrated because something didn't go the way you planned? Maybe somebody let you down. Maybe your week didn't turn out like you hoped. We've all been there. But here's a thought that can change everything: trade your expectations for appreciations. See, expectations put the weight on other people and circumstances. We're basically saying, "My joy depends on you doing what I think you should do." That's a heavy load to put on anybody — and it sets us  up for disappointment every time. But appreciation? That flips it around. Instead of focusing on what we don't have, we start seeing what we do  have. And God has given us plenty. Now, even the Buddha recognized this problem. He taught that "the root of suffering is attachment" — attachment to how we think things should  be. And honestly? He wasn't wrong. That's a real observation about how people work. But here's what he was missing: willpower and philosophy alone can't transform a heart. Buddha offered a method. God offers power.  When you have Christ in you (John 14:20 — Jesus said, "I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" ; Col 1:27 — "Christ in you" ; Gal 2:20 — "Christ liveth in me" ; 1 John 4:4 — "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" ), you're not just white-knuckling your way out of disappointment — you've got the holy spirit working in you to produce real joy, real peace, from the inside out. Jesus taught this . In John 6:11, he took the loaves, "and when he had given thanks , he distributed to the disciples."  Notice — he gave thanks before  the miracle multiplied . He didn't look at five loaves and say, "I expected more." He appreciated what was there, and God did the rest. Paul wrote this to you. Paul writes to all believers (past, present, and future) within Philippians 4:11: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content ."  That's a man who'd been beaten, shipwrecked, and jailed. He wasn't content because life met his expectations. He was content because he appreciated what God had already done. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul tells us plainly: " In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." That's not a suggestion. That's the will of God for your life. So this week, when something doesn't go the way you planned, pause. Don't get bitter. Get thankful. THANK FIRST. Look around and start counting what God has already blessed you with. Trade the expectation for appreciation — and watch your whole outlook change. God's already given us his best. Let's appreciate it. You're the best. Amen?

We talk a lot about what it means to believe . But have you ever stopped to think about who believed better than anyone who ever lived? Jesus Christ. He's the ultimate example of what a believing life looks like. Let's start with something powerful. Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith." That word "author" in the Greek is archēgos , and it means a leader, a pioneer — someone who goes first and blazes the trail. Jesus didn't just talk about believing. He lived it out loud, step by step, so we could follow. And what did that believing life look like? It looked like trust in his Father at every turn. John 5:30 says, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." Think about that. Jesus Christ, the most powerful man who ever walked this earth, said he could do nothing by himself. Everything he did came from his relationship with God . That's believing. Look at John 11:41-42 at the raising of Lazarus. Jesus prayed, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." He didn't beg. He didn't wonder. He knew  God heard him. That Greek word for "knew" is eidō  — it means absolute, settled knowledge. No doubt. That's the kind of believing we're called to walk in. And here's the thing — Jesus believed under pressure . In the garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, Luke 22:42 records him saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." He was honest about the weight of what was ahead, but his trust in God never broke. He kept believing, even when it cost him everything. Why does this matter for us? Because Philippians 2:5 tells us, " Let this mind be in you , which was also in Christ Jesus." We are called to think the way he thought — to believe the way he believed. And here's the best part: we have the same spirit working in us that God gave to him. First John 4:17 says, " as he is, so are we in this world." Not one day in heaven. Right now. Jesus Christ is the son of God, the perfect man, born of a woman, and he showed us exactly what a human being can do when they fully trust their Father. He's not some unreachable figure on a stained-glass window. He's our elder brother and our example. He pioneered this life of believing so that we could walk in it too. So the next time you feel unsure or overwhelmed, remember — Jesus walked that road first. And he walked it so you wouldn't have to walk it alone. Amen?

Please turn in your Bible to Proverbs 23:7 What if I told you that you have POWER to make things happen in your life? Supernatural power, power from God to live the more abundant life. Not just life, getting by kind of life, but the MORE abundant life. Having all your needs met all the time in every category of life? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll learn from the Bible how to have Power in our lives We have power in our lives by thinking, saying, and doing the Word.   You and I, born-again believers according to Romans 10:9 & 10 , have easy access to power in this world.   This power enables us to be more than conquerors in every situation ( Romans 8:37 ). This power brings release to any mental or physical prison ( John 8:36 ) and victory ( 1 Corinthians 15:57 ) to our lives.   This power is from God. Whatever we believe is directly reflected in what we confess.  What we confess in the innermost being (our heart) is what we bring into reality in our lives. Confession of belief = receipt of confession; believing = receiving The law of believing works for both believers and unbelievers.   However, believers, because of the spirit from God within, will bring forth more abundantly.  Right believing is constantly knowing God’s power and presence are in you and with you in every situation!  How you think about a situation at this very moment will determine the outcome. Mark 9:23 If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. We want to align our thoughts, words, and actions with what God says in His Word so that we receive the abundance and power He promises.  We can shape every part of our lives for success by thinking, saying, and doing the Word to the end that our confession of belief is God’s Word. Walk with power by thinking the Word Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he Thoughts are the seeds of words and actions, and we receive the outcome of the thoughts we hold in our hearts. What we think, we are. Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right. Henry Ford Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Think those thoughts Jesus Christ thought.  Jesus kept his thinking lined up with the Word, but he had to work at it.  He had to direct his thinking to the Word.   Keeping our thinking on positive truths is the key to power for abundant living. Philippians 4:8 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. God tells us exactly what to think about.  Think about what you think about. Science tells us that the average human has about 6,200 thoughts every single day.  Retemorize (retain & memorize) verses. This means you memorize verses to believe them, to make them the joyful meditation of our heart, so we receive what we confess. Job 3 is an example of what continual negative thinking can produce in one’s life once it takes root in someone’s heart.  Job 3:25  and Job 1:5  show that Job continually feared. - This is not what we want in our lives. In contrast, Mark 5:25-29  is the record of a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She spent all her money on doctors and only got worse. The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition of  Matthew 9:21  reads “ For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health ” - this is what we want in our lives. We continue to say the Word. This is the contest we have in our minds.  We have the freedom and authority to think the Word, which produces positive, successful fruit in our lives Walk with power by thinking the Word We just finished a class called Power for Abundant Living.  One teacher said that we replace our thoughts with God’s word.  He went on to say that if you go for a run or go to the gym and do a hard, sweaty workout, you don’t put on clean clothes over your smelly ones; you take off the old, smelly ones and put on new, clean ones. We replace our thoughts with God’s word to walk with power. How do I do this, Alicia? I’m glad you asked Here’s an example My friend has five kids. He told me that when his kids say something negative or something that doesn’t line up with the Word, he says, “Renew your mind”.   Renew - it’s as simple as that.  We put away our thoughts and think what God says.  For example, “I’m never going to get this project done, it’s just too hard.” NO! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let’s go God!” We walk with power by saying the Word Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Spoken words are referred to in God’s Word as coming from the ‘tongue” and the “mouth.” Whether positive or negative, they have power.  Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. We can keep, or hold our tongue, until the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart are acceptable in God’s sight My mother always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Our words can build up or tear down.  Before you say something, run it through your heart and ask, “Is this going to build up or tear down? This applies to words we say to others AND to ourselves. You are the person that you spend the most time with. You are the person who does the most talking to you. What are you saying? Is the Word dwelling in you richly  so that you speak it to yourself, so that you speak it to others? Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. We speak the positives and power of the Word, which minister grace to ourselves and others 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. Can any challenge or issue in life be bigger than moving a mountain? We walk with power by doing the Word The “doing” of the word is sticking with our choices and refusing to back down on what we know to be the truth of the Word in any situation. “Doing” keeps us moving forward with power on what we decide to think and say. James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. This verse shows a man who looks in the mirror, sees his face, turns around, and forgets what he saw. We don’t want to read the Word and then turn around and forget what we read. We line up our actions with the Word; we do the Word. As we move, God can move and open doors for us to bring about godly impact, as you can read about in Acts 2, 3, and 4. To walk powerfully in life, we must do what we have decided to think and say.  We are fully equipped to be doers of the Word ( 2 Timothy 3:17). There are over 900 promises in God’s word; we can only do what we know.  We can search God’s Word to see what it says about our situation, or we can ask a fellow believer for help.  Once we find God’s promise that meets our need, we think it, say it, and take believing action (like the woman with the issue of blood - she continually said if I may touch his garment, and then she took action on her believing) and do the word. Believing = receiving.  What we confess in our innermost being withwhat we bring into our lives. We can determine to think, say, and do the world so that our confession of belief tracks with God’s Word and we reap God’s abundance and power in our lives. We can walk with power by thinking, saying, and doing the word.

Let's turn to a section of the Word and just enjoy reading the verses one after another. Sound good? Please turn to John 17. And let's go verse-by-verse through the whole chapter. Let's do a John 17 Bible study. In John 3:17, we learn that "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." God sent his son to save us. And we're all saved by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and we believe in our hearts that God raised his son from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). When you do Romans 10:9-10, you’re born again, receive holy spirit, and you’re on your way to living a powerful abundant life.  We’re in John 17. And this is before Jesus’s arrest. He is praying out loud. And we get to listen. Before this moment, Jesus told his disciples that he's going away, but the Comforter (the gift of holy spirit) will be coming.  And in John 17, Jesus is praying in 3 movements. First, he prays about himself. Second, he prays for his friends. Third, he prays for all future believers. Finally, he prays that we'd all be one, with him, and we'd know God's love. John 17.  Verse 1:  "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:" Right out of the gate - Jesus looks up and says "Father." He's praying to someone other than himself.  "The hour has come." Everything has been leading to this. Verse 2:  "As thou hast given him power  over all flesh, that he should give eternal life  to as many as thou hast given him." God has given Jesus power. That's important. If Jesus were God himself, he wouldn't need to be given anything - he'd already have it.  And this "eternal life" flows from Father, through the Son, to us. Verse 3:  "And this is life eternal , that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  This is one of the clearest verses in the Bible. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing two things: 1: “Thee, the only true God” (who he calls “Father”). And 2: knowing “Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Those two things. Knowing God and Jesus Christ.  Jesus is praying to the only true God, whom he calls “Father.” And he identifies himself as the one who was sent. There’s the sender and the sent.  Verse 4: “I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” God gave him work to do. John 4:34, we have Jesus saying that he “is to do the will of him  that sent me, and to finish his  work.”  Verse 5:  "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee (not "as thee") before the world was." Verse 6:  "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Verse 7:  "Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee." Verse 8:  "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." God gave Jesus the words, Jesus then spoke the words, and the people received them, and believed, and kept them. Verse 9: "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." Jesus is not praying for the whole word, but for those who followed and believed, and they belong to God.  Verse 10:  "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." There is a sharing relationship here with God. What belongs to Jesus belongs to God and vice versa. They are unified in purpose. Jesus is glorified in the disciples, through their believing, their actions, their words, and their lives. Verse 11:  "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that  they may be one, as  we are." Jesus is about to leave. The believers will remain in the world. So he asks God to keep them (to protect them). For what purpose? "That." So "that they may be one, [just] as we are" one. What kind of "one" are Jesus and God here? Are they one being? No. They are not one being, one person. They are one in purpose, in spirit, in love. Jesus is praying that the disciples would be one, that they would have the same oneness, the same unity with each other, just as God and his son do. Jesus isn’t praying that all disciples (and all followers and all believers) would merge into one big human being. That’s impossible. But that they would be unified, like members of one body. My daughter and I "are one." A husband and wife are "one flesh."  Verse 12:  "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition (Judas); that the scripture might be fulfilled." (That's referring to Psalm 41:9 and Psalm 109:8). Verse 13:  "And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." Verse 14:  "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Verse 15:  "I pray NOT that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." Verse 16:  "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Verse 17:  "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."  Believing and acting on the Word set us believers apart, sanctified. It’s almost like we’re not of this world. We’re different. The word makes us holy and separates us from the world. Through the truth. And what's the truth? “Thy word is truth.” God's word is truth.  Verse 18:  "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."  God sent Jesus. Jesus sent disciples. We too have been called.  Verse 19: "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."  Jesus set himself apart with the Word.  Verses 20-26: Jesus Prays for All Believers Verse 20: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe  on me through their word." Now, his prayer expands to everyone who would ever believe. That includes you and me. 2,000 years later, we're in this prayer. We are connected to this moment through a long thread of believers. That’s really cool. Verse 21: "That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee , that they also may be one in us : that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."  Here's that "oneness" again. And it's clearly explained in this verse. Jesus is praying to the only true God who he calls Father, O Father, Holy Father, and here again "Father." And here, oneness is explained. From verse 20, it says “them also which shall believe" … verse 21, “that they all may be one." So, being one is: all that shall believe may be one.” All that believe? That’s a lot of believers.  Does it mean that billions of people are squished into one big human being? No.  What does “may be one” mean?   The verse 21 says how this "oneness" is.  It’s God (who Jesus calls Father) God is in Jesus: "Father art in me."  And Jesus is in God: "And I in thee."  Father in me, I in thee. One. We’re one.  That's God in Christ right there.  Well, what is the purpose of that? Well, it’s in the verse. Verse 21. So "that they also may be one in us." We believers are to be one in them. This is relational unity. Having a shared purpose. And a shared love. So that the "world may believe that [God] has sent me." Our "oneness"? That's God in Christ in you. When I see a believer walk in my open door during fellowship, I don’t see “Bob”, I see Jesus Christ. I see God. That’s what the verse says. "That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee , that they also may be one in us .” Verse 22 : "And the glory  which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" That glory (Greek doxa) is referring to a most exalted state or condition of unconditional love, one for another. So that we may be one, even as God and Christ are one. Wow.  Verse 23:  "I in them [Christ in you], and thou in me [God in Christ], that [purpose?] they may be made PERFECT in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast LOVED them, as thou hast LOVED me." It's all about love. Love. Agape love. Unconditional love. God in Christ. Christ in us. And the result is perfected in one.  And look at the end of verse 23: "thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."  This "loved them" from verse 23 = ἠγάπησας (ēgapēsas) - agapao, VERB And "loved me" in verse 23 = ἠγάπησας (ēgapēsas) - agapao, VERB It’s the same word! God loves us with the same love he has for his Son. Let that sink in. That's God's heart for his children. God's agape love for his son is the same agape love he has for us believers. That's incredible. Same love. One love. Wow! And the word "Perfect" here in verse 23 is the Greek word teleioo - meaning completed, full maturity, and accomplished. Our unity reaches its accomplished goal when we're fully walking in love together as one.  Verse 24:  "Father [the only one true God], I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou LOVEDST me before the foundation of the world."  "lovedst" = ἠγάπησάς (ēgapēsas) - agapao, VERB.  God's love for his son (and us) existed before creation. That's that eternal love. Before I ever met my wife, I knew that I would fall in love with a woman who would be my wife. You could say that I had love for Alicia even before we met.  Verse 25: "O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me." It's knowledge that sets us believers apart.  Verse 26:  "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the LOVE wherewith thou hast LOVED me may be in them, and I in them." That’s the love of God in you, and Christ in you. No ever taught me this! Right here, Jesus talking about God in Christ in you! Wow.  And this word "love" in verse 26 = ἀγάπη (agapē) - agape, NOUN And the word "loved" in verse 26 = ἠγάπησάς (ēgapēsas) - agapao, verb This is the only place in John 17 where the NOUN form "AGAPE" appears. And it's in the final verse - the conclusion of the whole prayer. Ain’t that something?  Jesus declared, explained, taught, and showed everyone God's nature. So that, and here's the goal again, so "that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them." God's unconditional agape love is in you. That's God in Christ in you. And it's all about being unified in love. That's the glory. That's the goal. God's unconditional love operating in us through our renewed minds, manifesting in how we live powerful abundant lives. Talk about power for abundant living!  Summary I hope you enjoyed reading the Word. In John 17, Jesus is praying, and we get to listen. He prayed to God. And we can too. We have the same access to God. When we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised his son from the dead, then we receive the gift of holy spirit. And that's God in Christ in us, the hope of glory (2 Corinthians 5:19 and Colossians 1:27). Oneness is unity. God and his son were one in purpose. We believers are one in the same way. With unconditional love of God. That's power for abundant living.  You are the best. Amen? Further study: Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 1 Corinthians 12:20, Ephesians 4:4-6, Colossians 3:15, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:23-25, Ephesians 5:30-32, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 1 Corinthians 6:17, and Galatians 3:28. Join the conversation on this study throughout the week. Follow us on Instagram: @raleighfellowship

In John 10:10 , Jesus Christ made a defining statement about his purpose: “...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This wasn't a poetic metaphor; it was a statement of fact. If the Lord Jesus Christ said he came to bring abundance, then that abundant life must be available right now. It implies that there is a specific way to access it—a set of keys or signposts that can lead a believer out of lack and into power. The Word of God puts those keys directly into your hands. It serves as the practical instruction manual 2 Timothy 3:16  designed to teach you exactly how to live with the power of God. The Problem: Why Are We "Running on Empty"? If this abundance is available, why do so many believers feel drained, anxious, or powerless? The Scriptures point to two specific reasons: 1. We Rely on Defective Sources The prophet Jeremiah recorded a vivid illustration from God in Jeremiah 2:13. He compares God to a "fountain of living waters"—a source that never runs dry. In contrast, he describes human efforts and worldly systems as "broken cisterns." A cistern is a holding tank; if it is cracked, it can hold no water. When we try to find life in our own efforts or in the systems of the world, we are drinking from leaking tanks. That is not the abundant life. 2. We Lack Knowledge Hosea 4:6 states: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The issue isn't that God is unwilling to help; the issue is often that we simply don't know what He has offered. The Solution: Knowing the Will of God The greatest truth you can discover is that the Word of God is the Will of God   2 Peter 1:20-21 . It is not a secret to be hidden; it is a promise to be declared. To operate this "instruction manual" effectively, we have to understand a few fundamental principles. Principle #1: You Must Know What Is Available You cannot claim a right if you don't know you have it. The instruction manual is clear on what belongs to you: Health and Prosperity:   3 John 2  reveals God's heart clearly: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health..." That is the available standard. Total Victory:   Romans 8:37  tells us that "in all these things"—regardless of the challenge or circumstance—we are "more than conquerors." The literal Greek translation of this word is "super-conquerors." There are over 900 promises in God's Word that we can claim. Why can we claim this status? Because God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) , and Christ so loved that he willingly laid down his life to redeem us. That exchange is what makes us super-conquerors. God is not only able  to meet your needs (2 Corinthians 9:8) , He is willing  ( Matthew 8:2-3) . Principle #2: You Must Know How to Receive Knowing what is on the menu is the first step; ordering it is the second. How do we move God's promises from the page into our lives? The mechanism for receiving is believing . In this culture, we often think of believing as a passive mental state (like "I believe it will rain"). But biblically, believing is a verb —it requires action James 2:17 . It means acting on the Word of God with the same confidence you would have if you saw Jesus standing right in front of you. When you know what is available and you take action to claim it Mark 11:24 , the result is the abundant life Jesus promised. Ready to Learn the Rest? God’s ability always equals God’s willingness. If you are tired of broken cisterns and are ready to tap into the fountain of living waters, join us at Raleigh Fellowship. Let’s open The Word and learn how to live the more abundant life.

Discover the instruction manual for living with real spiritual power. Many people assume that simply being born as a human being makes them a child of God. However, the Bible makes a vital distinction between being a creation of God and being a Son of God (John 1:12-13) . The Word of God clearly teaches that mankind’s natural state was one of separation from God—not physical distance, but spiritual alienation caused by sin (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:18) . Yet God, in His love and wisdom, provided a perfect solution through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8) . Through Christ’s accomplished work, those who were once merely alienated creations can now be reconciled and born again as true sons of God (2 Corinthians 5:18; 1 Peter 1:23) . Once Alienated from God Prior to the work of Jesus Christ, humanity stood in a state of estrangement from God. The apostle Paul addresses this reality directly: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works…” (Colossians 1:21, KJV) Alienation was a condition of the mind and heart, expressed through works that were contrary to God’s will. Likewise, Gentiles were described as being completely outside God’s covenantal blessings: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, KJV). To be “without God” meant lacking relationship, life, and promise. Humanity could not restore itself to God through law, ritual, or human effort. Reconciled by the Man Christ Jesus God’s solution was not philosophical or symbolic—it was accomplished through a man, Jesus Christ, whom God ordained and sent. Scripture teaches that reconciliation was achieved through Christ’s obedient sacrifice: “…yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death…” (Colossians 1:21–22, KJV) Reconciliation is God’s work, not man’s. When Jesus Christ gave his life, the barrier between God and mankind was removed. Those who were enemies were made at peace with God: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” (Romans 5:10, KJV) This reconciliation restores fellowship with the one true God, the Father, and makes relationship possible once again. Brought Near and Made Members of God’s Household Through Christ’s redemptive work, believers are no longer outsiders: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13, KJV). Paul continues by declaring the believer’s new standing: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19, KJV). This household language reflects belonging and access, not distance or fear. God’s desire was not merely to forgive but to restore relationship. Sons of God by the New Birth One of the central truths taught in Scripture—and emphasized in Dr. Wierwille’s biblical research—is that believers are not merely adopted in a legal sense but are literally born again as sons of God by receiving Holy Spirit. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12, KJV). This new birth is spiritual in nature. God places His gift of holy spirit within the believer, creating a new identity: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16, KJV). Believers no longer live under fear or bondage: “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” (Romans 8:15, KJV). In biblical usage, this “adoption” reflects placement as mature sons—those with full standing and inheritance—rather than Trinitarian concepts of deity. Paul states this plainly: “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7, KJV). Conclusion The Word of God reveals a powerful truth: those who were once alienated and without God have been fully reconciled through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. By believing on him, individuals are born again, receive holy spirit, and become sons of God—members of His household with full access and inheritance. This is not tradition, philosophy, or theology built on creeds. It is the instruction manual for life.  God’s plan was not merely to restore fellowship but to create sons—people who can walk in newness of life and manifest God’s power and love in the world. We don't just talk about God; we teach you how to operate the power He gave you.

One of the most confusing stories in the Bible is Genesis 22, where it appears God told Abraham to kill his son. If God is love and the giver of life, why would He ask for a human sacrifice? The answer is found when we look at the original language and the customs of the time. We discover that God never wanted Isaac dead; He wanted him dedicated. The confusion came because Abraham misunderstood God’s instruction, viewing it through his own cultural filter. Here is the breakdown of what really happened. 1. God Does Not Tempt with Evil The King James Version of Genesis 22:1 says, "God did tempt Abraham." This translation creates immediate confusion because James 1:13 clearly says: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." The Correction: The Hebrew word used in Genesis is bachan, which means "to prove" or to test. God was not enticing Abraham to do evil (murder); He was testing Abraham’s commitment. 2. The Meaning of "Burnt Offering" God told Abraham: “Take now thy son... and offer him there for a burnt offering...” (Genesis 22:2). To us, "burnt offering" sounds like death by fire. But in the Eastern culture of the Bible, when this term was applied to a human, it often meant total dedication. It meant giving a person over completely to God’s service, not killing them. Scriptural Example: In Judges 11, Jephthah vowed to give whatever came out of his house as a "burnt offering". It was his daughter. He did not kill her; instead, she was dedicated to the temple service for her entire life, never marrying. She was a living sacrifice. This is what God wanted from Abraham: the total surrender of his son to God's will. 3. Abraham’s Mistake: "Sense-Knowledge" If God only wanted dedication, why did Abraham take a knife and wood? Abraham added to God's Word because of his "sense-knowledge". The Command:  God said, "Offer him" (Dedicate him). The Mistake:  Abraham looked at the pagans around him. The Canaanites actually did  burn children to their gods. Abraham filtered God's command through what he saw in his culture and assumed God wanted the same thing. The Addition:  The Bible never says God told Abraham to take a knife or wood. Abraham gathered those things himself because he misunderstood the method of the offering 4. God Stopped the Act, Not Just the Test Abraham was about to make a terrible mistake based on his misunderstanding. Genesis 22:11-12:   "And the angel of the Lord called unto him... Lay not thine hand upon the lad." . God had to intervene immediately. If killing Isaac had truly been God’s will, He would not have stopped it. God stopped Abraham because He does not accept human sacrifice. He accepted Abraham’s heart  (his willingness to give up his most precious gift), but He rejected Abraham’s method  (death). Had this been God’s will, as Abraham thought it was, there never would have been an angel needed to suddenly terminate the action because God cannot contradict Himself (2 Timothy 2:13, Titus 1:2, 1 Corinthians 14:33); He cannot change His will (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, James 1:17). It was not God’s will to literally burn and kill the young man. This was Abraham’s idea. Yet, even though Abraham went beyond God’s request and was wrong in so doing, he proved his utter willingness to relinquish his son. Therefore, the angel of the Lord could make the following declaration in Genesis 22:12, not because Abraham went beyond God’s request, but because he was committed to total relinquishment of his son. Genesis 22:12: for now I know that thou fearest [has awe or reverence for] God, seeing thou hast not with- held thy son, thine only son from me. 5. The Lesson: Be A "Living Sacrifice" God wants us to live for Him, not die for Him. He wants our lives to be "burnt offerings"—totally dedicated to His service. Romans 12:1  sums this up perfectly for us today: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." . God is not the author of confusion or death. He is the God of life. He asked for Abraham's trust, and once that was proven, He provided a ram for the physical sacrifice and preserved Isaac for the spiritual dedication.