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Hey everyone! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. So I was thinking—you know what dads REALLY want for Father's Day? Forget the funny tie. Forget the "World's Best Dad" coffee mug. Nope. You know what makes a dad really happy? When his kids actually LISTEN to what he says!   Please turn to Ephesian 6. I mean, think about it. When a dad says "please clean your room" and his kid actually cleans his bedroom? That's pure gold right there! When a dad says “Oh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Maybe we should hold off on doing that right now” and his kid actually changes their way of thinking? That's awesome, right? Well, guess what? Our Heavenly Father is the same way. He's all around us, and inside us, saying, "Please, just listen to me. Do what I tell you. I know what I'm talking about!" In fact, God thought this was so important, He wrote it down in. Let’s read Ephesians 6:1.  It says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Notice it doesn't say "obey your parents when you feel like it" or "when it makes sense to you." It just says this is RIGHT. Period.  Please turn to Mathew 7. God as Our Loving Father Let’s read Matthew 7:11 . It says: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Basically, Jesus is saying, "Look, you knucklehead dads, if you know how to be decent parents, imagine how awesome God is at being a parent." That’s what that verse means. God gives us advice all the time, tips, solutions, and yes, sometimes those "thou shalt not" commandments that keep us from doing some really dumb stuff. Who has Psalm 32:8?  It says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." That's God saying, "I've got my eye on you, and I'm gonna help you. Listen to what I’m saying." Good dads say that same thing too.  Let’s turn to and read John 16:13. Jesus here is teaching people about receiving God’s gift of holy spirit when being born again. It says, "Howbeit when he (Strong’s Concordance, in Greek, ek-i'-nos, a neuter pronoun, meaning “that” or “it”), the Spirit of truth, is come, he (it) will guide you (like a leader or teacher) into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he (you) shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." That spirit of truth, that gift of holy sprit that you received when you were born again (Romans 10:9-10) is God in Christ in you (Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 3:16-17). That's God's still small voice talking to you. Telling you, guiding you, on which way you should go. Dads do the same thing. Just as a good dad guides his kids with gentle instruction, so does God's spirit provide internal direction. Holy spirit within is like your internal guidance system.  And who has Proverbs 23:26 ? This verse is like God's ultimate Father's Day wish. It says, "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." That’s God saying, "Just watch what I do. Watch what happens. This really works." Dads say the same thing.  What Do Good Dads Tell Their Kids? Now, let's look at stuff every-dads say and see how God says the exact same things. Coincidence? I think not! 1. "I Love You, Kid." Every good dad says this (even if it's sometimes when his kid is not doing his best). And God? Well, he's been saying that forever! Who has Jeremiah 31:3?  It says, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." (Everlasting. That's like an infinite "I love you.”) 1 John 3:1 says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God" (We're not just random people—we're HIS KIDS!) Okay, #2. What good dads say… 2. "Watch Out! That's Dangerous!" You know how dads have that keen sense about danger? They say, "Don't do that!" Well, God's got that same protective instinct: Who has 2 Corinthians 6:14-18?  It says, "Don’t be yoked together with unbelievers. Come out from among them, and be separate." (That's God saying, "Stay away from bad people and bad influences, kid.") 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (God's basically saying, "Heads up! Watch out. Look around. Bad guy alert!") Another thing good dads say is… 3. "Don't Quit. Don't Give Up. Keep Going." You know when a kid is struggling through a brutal final exam or trying to bring up those grades, a dad’s NOT gonna let his kid give up, right? God's the same way: Who has Colossians 3:23?  It reads, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." (Give it your all, even if it's just doing the dishes.) Galatians 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (That’s God saying to hang in there—your goal is within reach!) What else do good dads say?  4. "Be Nice to Your Sisters" You know how a dad can be a referee between siblings? Well, God loves peace in the family too: Who has Ephesians 4:32?  It says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Be nice when your sister borrows your dress without asking. Forgive her and move on.) Luke 6:31 says, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Dads know the original Golden Rule: "Treat other people the way you want to be treated." This works great with siblings too.) 5. "I'll Always Be Here for You, No Questions Asked." You know how a dad can give his kid a ride home late at night? Maybe the party got weird, or a ride from a friend didn’t happen, or things just didn't go as planned. A good Dad says, "Call me anytime, I'll come get you." God's got that same promise: Who has Deuteronomy 31:6? It says, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (God's always ready to bring you home.) Matthew 28:20 - "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (He's not just a text away—He's already there with you in every situation.) What else do good dads say to their kids? 6. "Everybody Makes Mistakes. Don't Worry About It?" We all make mistakes. We all have done something completely opposite of what we were told to do. Even right after we’re told not to do that. Dads forgive. And God's got the same forgiving spirit: Who has 1 John 1:9?  It says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (Since we have "God in Christ in us" through the holy spirit, when we mess up, we can talk directly to God about it. He's faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. The "cleansing from all unrighteousness" is like that internal spiritual renewal - God's spirit working in us to restore and purify, from the inside out. No complicated religious rituals are needed. Just an honest conversation with God, who already dwells within you through His spirit. That's the beautiful simplicity of having God in Christ in you. Get it? Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (God does not hold a grudge. Did a mistake? You’re righteous. You’re forgiven. Move on.) Two more things good dads say… 7. "Oh, Good Job, Kid!" You know when a child does something really good, and dad is so proud? God's got that same proud papa thing going on: Who has Romans 8:16-17?  It says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (We're not just kids—we're heirs to the family business!) 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (God claims us as His own children in His own family. Wow!) Last but not least… 8. "Just Listen to Me—Trust Me on This One" Sometimes a dad can get that serious look and say, "Look, I need you to listen. You may think I’m too old to fully understand what's going on here. But trust me. Just do what I'm telling you, and it'll all work out." God does the exact same thing: Who has Proverbs 3:5-6?  It says, "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." (God's saying, "I can see the whole picture—trust me!") Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways." (God knows stuff we don't—that's why we should just listen.) The Ultimate Instruction Manual God knew we would need clear instructions for life, so He gave us His Word. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the child of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. God is saying, "Here's the manual. Read it. Do it.” When We Don't Listen to Dad Sometimes we simply choose not to read the Word or follow God’s commandments. Think about baking a cake. The recipe calls for specific measurements, exact temperatures, and precise timing. But maybe we think we know better. We add a little extra of this, skip that step, or change the temperature because we're in a hurry. The result? A cake that doesn't rise, or burns on the outside while staying raw in the middle. The recipe was perfect—we just didn't follow it. This is exactly what happens when we don't know or follow the Word. In Romans 1:21-22, it says, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Paul is describing people who knew the right way, but they chose their own path instead, thinking that they could do it on their own. The good news is that God doesn't give up on us when we mess up. Just like an earthly father continues to love and guide his children through their mistakes, God remains faithful to us. His love doesn't depend on us being perfect, but instead depends on us learning, listening, and doing His Word. Apply This Today Alright, so what do we do with all this? Here's your Father's Day action plan. 3 steps: Do What You’ve Learned . (James 1:22) Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Don't just nod your head and then do whatever you want. Learn what dad is trying to teach you. Trust the Process . (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Sometimes, a father knows best. Be Thankful.  (1 Thessalonians 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Dads love to hear, “Thanks.” And so does your Heavenly Father. They both need to hear it. Closing So, the best Father's Day gift isn't a new grill or another "dad joke" book (although those are fun too). It's letting your father know you actually heard what he had to say, and you're trying your best to do it. The same goes for God. He's not looking for perfect kids—He's looking for people who listen, who try, who get back up when they fall, and, who know, that they’re never alone. Let's be thankful for our Heavenly Father on this Father’s Day. For always loving us, being there for us in every situation, telling us what to look for and what to do, and celebrating when we do good. We sure are thankful.  Happy Father's Day.  Amen? Amen.

I've been watching a new house being built next door to me. It's pretty cool seeing it come together day by day. First the foundation , then the framing , now they're working on the roof , and soon they'll start on all the internal  systems—plumbing, electrical, heating, all that stuff.  It got me thinking about how God builds us up spiritually. So, I want to talk about how we're actually completely built and fully equipped in Christ. When Something's Missing Have you ever finished a jigsaw puzzle only to find out there's a piece missing? Super frustrating, right? Or maybe you've bought a new gadget, and then you see: "Batteries not included." Ugh. I ordered some raised planter beds a while back. I laid out all the pieces, ready to go, and guess what? Screws were missing. Hm. That house next door would be useless without all of its parts in place. A missing foundation, or missing pipes, or an open gap in the roof would make it incomplete. In life, being incomplete doesn't work either. But here's the good news—in Christ, we're already completely built, 100%. Turn to Colossians 1, and see what that means.  The Blueprint: What "Complete" Means So what does it mean to be complete?  It means you're not missing anything—you've got all the pieces! You're full, whole, entire, got all the parts. No gaps, no leaks. No missing screws. Full. And that's exactly how God has made us, through Jesus Christ. Complete in Christ. The Foundation: Christ as the Cornerstone When they started building next door, they began with the foundation. Everything in the house relies on the foundation. It’s the most important thing. Every house has one. If the foundation is weak or crooked, the whole house is in trouble. Same thing in life. Let’s read Colossians 1:18-19.  It says: "And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things, he might have the preeminence (so that he is most important thing). For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness  dwell." That word "fullness" is a Greek word that means “completely filled.” Christ is like the foundation of our spiritual house (the beginning, the most important thing), and God packed in Him (Christ) with EVERYTHING, we  could ever need. Nothing's missing. “...in him (Christ) should all fullness dwell.” But I have God in Christ in me, so, therefore, I’m packed with everything I need. All fullness dwells in me too. That’s what that means. We are complete.  The Framework: Christ in You After the foundation, the builders next work on all the framing—the wooden structure that gives the house its shape. Well, what’s our framework?  We’re in Colossians. Let’s look at Colossians 1:27. It says, “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 me. The same fullness that was in Christ, is now in us. When we're born again (born from the dead), we get the gift of holy spirit—the exact same Spirit that was dwelling in Christ is now fully living inside us. It's like God saying, "I'm not just  going to build you a house—I'm going to move in  with you and bring all my power and resources with me." That's the framework of our spiritual house—Christ in us.   So , we’ve got the most important thing (foundation). We’re full and complete (with the Christ-in-us framework). Turn to Ephesians 1, and take a look at the pipes. The Pipes: Complete Access to God's Power When these builders fill the water pipes in that new house, they will test them to make sure they're completely full—with no air gaps, and no leaks. Ephesians 1:22-23 says:  "And [God] hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness  of him that filleth  all in all." We see the same Greek words here that mean “filled to capacity.” Just like they will fill the water pipes in the house. This spiritual fullness fills up any emptiness or open gaps in our lives with God's power, grace, love, joy, peace, and hope. We've been made righteousness, blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, rescued from the power of darkness. We have full authority to use Jesus' name—the name above every name.  So, we’ve got the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no gaps, no leaks. Turn to Colossians 2. And let’s take a look at the roof. The Protective Covering: Guarding Against False Additions See the roof they're putting on next door? The roof’s job is to protect everything inside from rain, wind, and anything else that might damage the house. Just like that roof, we need protection from false teachings. In Collossians, we read that some people were being told, "Hey, what Christ did isn't enough—you need to do some special works." That's like telling the builders, "Hey, that roof isn't good enough—you need to add this special untested building material." Colossians 2:8 warns us : "Beware lest any man spoil  you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." "Spoil" here means to be captured or robbed. Any teaching that says you need something instead of or beyond “God in Christ in you” is actually stealing from you.  So, we’ve got the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. Turn to 2 Corinthians 4, and learn about the internal systems of the house. The Internal Systems: How We Function in Christ In that house next door, they're about to install all the internal systems—plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling. And they’ll all work together. And without each of these systems, the house wouldn't function properly. Our internal "spiritual system" is what the Bible calls the "inner man." Let’s read 2 Corinthians 4:16.  It says: "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." This inner spiritual system (the combination of body, soul, spirit), is what makes us complete, as three-part beings—body, soul, and spirit. It's designed to work perfectly with our unique personality, or mind, and physical body. This divine nature within us, this inner spiritual essence, is the source of our power and completeness in Christ.  So, we’re built on the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. And our inner spiritual system is designed perfectly. Turn to 1 Corinthians 12. And let’s check out the special features of the house.  The Functional Features: Manifesting the Spirit When that house is finished, it'll have all kinds of cool features that make it functional—lights, switches, outlets, thermostats. But those features only benefit the homeowners, if they actually use them. In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says: "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." The manifestations of the Spirit are like the functional features of our spiritual house—and there are nine of them: Word of wisdom—for profit! Word of knowledge—for profit! Faith—for profit! Gifts of healing—for profit! Working of miracles—for profit! Prophecy—for profit! Discerning of spirits—for profit! Different kinds of tongues—for profit! Interpretation of tongues—for profit! All profitable. What's the point of having all these manifestations, if we don’t use them? We need to actually USE these spiritual gifts. When we exercise our God-given authority, He energizes these manifestations through us, confirming that - God in Christ - is in and through us.  So, we’re built on the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. And our inner spiritual system is designed perfectly. And we got the best features to use. Turn to Phillippians 4 and look at the power supply to the house. The Power Supply: Strength for Every Task You know, that house next door is going to have plenty of electrical lights, plugs, TVs, and appliances, right? The homeowners are going to need a lot of power supplied to their house. The same is true for us spiritually. Philippians 4:13  provides us with an amazing promise: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Think about that. We can do ALL things—not just some things, not just easy things—ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. When the spiritual construction project seems too big, when the tasks in life seem overwhelming, when things seem to be not going our way, we can remember that - we have Christ's power supply that never fails. His strength is available for everything we do in life, so that we can do all things.  So, Foundation. Full framework. No open gaps. We’re protected. Inner body-soul-spirit. We manifest. And we’ve got power. Turn to Romans 8.  Moving In: Living Out Our Completeness Eventually, there will be a day when the house is complete, and the new owners can move in and start living in that house.  Well, let’s live our lives knowing we’re complete in Christ. Romans 8:37 says,  “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We’re more than conquerors. 1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he, that is in you, than he, that is in the world.” If someone says to you that you don't have what it takes or you lack something, remember: you are complete in Christ.  When challenges in life make you feel weak or inadequate, remember: you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. When the world makes you feel empty or powerless, remember: you are filled with the fullness of God's power and love. God has built us complete in Christ—foundation to roof, inside and out, every system working perfectly together.  See yourself as God sees you—His fully-built spiritual house, lacking nothing, We are complete in Him. Amen?

If you have a bible, please turn to Ephesians 1. I'm happy to be sharing with you today, because it’s my happy birthday. Birthdays naturally make me think about my life—where I’ve been and where I’m going. I think about how as a believer, I actually experienced two births (two birthdays): my physical birth into this world and my spiritual rebirth  by confession and believing (as we know from Romans 10:9-10). Having two birthdays helps me understand a short prayer that Apostle Paul wrote down a couple thousand years ago. The prayer was written to me and you, and every believer, for us to read and apply to our lives today. Paul's powerful prayer is in Ephesians 1:15-19 . Let’s read and study this prayer. In these verses, Paul reveals three types of knowledge that can change our understanding of what's available to us through our 2nd birthday, our spiritual rebirth. The Source of True Knowledge John 10:10 says that we can live a more than abundant life. But to do that, we have to know what makes that abundant life available. To find out what is available to us, we have to know what God has promised us. There’s only one primary source for this information. There’s only one place where we can possibly go to find out what God has made available to us and for us, so that we can live an abundant life. We must go to the Word. We go to the Word because, (as II Peter 1:3 explains), God's Word contains "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." This means we can go to the Word, read the Word with confidence, learn from it, and know that it provides everything we need, in relation to how we should think, speak, act, and live. The Prayer for Enlightenment Let's go to the Word. Let’s look at Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1. And let’s discover what God wants us to know.  Let’s read Ephesians 1:15-19. It says, "15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and  revelation  in the  knowledge  of him. 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened ; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling , and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance  in the saints. 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe , according to the working of his mighty power.” Paul is praying for spiritual illumination, mental enlightenment, so that believers can receive "the spirit of wisdom  and revelation  in the knowledge  of God." This isn't merely intellectually understanding. Like, “Oh, yeah, I understand. I got it.” No. It’s much more than that. It’s about divine enlightenment, where "the eyes of our understanding [our hearts]" will be flooded   richly  with spiritual light . That’s really cool.  My Two Births As I think about my birthday today, I'm reminded that my physical birth was just the beginning of my story. When I was born on this day, many, many, many years ago, I entered the world as a physical being with certain physical characteristics and abilities, and also limitations. But when I was born again, and experienced a spiritual rebirth —being "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever" (like I Peter 1:23 says)—I received a new nature, became like a new person, with new potential, and new unlimited resources. Born again believers, can tap into unlimited spiritual truths and resources, to live a more than abundant life. Because that’s what is promised to us in the Word. Just as my physical birth  was only the start of discovering who I would become naturally, my spiritual birth  began a lifelong journey of discovering what God has made available to me spiritually.  Paul is praying to God here in Ephesians 1 to give us something really cool - a special kind of wisdom . Paul wants you to know   God  in a special way - not just know about Him, but really know Him personally.  Paul talks about the "eyes of our hearts." This means the part deep inside each of us that truly understands things. Paul is praying that God will turn on a super bright light inside you and me, so that we can see things we couldn't see before (with wisdom  and revelation  by knowing  God.) When this light comes on, we’ll understand three amazing things: We’ll understand (1) the hope that God has given us - that's like a special promise, from God, that we can count on. (2) You'll see how rich God's inheritance is. Inheritance is like when someone leaves you a treasure in their will after they die, except God's treasure is for all His people, for us. And it's better than any treasure on earth. And (3) We’ll begin to understand God's power - and this isn't just any power, it's HUGE power. The same incredible strength that God used when He did His mightiest works. It’s the very same power that's works within you, when you believe in Him. Three Categories of Divine Knowledge Let’s look again at the three things that Paul mentions in his prayer: First Thing: The Hope of His Calling Paul prays that we would know "what is the hope of his calling" (Ephesians 1:18b). Hope mentioned in the Word here is NOT uncertain wishful thinking, but instead, confident expectation. It relates to something available and definitely coming in the future. For believers, this hope centers on Christ's return , when we will be gathered together , receive new bodies  (physically reborn again), and be forever with the Lord . As I John 3:2 promises, "Beloved, now are we the sons and daughters of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that, when he appears, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is." While my physical birthday makes me think about the years that have passed, my spiritual birth gives me reason to look forward with anticipation of what is yet to come. 2nd Thing Paul Prays for Is God’s Inheritance in the Saints The second thing Paul prays for believers to know is "what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18c). This truth is amazing—we are God's inheritance. The Creator of the universe has claimed us as His treasured possession. He inherited us. As born-again believers, we have God’s gift of holy spirit. God has put an incorruptible seed in us, and we are His beloved and precious (inherited) children forevermore. This verse is saying that God has this incredibly valuable, amazingly wonderful treasure - and that treasure is actually us, His people, the saints. And at the same time, we get to share in all the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him. It's like God is saying, "You are my special treasure, and I have amazing gifts for you." Colossians 1:27 tells us we have "Christ in us, the hope of glory," while I John 3:2 says that "now, we are the children of God." God values us so deeply that He considers us His inheritance. Third Thing Paul Prays for Is the Exceeding Greatness of God’s Power The third thing that Paul prays for us believers to know is "what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe , according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19). The power given to believers  is described as having "exceeding, surpassing, and superabundant greatness." Believing  is the greatest principle in all of life, and believing is the greatest law in the Word. Believing makes things happen. Believing brings the promises of God into reality.  This super power (believing) is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. And that power is available to us who manifest it through believing. Jesus promised in John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, She that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall she do also. And greater works than these shall she do, because I go unto my Father." The Connection Between Birth and Knowledge Just as a newborn kid gradually discovers and develops physical capabilities, we – as spiritually reborn believers – we must grow in our understanding of what's been made available to us. When I was born physically, I couldn't immediately walk, talk, or feed myself. Similarly, spiritual growth requires development. The knowledge that Paul prays for isn't automatically operational in our lives—we must grow in the understanding and application of these spiritual realities. The difference between my physical development and spiritual development is that physical abilities develop naturally with time, while spiritual understanding requires intentional believing and action, like studying the Word, and going to fellowship.  A Birthday Reflection Today, as I celebrate another year of physical life, I'm more grateful than ever for the gift of a spiritual life. While my physical birth gave me a temporary existence in this world, my spiritual rebirth has given me an eternal life with God. Let’s walk with confidence because we know . Our confidence isn't based on feelings or circumstances, but on divine knowledge  of what God has made available to us. My birthday wish is for all of us is to grow in our understanding of these three vital areas of knowledge: The certain hope of Christ's return and our future with Him. Our valued position as God's own inheritance. The exceeding greatness of God's power available to us through believing. As we understand and apply these truths, we can experience the abundant life Jesus promised—not just on special days like birthdays, but every day of our lives. I am thankful for the gift of a physical life. I’m even more thankful for the gift of a spiritual life by being born again. Let’s believe God to continue to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation we need in our lives. Let’s enlighten the eyes of our hearts to understand the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe. Let’s walk with confidence because we know these truths. Amen?

Hey, grab your Bible and flip over to 1 Timothy 2. So prayer... it's way more than just asking God for stuff. It's really about responding to what God has already promised us. Let me say that again because it's super important - prayer is basically us believing what God already said He'd do. Praying is more than asking for things. It’s a believing response to God's promises. When we pray (and throw in some thankfulness too), we're acting like what we're praying for has already happened. And from God's view, it actually has! Pretty cool, right? When we pray (with thanksgiving), we're acting like it's already done—because from God’s perspective, it is. Think of prayer as this awesome bridge connecting our believing with our receiving. Prayer is a helpful bridge between believing and receiving. While we're pouring our hearts out to God, we can pray both spiritually and with our regular thoughts too. As we share our hearts to God, we can pray in the spirit and with understanding. We can pray for others. And we watch for open doors, so truth can be heard. Praying for Everyone Let’s begin with 1 Timothy 2:1–2 , and learn about praying for everyone. It says: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men and women; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Paul wrote this in a letter that is addressed to Timothy. It tells him how to lead, teach, and shepherd the believers in Ephesus. It tells us to put praying “first of all.” And not just praying for ourselves, but for everyone. Prayer is not just a moment of being mindful of others — it’s an act of believing, trusting, and helping. That’s what this teaching is about: how prayer connects our believing to God's power, so the Word can move freely in our lives and in the lives of others. Let’s turn to Philippians 4:6 and learn a little about pouring out our hearts in trust. It says: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” According to the BlueLetterBible.org and Strong’s Concordance, the word “careful”  is from the Greek merimnaō, which means to be “anxious” or “mentally pulled in different directions.” Have you ever felt like that, pulled apart, when thinking about a certain situation, or a friend group, or a life decision you need to make?  The Word says the solution isn’t to bury your feelings, suppress them, or cover them up. But rather, pray. And not just praying casually. Look at this word “supplication.” “ By prayer and supplication.” Supplication means to ask earnestly or plead with someone, usually from an urgent heart. It’s not just a casual request, but a deep, sincere, and heartfelt “ask.” “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known.” And here's the key in Philippians 4:6 (just like in 1 Timothy 2:1), we pray with thanksgiving. Why? Because thanksgiving is how believing works. It’s how we talk. When I pray and thank God, I am believing (I am trusting) He’s already working on it. For example, when my daughters started to think about going to college, they started to talk about needing transportation, and they came to me and Alicia, and started this conversation about getting to class and events. Guess what? By the time they came to me, I'd already been working on the solution. As a man, as a provider, as a father, I’m excited to tell my family, “I got it. Trust me. I have a solution, and it’s right here.” That’s my job for my family. And that’s God’s job for us. How does God know what we need? Well, we can help him out by praying.  Let’s turn to and read Hebrews 11:1 (KJV ) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” That word “faith” is the Greek word “pistis,” and that means believing. So feel free to use a pencil and write in “believing” where it says “faith” here. And the word “substance” is the Greek word “hypostasis,” and that means “that which actually exists.” If I go on Amazon.com and buy something, I believe that I own that thing which actually exists, even though I have not yet seen it (because it hasn’t yet been delivered to my door). In the same way, spiritually, believing is possessing something that actually exists. “I believe I am healthy. I believe I am peaceful. I believe I am surrounded by love. I believe in God. I believe I can do all things.” And thanksgiving is the natural response to receiving what I believe. “... with thanksgiving let your requests be made known.” And prayer is that helpful bridge between believing and receiving. So my prayer might go something like this: “ Thank You, God, my heavenly Father, for handling this already.” That’s not blind hope—it’s believing with confidence and trusting in God that it shall be done or has been done already.  And this ties right into Psalm 62. Please turn to, and let’s read Psalms 62:8 .  “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Let’s not wait to thank God until after we see the results. Let’s thank God now, because we believe now. My prayer with thanksgiving is an expression of trust. I trust God will provide. At all times. My prayer is not a question mark. I open and pour out, of my heart, and my mind, a thankful expression of believing and trust.  Praying in the Spirit and with Understanding Let’s turn to and read 1 Corinthians 14:15: “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also…” This is about our full engagement in prayer—both mind and spirit, natural and supernatural. As born-again believers, we’ve been given the gift of holy spirit, and we can manifest it through speaking in tongues, which is praying in the spirit. That’s perfect “intercession.” That “intercession” listed in 1 Timothy 2:1. The word “intercession” suggests standing in the gap for another person—bringing someone else’s needs before God, as though you are their advocate. Intercession is when we pray not  for ourselves, but for others. Maybe even when they can’t, won’t, or don’t know how to believe for themselves. We pray in tongues when, we don’t need know the full picture of what’s going on, or the details of what someone needs. But, we can follow up, in our understanding, with verses, names, specific needs—and always, with thanksgiving. We can pray in the spirit. And we can pray with understanding—using our hearts and minds, making requests for specific people and situations.  Back in 1 Timothy 2:1 , Paul gives us a pattern to keep in mind: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men and women.” Supplications – praying deeply and sincerely Prayers – talking with God Intercessions – spiritually stepping in on someone else’s behalf Thanksgiving – our response of believing and trust When we pray for others and thank God in the same breath, we’re showing our confident believing—not begging for results, but believing we have received them. This is in alignment with 1 John 5. Let’s read in 1 John 5:14–15 : “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” We have full confidence that whatsoever we ask, for ourselves or for others, he hears us.  Prayer That Opens Doors and Moves the Word Let’s wrap this up with one more verse. Let’s read Colossians 4:2–3: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance...” Paul, who is writing this letter from house arrest, isn’t asking for an open door to be released from imprisonment—he’s asking for  open doors to speak  God’s word to people, and he knows prayer is the key that unlocks those doors. In 1 Timothy 2:1–2, it says to pray for kings and people in authority. Believing prayer isn’t just for leaders—it’s for all believers . But ministers have a unique calling to pray on behalf of those they serve. This reminds me of something Reverend Koetteritz once said. He shared that he lived out Ephesians 1:16 as a daily part of his service. And Ephesians 1:16 says: “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” That’s something spiritual leaders do. They remember people by name, to give thanks for them continually. I want to pray like that—for others, with thanks, because I believe God is already working on it.  Paul repeats this again in Colossians 1:9: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you…” And in 1 Thessalonians 1:2: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” We can pray like this. And when we do, God opens doors. We’re part of a ministry that prays for boldness to speak, open doors to speak to, and open hearts that hear the Word.  A STORY So, just before we conclude this teaching, I want to tell you a story that proves to me (and will hopefully prove to you) that praying works. A long time ago, in a faraway place, there was a man who lived with his family in the Rocky Mountains. This man was a good man, but he was struggling with his work and his money. Every day, for about a year, this man would climb a nearby mountain, called Mount Sanitas, and he’d sit on a rock, under an old pine tree, and he’d pray. It was more like a conversation with God. You should have heard some of that conversation. At times, it was pretty frank and to the point, without any filters. This mountain man asked God for help. He wanted to be the best at what he does so that he could provide for his family. Many years later, this man has received everything that he believed in, and even more than what he could ever ask or think. Praying works. Give it a try. Just do it. Trust God. Let go, and let God do all the work.  CONCLUSION Let’s put this all together. Believing and praying change everything. It opens doors. We don’t have to be worried about anything. We can pray in the spirit. And we can pray with specific requests. We trust that God is already working on it, so we can have a quiet and peaceable life. And we’re thankful that we already have what is needed, for ourselves and others.  Thank you. That’s what I wanted to share.

I used to be a home builder. And let me tell you, when you build a house, the foundation is everything. If you start off just a little bit off—just a fraction of an inch—it may not seem like a big deal at first. But as you build higher, that tiny mistake turns into something much bigger. Walls start leaning, cracks form, and eventually, the whole structure could collapse. That’s why builders rely on a simple yet essential tool called a plumb bob . It’s just a weighted string, but it ensures that everything—foundations, walls, beams—is straight and properly aligned. Without it, things start to shift, sometimes in ways you don’t even notice until it’s too late. And guess what? Spiritually, we need a plumb bob too. God’s Word is our spiritual plumb bob —the thing that keeps our lives straight, balanced, and strong. If we start neglecting even small truths from God’s Word, our thoughts, choices, and actions will slowly drift. And before we know it, we’re leaning, out of alignment, maybe even close to falling. Thankfully, God gives us a simple way to stay aligned with His will. Let’s check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” That’s it. Three simple things: ✅ Rejoice. ✅ Pray. ✅ Give thanks. These are our alignment checks, the three things that keep our spiritual foundation strong. 1. Rejoicing: The Framework of Our Spiritual Structure First up— Rejoice evermore (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Rejoicing isn’t just about feeling happy; it’s about choosing joy. Joy isn’t something that just happens—it’s an intentional decision to trust God’s goodness, even when life throws curveballs. The Greek word for rejoice here means to be glad, cheerful, and calmly happy. But this kind of joy doesn’t come from our circumstances—it comes from knowing who God is and trusting His promises. Think about Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:25). They were beaten and locked up, and instead of complaining, they were singing praises! That’s joy. That’s trust. Even Jesus, as He endured the cross, had joy because He focused on the bigger picture (Hebrews 12:2). So, how do we apply this? You don’t have to be happy about a bad economy, but you can rejoice that God is still your provider. You don’t have to be happy about a headache, but you can rejoice that God is your healer. You don’t have to be happy about running out of gas, but you can rejoice that at least you have a car! See the difference? Rejoicing keeps us aligned. 2. Praying Without Ceasing: Staying Aligned and Connected to God Next, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says: "Pray without ceasing." Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be on your knees 24/7. It means prayer is a constant conversation with God, not just a last resort. Think about a builder using a plumb bob. They don’t just check it once and call it a day. They check again and again as they build. That’s how prayer works—it’s our continuous check-in with God. And prayer isn’t just asking for stuff—it’s talking and listening. It’s staying in step with Him. Try this: Whisper “Thank you, Lord” when something good happens. Say a quick prayer while driving. Before making a decision, pause and check in with God. Pray like you’re texting a close friend—short, real, and often. Even Jesus, the Son of God, prayed constantly. If He needed to stay connected to the Father, how much more do we? 3. Giving Thanks: The Reinforcement That Keeps Us Strong Finally, 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "In everything, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Gratitude is what keeps our spiritual structure strong. A house needs reinforcement—things like beams, screws, and supports—to hold it together. Giving thanks does that for our faith. And notice—God doesn’t say, “Give thanks for everything.” He says, “Give thanks IN everything.” You don’t have to be thankful for losing a job, but you can thank God that He’s leading you to something better. You don’t have to be thankful for stress, but you can thank God that He’s giving you peace. You don’t have to be thankful for a long day, but you can thank God that you have work. A simple way to practice this? Start a gratitude journal. We have one on our kitchen counter—we just jot down little blessings, big or small. It shifts our focus from what’s missing to what God is doing. Ask yourself: Where can I shift from frustration to thankfulness? Gratitude keeps our foundation solid. The Three-Point Spiritual Check So, here’s our alignment check from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: ✅ Rejoice evermore. (Am I choosing joy or letting negativity weigh me down?) ✅ Pray without ceasing. (Am I staying connected to God or only talking to Him when I need something?) ✅ In everything, give thanks. (Am I focusing on what’s missing or what I already have?) Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” This is the day. Right now. Today. So let’s rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Amen? Amen. That’s what I wanted to share. God Bless. - Benjamin

The secret of living an abundant life is to have no fear. In life, we can learn to control one thing, particularly when everything else is out of our control. And that one thing is our own mind. Because we can control what we think (and do), fear, therefore, must arise from our minds. Fear does not actually exist, unless you think it does. It’s imaginary.  I can take a moment and imagine a lion outside my window. The fear of the lion might overwhelm me. Fear might make me stop in my tracks. For sure! It's a lion. In contrast, the absence of fear at that moment of seeing a roaring lion would allow me to think clearly, and, most importantly, act accordingly. In 1 Peter 5:8 we read about being mindful.  1 Peter 5:8 KJV: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Being sober means to be clear-minded, mindful, and aware. And fear is just as imaginary as that lion outside my window.  2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to not be afraid. God tells us to have no fear. To dispel imaginations and take hold of your thoughts.  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. Fear is a Snare Proverbs 3:25-26 says to not be afraid of sudden fear when it comes to you. But to stand firm. And your believing will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:25-26: Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong, and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. A snare is a trap. When you're afraid, you're trapped. When you’re fearful, it's as if you're trapped, caught, stuck, and you’re not free. Brave Examples God’s Word gives us examples of those who stood bravely when faced with sudden fear, and they were not trapped because they renewed their minds, and trusted in God, and experienced the unconditional, everywhere-present, powerful love of God. Throughout God’s Word we read of God’s people being faced with “sudden fear” and emerging victorious because of their love for God. There is no fear in love. When we’re surrounded in unconditional love, we have no reason to doubt, worry, or fear. And “whoso putteth his trust in God shall be safe.” Let’s learn about a few examples of believers who loved God and put their trust in God when faced with fear: David;  Jesus and his friends;  Mary Magdalene; and Paul.  David The young man David had great love for God and was not afraid of the giant Goliath. In I Samuel 17, we're told the story of Israel’s mighty army that was at war with the Philistines. And the entire army was being intimidated by one of their soldiers named Goliath. This giant taunted Israel’s army every morning and every evening for forty days. No Israelite soldier would accept Goliath’s challenge to fight him because they were all afraid (I Samuel 17:24). Jesse, a father of eight sons, directed his youngest son, David, to go to the Israelite’s camp to bring food for his three brothers who were soldiers. While there, David heard Goliath harassing the army. So this young boy, David, asked the soldiers, who were all fearful, a couple questions (1 Samuel 17:26). He wanted to know why they were afraid of Goliath even though God was with them.   Because of his great love for the living God, David himself bravely faced Goliath without fear and killed Goliath. When the Philistine army saw their champion was dead, they fled. Israel was victorious, because of David’s love for God and his brothers. There is no fear in love.  Jesus and His Friends One day, the followers of Jesus were sitting around, and they were very hungry. And Jesus fed everyone with five loaves and two fish. Then, Jesus said to his friends to go across the lake in boat and rest. Jesus went up the mountain to rest for a bit. A windy storm comes. His friends need help, because the waves are crashing their boat (Mark 6:49-51). They see Jesus walking on the water to them, and Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid.” The waters calmed down and they were safe. They were exhausted and relieved. Jesus provided his friends unconditional love. His friends were told to not be afraid. At that moment, Jesus was like the manifestation of peace and calm in the middle of a fearful storm . But love casts out fear. There’s no fear in love. There’s no need to fear when you’re surrounded by unconditional love. The Root of All Fear Scripture says that whoever listens to and learns from wisdom will live securely and in confident trust. And she will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.  Proverbs 1:33: But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. There is no fear in love.  1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.   Perfect love (unconditional love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation) drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is simply not yet mature enough to fully understand the love of God in the renewed mind. The root of all fear is the absence of love. Renewing Our Mind How do we cast out fear from our minds? By renewing it. We renew it by filling it up with love. Because God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). From Romans 12:2, we learn that we can renew our minds . 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. As we mature spiritually: we fear less; and we love more. And that is proof of what is that good, perfect will of God.  Matthew 28:1-10 In Matthew 28:1-10, there is a story of a great woman named Mary Magdalene . Mary Magdalene witnessed Jesus’s crucifixion, and she was the first person to testify to the resurrection of Jesus, and she was the first person to meet and talk with Jesus after he rose. In this story, the angel tells Mary to not be afraid of this miracle that she has just witnessed. And Jesus also tells Mary to not be afraid. Mary Magdalene was with Jesus from the beginning; she was healed by Jesus; she followed Jesus; she cared for, listened to, and attended Jesus. She love him; and he love her back. And because of that love, there was no need, no place, no reason for fear to exist. Can You Imagine Living Without Fear?  Can you imagine what you could do, if you had no fear in doing it?  How can we do that? How can we get to that point where we have no fear? The key to having no fear in life rests upon understanding the presence of God.  Joshua 1:9: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Scripture says that God is Spirit (John 4:24), God is love (1 John 4:16), and God is everywhere present. God (love) is wherever you go.  And when that lion roars, have no fear. When the giant threatens you, have no fear.  When the waves pound your ship, have no fear.  When a miracle happens right before you, have no fear.  For "God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Paul In Acts 9, there's a story of Paul (Saul). He was hunting down and persecuting Jesus’s followers. One day, while walking on a road to Damascus, in search of some disciples, he was struck and surrounded by a light from heaven (Acts 9:4-6). At that moment, Paul was really afraid. Fearful. He was trembling. But he recognized that something amazing was happening, and he immediately renewed his mind, and asked what was it he could do. He changed his mind, and acted accordingly.  Later in his life, Paul, would reveal the greatest truth anyone could ever know. Paul revealed the great mystery, which is that the powerful, unconditional love of God is everywhere present available to everyone at anytime.  Conclusion Since there is no fear in love, and God is love, then there cannot be any fear in God. Like the examples we just read about, when we bring our minds to God’s Word and keep love as our prime motivating factor, we can trust in God and live a more than abundant life.

A couple of days ago, my friend Matt came over to my house. I have a roof leak. And we went up on my roof to figure out what was happening. My roof is high up there. It’s steep. Parts are slippery. It can be scary. When we were up there, just him being there with me and listening to what he said gave me confidence that we would solve this roof leak problem. No doubt. Similarly, in life, if we can practice the presence of God in every situation in life, and listen to, read, remember, and apply the truth, then we can solve any problem in life and have no doubts, worries, or fear.  Fear is an emotion. It can stop us in our tracks. Stop us from living the more than abundant life that is available to us. However, by applying the Word in practical ways, we can overcome fear and live in peace and with power and confidence.  Please turn to 2 Timothy . Aristotle said, "He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.” Let’s check out some biblical principles (promises, truths) and practical steps to live without fear and to be free. Fear does not come from God. Fear is a spiritual attack that seeks to disrupt our fellowship with God. Fear tries to cover or remove the presence of God in your life. Fear wants to break the connection between you and your belief in God’s promises. Let’s read 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." There’s an article in the Way’s library titled “Living Without Fear” ( www.thewayinternational.com/living-without-fear ). I encourage you to read it.  In that article, we learn that we can live without fear because God gave us POWER like we read. When we are born again, we receive a gift. And the gift is holy spirit. Along with that gift, comes many things, including power.  Let’s turn to and read Acts 1:8 . “ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] is come upon you…” When that gift of holy spirit (referred to here as the Holy Ghost) is come upon you (when you are born again), you receive also POWER. Let’s turn to and read Ephesians 1:19 . Ephesians 1:19 says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” When you believe, BELIEVE in what is written, you’re powerful, and you don’t fear anything. (Born Again, Gift, Power, Believe, No Fear). A born-again believer has the gift of holy spirit, that potential power, residing (sitting, living) within them. Ready to go. This power from God is manifested when we hear the Word, and then carry it out, by believing that the Word is true. I believe that the Word has promises from God that I can claim, take for myself, and make those promises into a reality. And that’s powerful. For example, in Ephesians, we’re in Ephesians, let’s turn to and read Ephesians 3:20 . This is a promise from God, that we can see, read, believe, and apply, so that we become powerful, and we can live without fear.  Someone read Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. There’s a power that works within us, and God is able to do and exceed anything that we can ask or think of. Really? Yeah. So, prove it.  The word says to prove what you believe. Let’s turn to and read 1 Thessalonians 5:21 , which says, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Prove it. “Prove Ephesians 3:20, Ben!”  Okay. Take a look around. You’re sitting in my proof, my evidence, that I have received something above that I couldn’t have ever asked for or thought of. That’s pretty powerful. That’s one tip. God gave us POWER. Here’s a second tip to living without fear. LOVE. Please turn to 1 John . We can live without fear because God gave us LOVE. What is love? We’re in 1 John… Let’s turn to and read 1 John 4:8:  God is love.  Let’s turn to and read I John 4:18: “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” So God is love. There’s no fear in love. There’s no fear in God. The perfect love of God casts out fear. What is the love of God?  Let’s turn to and read I John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. God is love. There’s no fear in love, so there’s no fear in God. Perfect love of God casts out fear. What’s the perfect love of God? We keep his commandments–we learn the Word and apply it to our lives. That casts our fear.  Love is the antidote for fear. Fear is like a poison. It’s that which tries to break the connection between you and your belief in God’s promises. Love has the power to neutralize and overcome fear, just as an antidote neutralizes poison. So, God provided everything we need to live an abundant life without fear by giving us His Word. In II Peter 1, it says that knowing God’s Word gives us everything about life.  Let’s turn to and read II 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." We have access to everything that pertains to life and godliness.  When we energize the power within us, focus on living God’s love, and keeping His commandments (which can be applied to everything in life), we’ll find that we’re filled with, surrounded by, LOVE. And where there is love, there is no room for fear.  Power, Love. A third tip for living without fear. A SOUND MIND.  We can live without fear because God gave us a SOUND MIND. A sound mind means that you have good thoughts, and good judgment. You are disciplined in your thinking. Your thoughts are rooted and grounded in something solid.  For a home inspector, something “sound” is that which is built well, like a house on a strong foundation, with a strong support structure, that which can be relied on. It’s sound.  A sound mind is NOT something that runs wild. Fear is an emotion that can run wild. Out of control. I read that a wild mind is like trying to ride on a blind horse in the dark. The horse can’t see, and neither can you. Imagine that. In contrast, in John 8:12 (don’t turn there), Jesus says: "I am the LIGHT of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." That sounds so good, right?  We eliminate darkness and fear when we focus our minds on light. We take control of any situation when we focus our thoughts, on God and His Word. We constantly check with the Word. A mental check. Always asking ourselves and each other, in every situation, “Hey, what does the Word say?” NOT, “What does the “world” say.” But rather, what does the “Word” say?  What does the Word say? Well, II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Please turn to Romans 12. We have the right, as sons and daughters in God’s family, to rely on God’s POWER every day. We can LOVE, which is the antidote for fear. And because fear happens in the MIND, we can overcome fear by learning how to control our thoughts.  How do we do that? We simply choose to renew our minds to the light of God’s Word. Let’s turn to and read Romans 12:2. It says, “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.” Rather than being conformed and affected by the fears of this world, we can be “transformed.” We can literally change the form of our minds. Like the change of a caterpillar to a butterfly, the mind can be transformed. We can put the Word in our minds and decide to think and act according to the truth of that Word. In John 6:63, Jesus Christ said, “…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” To renew, or change, the mind, we must feed the mind with the best stuff. The words you speak to your mind, they are life. Look… you can eat in two ways, you can eat with your stomach, and you can eat with your mind. Be careful what you feed your body AND your mind. Renewing your mind involves replacing negative thoughts with positive ones from God’s Word. Try it. Prove it. Prove to yourself that the Word works. Read the Word, the spiritual truths, the promises of God, those things that people thousands of years ago, inspired by God to write, they wanted you to know the Word, so that today, you can feed your mind, and live a life more than abundant. Let’s try it. We will see ourselves transformed from fear to freedom, by learning and applying God’s word. God is not the source of fear. God is the source of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, and we can claim those verses, take those spiritual truths, and apply those promises from the Word. We can feed our minds, and be filled with love, which casts out all fear. As we learn more Word and renew our minds to the Word, we will know that – we can live without fear .

Let's explore a topic that affects us all—overcoming fear. When we look at the Bible, we see that both Jesus and Paul had a lot to say about conquering fear through faith (believing) and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught the importance of trusting in God, and Paul later showed us how the gift of the Holy Spirit takes that confidence to an even higher level. Together, their teachings give us a roadmap to living fearlessly. Let’s explore what each of them had to say and how their messages can help us find freedom from fear today. Understanding Faith as Trust in God Jesus taught people how to trust and believe in God. When we dig into the New Testament, we come across the Greek word pistis , which means “trusting belief in God.” Since Jesus probably spoke in Aramaic or Hebrew, he would have used words like aman or hema to describe trusting in God, but the New Testament writers captured his teachings in Greek, using pistis to communicate that deep, trusting faith. After Pentecost, Paul comes along, building on Jesus’ teachings and showing that believers, now filled with the Holy Spirit, can live with even greater confidence and freedom from fear. Here’s a quick outline of what we’ll explore: How Jesus taught people to overcome fear by trusting in God’s power and promises. Why Jesus’ teachings on faith (pistis) were crucial before the Holy Spirit was given. How Paul taught that the Holy Spirit inside believers brings a new level of power, love, and confidence. The transformation that comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:37). How, as God’s children, with “God in Christ” in us, we can live with courage and confidence. Jesus’ Teachings on Faith and Fear When Jesus talked about overcoming fear, he focused on pistis, or faith, meaning a trust in God’s power and promises. Before Pentecost, believers didn’t yet have the Holy Spirit living inside them; that gift came later in Acts 2. So, Jesus emphasized relying on God’s promises and power as the foundation for living without fear. In Mark 5:36 , for example, Jairus has just received the devastating news that his daughter has died. Jesus reassures him, saying, "Be not afraid, only believe." Here, Jesus connects belief (pisteuō) directly with overcoming fear, encouraging Jairus to trust in God’s power, even in a moment of despair. Jesus is showing us that believing in God brings life free from fear. In Matthew 17:20 , Jesus tells his disciples, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove." A mustard seed is tiny, yet it grows into a large plant. Jesus uses this to illustrate that even a small amount of faith can accomplish what seems impossible. It’s not the size of our faith that matters, but how we use it—even a small “seed” of belief can move mountains of fear. Then in John 14:1 , right before his crucifixion, Jesus knows his disciples will feel lost and afraid, so he tells them, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." Here, Jesus encourages them to trust in him as they trust in God. This belief would give them the courage they’d need when he was no longer physically with them. In each of these examples, Jesus teaches that trusting in God’s presence, power, and promises is key to living without fear. And this was especially important at a time when the Holy Spirit was not yet available. Jesus’ Promise of the Holy Spirit Even though Jesus taught that faith was the way to overcome fear, he also promised that a new source of strength was coming. In John 14:16-17 , Jesus says, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." Here, Jesus is preparing his followers for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would provide them with comfort, guidance, and divine power to face fear. When Pentecost arrived, everything changed. The Holy Spirit came upon believers (Acts 2), and Paul was now teaching with a fresh perspective. Building on Jesus’ teachings, Paul explained that the gift of the Holy Spirit within each believer brings courage, confidence, and power to overcome any fear. Paul’s Teachings on Overcoming Fear Through the Holy Spirit Paul expanded on Jesus’ message by explaining how the Holy Spirit equips us to face fear with strength. In 2 Timothy 1:7 , Paul writes, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Paul highlights three qualities that the Holy Spirit gives us: Power : God’s strength within us, which confronts fear directly. Love : God’s perfect love, which drives out fear. In 1 John 4:18, we’re reminded that “perfect love casteth out fear.” When we understand God’s love for us, we can grow and mature, letting go of fear. Sound Mind : A stable and confident mindset that keeps us grounded, even in tough times. This is the promise in 2 Timothy 1:7. In Ephesians 3:16 , Paul prays that believers "be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man," emphasizing that the Holy Spirit gives believers inner strength. Unlike the outward trust people needed before Pentecost, this strength is internal—God’s Spirit living inside us and helping us overcome fear. Freedom from Fear as God’s Children Paul also teaches that the Holy Spirit confirms our adoption as God’s children. Romans 8:15 says, "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." This relationship with God removes fear of rejection or separation from him. As children of God, we walk confidently, knowing God is always with us. The Guidance and Assurance of the Holy Spirit Today, as believers, we continue to live with the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised this in John 16:13 , saying, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." And in Romans 8:16 , we read, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” This inner assurance is a constant reminder that we are God’s beloved children, helping us live with confidence and without fear. Conclusion So, to wrap things up: Jesus taught that even a small amount of faith can help us overcome fear when we trust in God. Paul went on to teach that the Holy Spirit within us provides even more: power, love, a sound mind, and the assurance of being God’s children. Both Jesus and Paul emphasized that freedom from fear comes from trusting in God. Jesus taught belief in God’s promises, while Paul showed how the Holy Spirit empowers us to live confidently as God’s children. Together, their teachings reveal that faith and the Holy Spirit enable us to conquer fear and live abundantly. So, let’s take hold of this power, knowing that God’s Spirit within us gives us strength to face whatever comes our way. God bless you, and may you walk in this confidence every day!

On a typical Friday night, my daughters are very busy with activities. My oldest may have a drink with her good friend. My middle child may go to a game with her group of buddies. My youngest may invite her close friends over for a movie. In these moments, I think about what fine young women they have become. And how well they make friends and get along with others. Because they have that Word within them that makes them shine as bright lights. And they’re approachable and friendly. And they are willing to share themselves with others.  And that made me think of a story about two men who lived a couple thousand years ago. They had a goal to meet others, share what they knew, speak God’s Word and to bring others to knowing that an abundant life is available to them. They each had the mindset of an ambassador for Christ. Please turn to the Book of Acts, Chapter 13.  Oh, I forgot. God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. Here's a short spiritual teaching about finding common ground with others. I hope you enjoy it. Ambassador What’s an ambassador? An ambassador is a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by a one country to another as its resident representative. An authorized messenger or representative. To me, there is no greater goal one might have in life than to be the best ambassador of the more than abundant life, an ambassador for Christ, an authorized messenger of God’s Word, a representative of living with the unconditional love of God in a renewed mind in manifestation. Barnabas and Paul Now, let's get to these two fellas. These two men who lived 2,000 years ago were Barnabas and Paul. They helped each other live the Word, and they both loved to speak the Word. In fact, they spoke the Word together for a whole year to many people in one city (Acts 11:26). After that, God wanted them to preach the Word in some new places (Acts 13:2,3). One day they were in a city called Antioch with the goal of telling others about the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s plan of salvation for them. Incredible guys. When they got to the city, they went to the synagogue, a place where they knew that many people of Judean background who had an interest in God would be gathered together. They attended the service there; and when it was done, the speaker asked them if they had anything to say. What a great question. And opportunity. For an ambassador. Acts 13: 15: And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say o n. They were given an invitation to speak, given an audience, and a wide open door to walk through and speak about the Lord Jesus Christ. But you know what? They didn’t start right off with waving a finger, yelling about getting saved, or condemnation. Nope.  Paul was the one who did the speaking on this occasion, and he began to gain the attention of the Judeans in the synagogue by showing great respect and by finding common ground concerning what people believed in. Respect and common ground. This is a helpful key to beginning a conversation—just simple respect, easy talking, and finding common ground. Acts 13: 16,17:  16: Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear [respect] God, give audience [pay attention]. 17: The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. Here, Paul reminded them of a very important event in their history as believers—when God delivered Israel out of Egypt. Then he went on to remind them of more that God had done for them, speaking of Samuel the prophet, King Saul, and King David. After covering these familiar records of believers from the Old Testament, whom they respected, he introduced them to Jesus, explaining that this descendant of King David was a savior. Acts 13: 23,26:  23: Of this man’s [David’s] seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.  26: Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth [respects] God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Paul then told them that Jesus had been slain but that God raised him from the dead. Acts 13: 28-30:  28: And though they [the Judeans at Jerusalem] found no cause of death in him [Jesus], yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29: And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30: But God raised him from the dead. Paul then told the members of the synagogue in Antioch that they could not be made righteous through Moses and the law — but only through Jesus who had been crucified and whom God raised from the dead. Acts 13: 38,39:  38: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness [remission] of sins. 39: And by him [Jesus] all that believe are justified [legally made righteous] from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. It was important for them to know that Jesus died for them and that God raised him from the dead, because a person gets born again by confessing Jesus as their lord and believing that God raised him from the dead. They also needed to know that through Jesus Christ they could be made legally righteous before God and enjoy God’s grace to them. Not everyone believed Paul on that day, but some did. And many came back to hear more. The next Sabbath day, almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God, and as a result, the God was talked about throughout all the region (Acts 13:44,49). Summary We just learned about finding common ground with other just like Paul and Barnabas. God’s Word was made known throughout all of that area, because each of these two men went into the city of Antioch with the mindset of an ambassador for Christ. Their mindset sounds a lot like the one we have. You and I. And this gives me an idea for something we all can do. How about we get up each day this week — with the goal of bringing the spiritual truths that we know — into our conversations — as we speak to others? Yes? Some people don’t know about God; others know him only a little bit. I encourage you to reach for that goal in life of being a good ambassador for Christ by reaching out to others with God’s Word. God Bless. - Benjamin

Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. I think there's something wrong in the way we look at the world. So, here's some free advice that might help us  change the way we think  and live in the world--hopefully for the better. And it has to do with taking the responsibility of being in the middle.  CHANGE Clearly there are various ways to see things. And when we change the way we see things, the things we see change. And if you change the way you see the world, the world changes. That's pretty clear to me. So, let's talk about one way of looking at the world. MEANING IN LIFE One way to look at the world and reality is to see meaning (or lack thereof). What is the meaning of life? Is there a meaning in life? For the Buddha, the meaning of life was about helping others achieve freedom from suffering. For Socrates, the meaning of life was to seek a state of well-being, a healthy spirit, and the ultimate good for others. For many Christians, it's about loving God, yourself, and applying biblical truths in serving others so they become spiritually mature and more perfect. There are many other definitions of the meaning of life. And we're not going to get to the right answer in this article. But one meaning that I favor has to do with responsibility and being in the middle. RESPONSIBLITY Responsibility is an obligation a person takes on. For the moment, let's say it could be the burden of bettering oneself and serving others in order make the world a better place to live. Something like that. And I've found that women have an easier time than men knowing what responsibility means. Its meaning is clear to many people, particularly women. Women seem to know what they have to do. But men have to work on figuring it out. Many men eventually do figure out what responsibility means. ​Mature men enjoy responsibility. Ask them. They like lifting the weight of the burden. They like the challenging task. Men enjoy going to work. That's for sure. They'll say, "I'll do it," when no one else offers to do so. They'll tend to sacrifice themselves for someone they love. And on and on. This is my experience with spiritually mature men and women. So, if you're looking for meaning in life, check your responsibility. Check to see if you're working to make the world a better place by bettering yourself and helping and serving others. Responsibility creates a meaning for life. Let's take a look at the opposite -- meaninglessness. Then we'll look at where your responsibility should be located so that you have meaning in life. MEANINGLESSNESS ​I know of many people who live in a meaninglessness world and perceive living in world that has no meaning. Their perspective is that the world in which we live is basically without meaning. There's no point. For many, it's hopeless. The meaningless perspective in life goes something like this. We live on a planet, one out of millions apparently. Located in an ordinary common galaxy, one out of billions of spiraling galaxies, each filled with billions of stars like our own Sun. And the reality of life, in this meaningless perspective, is that the universe is made up of dead matter that has by randomness arranged themselves in very complex patterns. The human being is simply one fancy complex thing that has come out of this material substrate arrangement. The human body is complex, for sure, but little more than one of billions of biological living things on this particular planet that eats, poops, makes babies, and thinks of silly egotistical things to do and say. NOT MUCH OF A FOUNDATION In my opinion, this way of seeing the world and reality is not much of a foundation upon which to build a more than abundant life. I feel that this view of the world is wrong and nihilistic, which is a fancy word used to describe someone who can reject spiritual and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless. I believe there is meaning to life. There exists a good solid way in which to view the world, one that provides a reason to live and a way to live a life that is meaningful, abundant, and powerful. And it has little to nothing to do with our man-made religions and subjugating dogma that have imprisoned and destroyed ignorant people of the past. And it has nearly everything to do with God. What is God? God is not an old bearded man in the sky doing good and bad things. That's just silly. You might as well believe in Zeus or Gaia. I don't. Neither should you. Let me explain by talking a bit about duality. And that's where the "middle" is located. DUALITY The universe has duality. There's off and on. There's 0 and 1. The world is filled with what you know and what you don't know. There's duality is physics (principle of complementarity), biology (male and female), mathematics (zero and 1), art (black and white), philosophy (true and false), poetry (love and hate), personal attitude (negative and positive), politics (liberal and conservative), and on and on. The yin-yang symbol is dual. And there's duality in your brain--you have two hemispheres with all of the connective action located in the middle (the corpus callosum). WHAT'S IN THE MIDDLE? The responsibility to create order out of chaos is in the middle. And there stories of a man who used to work in the middle of things in order to serve others. Jesus was in the middle or "the midst" many times in his life. He's was in the middle of doctors, elders, the church, apostles, law breakers, Israel, etc. There's something special about being in the midst. He tended to get in the midst (in the middle) before speaking or acting. He was the mediator between disputing parties, the path between death and life, the way from darkness to light, and the bridge between you and God. In Philippians 2:5, it says that all of us are to be of the same mind as Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It's easy to understand by checking out Philippians Chapter 2 where it says that joy in life (a joyful meaning in life) can be experienced by being of the same mind with someone else, by having the same love one toward another, by being knit together in spirit, both intent on one purpose and moving in the same direction, and living a meaningful life that reflects your believing and communication by your words and actions. The key to understanding this and other spiritual truths and statements about love is to know that this "same love" is not about emotion. It's more about doing things unselfishly for the benefit of other people and a willingness to work and seek the best for another. Now, that sounds like there's meaning in life. And it has something to do with the responsibility of being in the middle. Responsibility Being in the middle Same mind Let's talk about what really matters in life. WHAT REALLY MATTERS The word "matter" has two important meanings. Matter has duality. There's the physical substrate matter that all stuff is composed of. And there is "what matters" in life. It seems to me that the world is made up of what really matters. In relation to Darwinian evolution, the brain reacts to the environment based upon what matters to it. Life evolves based upon what really matters to it. Biology is based upon this concept that a living being is adapted to reality, and the reality of life is what you've adapted to based upon what really matters. That the basis of biological evolution. Reality is that which selects over a course of evolutionary time, and what is selected is what really matters. Your brain responds to what really matters. And it's not just by random chance that your brain is split in two. Two hemispheres. Duality. And what really matters is located in the connection between the two hemispheres. What really matters is what takes place in the middle. ​In the midst. ​ It seems to me that being in the middle of things is where life really matters. YOUR BRAIN The universe is also dual. It's made up of this and that. Your brain works well in figuring out the difference between this and that--what you know and what you don't know. That's the duality of reality. You know stuff and you don't know stuff. The cerebrum, the big part of the brain, is also dual. It's divided into two parts--a left and a right hemisphere. The two parts are connected by the nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. That's where all the exciting stuff happens for sure. In the middle, between the two parts of your brain, is a ton of electrical neuron fibers connecting the two parts of the whole, working really hard, trying to make sense of it all. Chaos is what you don't know. Order is what you know. When you don't know something, you can become uncomfortable and unpeaceful. That's chaotic. When you are familiar with something and your surroundings, you comfortable and peaceful. That's order. Your brain is constantly trying to create order out of chaos. Meaning comes from creating order out of chaos. That's one way of reading Genesis Chapter 1 where God (spirit, light, power, love) creates order out of chaos (Genesis 1:2) by using truthful communication. And time and time again, we see from the verses that "it was good." It's good to take the responsibility of being in the middle of things (where it really matters) and use truthful communication to create order from chaos. CHAOS AND ORDER Chaos is what you don't know, and order is what you do know. And the interplay between the two provides a meaning of life. Where should you be? In the middle. Where does all of the meaning come from? It comes from being in the midst and working through the middle and differences between what you know and what you don't know in order to create order, peace, and love out of the potentially chaotic world around you. Be in the middle. Think about it. You don't want to be in the middle of only chaos (that's too much instability and uncertainty), and you don't want to be in the middle of only order (that's a boring place). What you want to do is get in the middle of both or everything. Get one foot in the chaos, and put the other in order. That's the position and location from which you can create and live a wonderful meaning of life. The middle. If you're all in either side, you can't grow. A person grows when they're balanced as much as they can. When you're in the right place at the right time, you're likely managing the meaning of life, right in the middle of things. Thinking through and considering both perspectives or all sides. Moving between life and death. Seeing between light and dark. Deciding between good and evil. This is the way to live. THE WAY Taoism is a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu, who lived in the 6th century BC. Taoism means "the way." Jesus referred to himself as the way (between who and where you are... and your destination of knowing God being spirit, light, power, abundance, and peace.) And I think we ought to choose a way and walk a path with meaning. A path between (in the middle) of a world of chaos and order, yin and yang, right and wrong, life and death, love and hate. Matthew 18:19-21 says, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Philippians 2:14-16 says, Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and spiritually troubled generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights in the world of darkness, holding out and offering to everyone communicative truthful words of life, so that you will have a reason to rejoice greatly because you did not run you race in vain nor labor without result." Gautama Buddha wrote about "Middle Way" and it is literally referred to as "teaching by the middle." Gautama Buddha used the middle way to describe the character of the Noble Eightfold Path he discovered that leads to liberation. And to me, that's a meaningful life. We have a responsibility of walking the middle path to create order and peace from chaos and suffering in order to think, live, and love better and serve others as we make the world a better place. And it will be good. FROM CHAOS TO ORDER As I see it, one thing that really matters in life is when you make things a bit better than they were. You help change some disorder and chaos into order. You help put things back into a balance. You communicate truthful words in order to create something good out of a universe full of potential, disorder, and chaos. And to do that, you have to be in "the thick of things," right in the middle of it all. That's a good meaning in life, if you ask me. HOMEWORK Get in the middle of something and speak truthfully to make it good. God Bless. - Benjamin

Right up front, I'm going to say that it's ultimately up to you to answer this question in order for the answer to mean something in your life. My answer is, "Yes." But that answer does not help you unless you believe it. Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. God bless you in the power name of Jesus Christ. I hope you enjoy the following short teaching about God. It's reasonable to believe in something without having to prove the assertion. Let me repeat that. It's reasonable to believe in something without being required to prove it exists. But Can I Prove God Exists? My answer is "Yes." Please give me 60 seconds to provide a reasonable explanation for my answer. Man's Best Friend I grew up with a dog name Bandit. That dog loved me. He walked with me. He talked with me. He protected me. ​He came when I called for him. He answered me. He was my best friend. I couldn't imagine growing up without that dog. He loved me. That dog loved me. But I can't prove it. I can't prove that my dog loved me. There's no evidence. There's no science or data that can prove that his love for me existed. And to require evidence that a dog is man's best friend seems unreasonable. We all know this to be true. Sometimes, my wife has some back pain. Not all the time. Just sometimes. That's my wife in the picture. She's the most beautiful woman in the world. Sometimes, her pain, on a scale from 1 to 10, is a 15. Again, it's not persistent; it's not all the time. It's here and there. If any of you have ever had back pain, it's a real pain in the butt. Heh. It's something that is always with you, sometimes you forget it, and then, "Bam!" It's there. It's been years. We've had the best doctors. The best science has been researched and applied. We've taken tests, seen the results, and made decisions based on that data. And we're doing better. The pain is going away. And we're getting healthier and healthier every day. My wife will be 100% healthy at some point—maybe it's today. And we'll celebrate that "day without pain" for sure. But to ask my wife to prove she's in pain is unreasonable. Doctors, science, and data do not prove the pain exists, but it does. It's subjective. Only my wife, my wife alone, can tell you what she's experiencing, what she's going through. It can't be measured. Doctors and scientists can acknowledge what people testify to, but often, they can't prove it. Prove Your Love If you think you are in love and that your companion loves you, just ask them for information that you can verify, specifically with a neutral third-party scientist that could prove the love. This should be simple for any mature, reasonable human being who says they're in love. Yes? Just ask your companion to prove it. See what they say. I warn you, this may start a dispute. Burden of Proof The burden of proof is the obligation of someone in a dispute to provide sufficient justification for their position, which may include perceptual experience (the evidence brought to you by your senses), reason (making sense of things based upon existing information), and authoritative testimony (solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter; to bear witness to; to declare something to be correct, true, or genuine; to declare the truth of something in words or writing). But my dog and I, my wife and I, are not in a dispute. I remember my dog. And I believe my wife. The Queen of England and President Trump I have every reason to believe these two human beings exist. They are alive and well, at least for the time being. I believe they exist even though I've never met them. I've never actually seen them. I've never heard them say a single word. I've never touched them. Or smelled them. I've never even taken a picture of them. I've stood in front of the Queen's castle and the White House. But I have actually no evidence they exist. Yet I have every reason to believe they do. Millions of people follow them. (Trump has more than 84 million Twitter followers, as of today). Millions have said they've seen these people. People say that they've been deeply and forever affected by their words and actions. People say that they've changed their entire lives, because of these two people (Trump and the Queen). Many people hate them. Many love them. It's reasonable for me to assume that millions of people are not lying to themselves and to others. They're not imagining things. It would be unreasonable for me to require millions of people to provide 3rd-party neutral scientific evidence of what they believe in Trump or the Queen of England. And it's not unreasonable because I have never met Trump or the Queen of England, or that I don't believe those two people exist. It's just because it's unreasonable, it's not rational, to require proof of the assertion that they do indeed exist. Describe God To Me You could probably describe your best friend's personality, distinguishing characteristics, favorite food, or hobbies. Right? Just as you can describe your friend, you can actually describe what God is. Thousands of years ago, men and women testified as to what they described as God. Their descriptions are written down in the bible. People, inspired by God, wrote down what they believed best describes what God is. God, my inspiring people, gave us a description of himself in his Word, so that you can know God. Let’s learn about what God is by taking a look a few biblical verses. Creator In Genesis 1:1, we see that God is a creator. Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Faithful In Deuteronomy 7:9, God is faithful, which means reliable; trusted; true to one's word, promises, and assertions. Deuteronomy 7:9, "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." Good Psalms 34:8 says that God is good. Psalms 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Great Psalms 135:5 says that God is great. Psalms 135:5, "For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." Powerful Psalms 147:5 says that God is powerful. Psalms 147:5, "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." Strong Isaiah 26:4 says that God is strong. Isaiah 26:4, "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Spirit John 4:24 says that God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Not a Man Is God an old man with a big, bushy grey beard? No. Is God a man? No. Is God a woman? No. Is God Jesus? No. No to all of those questions. God is spirit, energy, and light. The word “worship” in that verse (John 4:24) is the Greek word pronounced "pros-koo-neh'-o," which means to reverence. Worship is a feeling, attitude, or gesture of deep respect; an act of devotion, adoration, or manifestation or acknowledgment offered to God. And the word “spirit” in that verse is the Greek word "pneuma," which refers to the spiritual energy inside you. Spirit connects you to God and everything in the universe. You may want to read "Spirit is a Force" in TheKingsGuide.com for more information. Peace God is peace in 1 Corinthians 14:33. 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Father God is a father in 1 Corinthians 8:6, which says "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." Acknowledging God as a “father,” our heavenly father, help us realize all that he can and will do for us. Just as an earthly father has certain abilities that enable him to care for his children, God, our heavenly father, cares for us and fulfills his promises. Ephesians 1:3 says that "God is our heavenly father, and father of Jesus Christ." So, God is also a father to Jesus Christ, who was a wonderful spiritual man. Supplier Philippians 4:19 says that God is a supplier. And this is where where praying comes in. You may want to read "Trusting in God by Praying" in TheKingsGuide.com to learn what praying is. Light 1 John 1:5 says that God is light. Light. God is energy and light. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. When we live in the light, we see things others can not. The unseen things of the world become visible and known to us, and we thereby become wise. Love 1 John 4:16 says that God is love. That's pretty plain and simple to understand. What do you love? I love my wife, my children, pepperoni pizza, football, and many other things. But who do you love? Who? Wherever there is love between people, there God is. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” To learn more about being in the midst, read "The Meaning of Life Is in the Middle" from TheKingsGuide.com Conclusion In conclusion, we now have a pretty good description of God. People are always looking for evidence or proof of God's existence. They do not see that God is all around us. He’s creation, goodness, peace, light, and love. It's reasonable to believe in something without having to prove it. Now, by studying God’s Word, we have a pretty good idea of who God is.

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. Today, let’s learn about God's grace—His unmerited favor and unconditional love—and how it transforms our lives. We will look at the stories of Jonah, Ruth, and Peter, which illustrate how God's grace worked in their lives and how we can apply these lessons to our lives as members of the body of Christ. We will see how God's unconditional love and grace benefit us all, enabling us to live healthy, prosperous, loving, and abundant lives. Let’s turn to Romans 11. First, Let’s Understand God's Grace. As God's children, we have received abundant blessings and gifts from God, the most fundamental of which is salvation. But we may feel that there must be something more we need to do to deserve such love and care. Nay. Romans 11:6 tells us otherwise: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." If salvation is by grace, then it can’t be based on works, because grace, by definition, is a free gift. If it were based on works, it would no longer be a gift.  God made this wonderful gift of grace available out of His love for us, just like loving parents care for their children.  This scripture highlights that God's grace is freely given, not something we can earn. John 3:16 says, "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." God’s love, through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ, is the foundation of His grace - a gift given without expectation of return. Let’s Check Out God's Grace in Action. Turn to Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2, verses 4 through 9, gives us a beautiful picture of God’s grace in action: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (past tense) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us (past tense) up together, and made us (past tense) sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." This passage emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, a manifestation of His rich mercy and great love. We didn’t earn it through our deeds; it was freely given through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. This truth should bring immense comfort and assurance, dispelling any doubts, worries, or fears about our standing with God. That’s Grace. Now, Let’s Go To Jonah, and Learn a Lesson in Changing One’s Mind and Experiencing Grace. Jesus Christ came to reveal and destroy the works of the devil, our adversary, who is behind the bad things that happen in life. John 10:10 tells us, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The adversary, our adversary, the devil, is described in 1 Peter 5:8 as "a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." When we read the Old Testament stories, like Jonah, it is important to remember that the adversary caused bad events that we learn about, not God. The story of Jonah provides a powerful illustration of God’s grace and the importance of repentance and changing one’s mind. Let’s turn to Jonah 1.  Jonah is called by God to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh but initially he runs away from his mission. After being swallowed by a great fish and experiencing God's grace, he eventually obeys and helps bring the people of Nineveh to repentance, demonstrating God's willingness to give second chances. Let’s Look at Jonah's Call and Disobedience.Jonah 1:1-3 shows Jonah fleeing from God's call to go to Nineveh. This act of disobedience sets off a chain of events that leads Jonah right into the belly of a great fish, which is a moment of crisis and reflection. But Here’s the Repentance and Grace. In Jonah 3:1-2, you can see God's grace: "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." Despite Jonah's initial disobedience, God gives him a second chance. Jonah 3:10 further illustrates this grace: "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." God's grace extended not only to Jonah but also to the people of Nineveh when they repented. How Can We Apply This Lesson? We Can Benefit from God's Unconditional Love. We learn that God’s grace can bring us back no matter how far we stray. This encourages us to change our minds and return to God, knowing His grace is always available. Jonah experienced God’s grace firsthand and extended that message to Nineveh, showing that God’s love and grace are for everyone. Let’s Turn To Ruth and Learn How We Can Embrace Love and Grace. Let’s turn to Ruth 1.  Ruth’s story is a testament to God’s providence and grace through love and loyalty. Ruth, a Moabite widow, shows unwavering loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and chooses to follow the God of Israel. Her faithfulness leads her to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer, through whom God blesses her with a new life and a place in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Ruth Was Very Loyalty to Naomi.Ruth 1:16 shows Ruth's commitment: "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Wow. There was lots of grace and love here.Ruth 2:12 highlights Boaz’s recognition of Ruth’s loyalty. So, Ruth was loyal. And Boaz recognized that. And he restored her to the family. "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth’s loyalty and love led her to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. And this symbolizes Christ’s redeeming love for us. Just like Boaz redeemed Ruth, Christ redeemed us. Christ is the ultimate kinsman-redeemer who, through His sacrifice, redeemed humanity from sin and restored all of us to the family of God.  How Can We Apply This to Our Lives? Ruth’s story teaches us that God’s grace often manifests through acts of love and loyalty. By embracing and giving love, we position ourselves to receive God's grace and favor. Ruth, a foreigner, was embraced into God’s family and blessed abundantly because of her faithfulness and love. Let’s Go To Peter and Learn How To Overcome Mistakes with God’s Unfailing Grace. Let’s turn to Luke 22.  Peter’s life is a powerful example of redemption and grace despite making mistakes. Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, denies knowing Jesus three times during Jesus’s trial. Despite this failure, Jesus restores Peter after His resurrection, reaffirming Peter’s role as a leader in the early Church. And this demonstrates God's grace and forgiveness. Let’s Check Out Peter’s Denial and Restoration.Luke 22:61-62 shows Peter’s moment of failure: "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." So there’s Peter’s recognition of making a mistake.  Let’s turn to John 21. There Is Grace in Mistakes.After His resurrection, Jesus restores Peter. And John 21:15-17 records this moment of grace: "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." Despite his mistakes, Peter is reaffirmed and commissioned to lead. How Can We Apply This to Our Lives? Let’s turn to Ephesians 2.  Peter’s story encourages us to understand that despite our mistakes, God’s grace is always available to bring us back and empower us to fulfill our purpose. It teaches us about the transformative power of grace. Peter, who had denied Christ, was chosen to lead the early Church, showing that God’s grace can restore and empower us regardless of our past. Now, Let’s Check Out Christ’s Love for the Church. Let’s turn to Ephesians 5. In Ephesians, there’s a beautiful analogy of Christ’s love for the Church through the role of husbands. And Ephesians 5:25-28 says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." That’s the Sacrificial Love of Christ.Christ's love for the Church is sacrificial and purifying. He gave Himself for the Church to sanctify and cleanse it. Similarly, husbands are to love their wives selflessly, being Christ-like and reflecting Christ’s love. How Can We Apply This To Our Lives? This sacrificial love exemplified by Christ demonstrates the depth of God's grace. Just as Christ loves the Church unconditionally, husbands are called to love their wives, showing how the grace of God is applied in their marriages. As husbands, we benefit from God’s unconditional love by learning to love our wives as Christ loves the Church, creating a loving and grace-filled family environment. Let’s Now Apply These Lessons by Living as Conquerors. We are called to live as conquerors, empowered by God’s grace. Here are five ways to incorporate grace into our daily lives: Be Strong in Grace:II Timothy 2:1 encourages us to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Strength in grace means relying on God’s power and not our own. Grow in Grace:II Peter 3:18 exhorts us to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Growing in grace involves deepening our relationship with God through His Word, prayer, renewing our minds, and manifesting unconditional love. Abound in Grace:II Corinthians 9:8 assures us that "God is able to make all grace abound toward you." Abounding in grace means recognizing and celebrating the numerous ways God’s favor manifests in our lives. Steward God’s Grace:I Peter 4:10 calls us to "minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Being good stewards of grace involves sharing God’s love and kindness with others. Don’t Receive Grace in Vain:II Corinthians 6:1 reminds us to "not receive the grace of God in vain." This means actively living out our believing, not turning away from sound doctrine, but rather ensuring that God’s grace has a meaningful impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. In Conclusion, Let’s Embrace the Fullness of God’s Grace. As we reflect on the lives of Jonah, Ruth, and Peter, we see the powerful impact of God's grace. Despite their failures and challenges, God's unconditional love and unmerited favor transformed their lives, offering second chances, redemption, and abundant blessings. These stories remind us that God's grace is always available, no matter how far we stray or how many mistakes we make. By embracing God's grace, we can live as conquerors, experiencing His love and favor in every aspect of our lives. Let’s thank God for His incredible grace and apply these truths daily, living as witnesses to His unconditional love and reflecting the abundance He has graciously provided. Let’s thank God for His incredible grace. And let’s apply these truths to our lives every day. Extra Verses for Reference: Be Strong in GraceII Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Grow in GraceII Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Abound in GraceII Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Steward God’s GraceI Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Don’t Receive Grace in VainII Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.