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

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

Please turn to Proverbs 18:21 How do you see yourself? When you think about your life and who you are, do you see yourself the way God sees you? The average person thinks about fifty thousand thoughts every single day.  Every single one of those thoughts moves us either toward our God-given potential or away from it.  There are no truly neutral thoughts.  The words I speak to myself have a powerful effect on me.  I can decide to speak the life-giving positives of God’s Word rather than the negatives of the world. Speaking God’s Word is how we walk powerfully in our daily lives Now, if we confess what the Word says about who we are, as sons of God, we will walk with confidence, strength, and power. What We Believe is What We Confess (say) Why is it so important to confess the Word?  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That’s not true. Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  This verse tells us very clearly how powerful our words are. Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick,[living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s Word is living and powerful. Words either build us up and encourage us, or they tear us down. Let's look at Colossians 3:16. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." We want God’s Word to dwell in us richly.  The Word in our minds and in our hearts is what we confess. Our standard is what God says about us, not what we see by the five senses. When we know what God says about us, we realize we are precious and important to Him.  When we confess the Word about ourselves, we will be victorious over any situation.  We want to tell ourselves what is true: God’s Word. Matthew 12:34b says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When we confess the good things from God's Word, we see those positive results in our lives. Biblical Examples of Confession  Mark 5:25-29 The Bible gives us some great examples of people who did exactly this. Think about the woman with the issue of blood in Mark chapter 5. The word says she was sick for 12 years, she spent all her money on doctors, and was only worse. When she heard that Jesus was coming to town, she didn't just sit on the couch and say I’m too sick to go see him.  Mark 5:28 AMPC says, "For she kept saying, If I only touch his garments, I shall be restored to health."  She kept confessing what she believed, and she received her deliverance. We can do the exact same thing. Speaking God’s Word is how we walk powerfully in our daily lives This power of the spoken word is also seen in Act 2 where Peter and the Other apostles received the gift of Holy Spirit, power from on high.  In Acts 3:1-9 Can you imagine what would have happened if Peter and John had walked right past him and said nothing? God's word, spoken and believed, gave healing life to this man's feet and ankles.  In life, we might have situations that challenge us but building the word in our hearts will put us in a position of strength so we too can see the power of God’s word manifested in our lives and it will bring deliverance. Speaking God’s Word is how we walk powerfully in our daily lives Applying this to our lives  So, how do we get into the habit of confessing God's Word? Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, attend to my words. Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh. Keep or guard thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. God wants us to keep or guard our hearts with all diligence, holding fast to God’s Word so we can control our thinking and not be shaken by any circumstances. Ephesians 4.29,  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  We speak the positives and power of God’s word, which ministers grace to us and everyone who hears it. You are the person who listens to you the most. What are you saying to yourself?  You are the person you spend the most time with. We want to speak God's word to ourselves. When you are concerned about a situation, you can say:  Philippians 4:6   Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. When things look totally hopeless, you can say: Luke 1:37, that with God nothing shall be impossible. If you think you can’t do something, you can say: Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me If you’re feeling down about yourself, you can say: Psalm 139.14, I am fearfully (awesome) and, wonderfully made. If you are afraid, you can say: 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power of love and of a sound mind. A great practical step is to write down a verse on sticky notes and put them where you will see them every day—the kitchen, the bathroom mirror, the car dashboard.  You can even put your own name in the verse. Look at Romans 8:37. Instead of just reading it, write it out like this: "Nay, [Your Name], in all these things you are more than a conqueror through him that loved you." Conclusion Every morning when we wake up, new baby nerve cells have been born while we were sleeping. We can use them to think and say God’s word. Speaking God’s Word is how we walk powerfully in our daily lives What we believe is what we confess, and what we confess will come to pass.  Because what we confess from the innermost part of our hearts is what we believe = and what we believe we say, and what we say we receive. Believing = receiveng So this week, I encourage you to confess what the Word says about who you are.  Let's walk out with confidence, strength, and power, claim God's promises, and actually look for them to come to pass in our lives. God bless you. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!

Please turn to Amos in the Old Testament. Amos? Yeah... Amos. When I was in my early twenties, I was a home builder. I built houses. And one of the first things you learn on a job site is that your eyes will lie to you . You can stare at a wall all day long and think it’s straight, but until you check it, you don’t actually know. That’s where a simple little tool like this comes in that’s been around for thousands of years. It’s called a plumb bob or plumb line. The Egyptians used it to build the pyramids. Masons still use it today.  Every single time, the plumb bob points to true vertical. Perfectly plumb. It doesn’t matter what the ground looks like. Doesn’t matter how the wind is blowing. Doesn’t matter what the guy next to you thinks is straight. The plumb bob tells you what’s actually straight, because it’s anchored to something that doesn’t change : gravity. If the builder ignores the plumb bob, the building will be crooked. He might not see it at first. The wall might look fine to the eye. But over time, that small lean compounds. Doors won’t close right. Floors will slope. Load-bearing walls start to crack and settle. The whole structure becomes unreliable. And it all started because someone said, “Eh, that looks close enough,” instead of checking it against the standard. I learned that lesson building houses. But it turns out it’s the same lesson God has been teaching His people for thousands of years. God’s Plumbline In the bible, there’s a story about God showing the prophet Amos a plumb bob (or plumb line). God showed Amos a wall that had been built with a plumb line — and God Himself was standing there holding it. Actually, He was measuring His own people against the standard He gave them. Amos 7:7–8:  (7) Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. (8) And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel.” God was asking Amos here: The people of Israel – are they straight? Are they lined up with what I gave them? Are they in alignment and harmony with my love? Or have they drifted? Have they started eyeballing it, instead of checking it against the standard? For us, right now, today, the Word of God is that plumb line. We live according to what was written TO us (Romans through Thessalonians). It’s the standard for us that doesn’t move.  Now remember this: the entire bible isn’t written TO you. Most of the bible is written to people who lived thousands of years ago, and so that old testament stuff is just FOR our learning. Old Testament stuff is not written TO us. That was then, the law, the Law of Moses, for example. We teach in our Foundation Class how to read the bible and know which parts are written to you, so you can apply those present truths to your life.  In life, things change. Culture changes. Opinions shift. Books come and go. Netflix shows and podcasts trend for a while. But the Word stays true, straight, and vertical. It’s anchored to God Himself — and God doesn’t change.  (Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8, James 1:17, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 40:8).  Let’s turn to Ephesians 4.  When you know the Word, you can hold it up against anything you hear — a book, a podcast, a text, a comment at work, a class in school, a self-help program online — and see whether it lines up straight or whether it leans off. You have a reference point. You have something to measure against. You have a standard.  Without the Plumbline Without a standard, here’s what happens: We’re in Ephesians. Let’s read Ephesians 4:14  — "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Tossed to and fro. That’s a life without a plumbline. Every new idea sounds good. Every teacher sounds convincing. Every book seems like it’s got the answer. But you’ve got nothing to measure it against. So you drift. You lean a little here, a little there. And just like that wall, it might not look like a problem right away — but over time, things stop working the way they should. Paul talked about this in a letter he wrote called Romans: 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." Don’t be conformed. Don’t let the world shape you into what it says about you. Instead… be transformed — how?  By the renewing of your mind. And how do you renew your mind?  With the Word. That’s the plumbline . You take what the world gives you, hold it up next to the Word, and you can see whether it’s straight on and true (in alignment and harmony with God) or whether it leans and is off. The Word: Your Standard for Living The beautiful thing is, when you’re born again, you have the ability to know this standard personally (1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 John 2:27). You have God in Christ in you (Colossians 1:27, 1 John 4:4, Galatians 4:6). You have holy spirit (Acts 2:38, Romans 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:22). You have the power to understand the Word, to apply it, and to live by it (2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13, James 1:22). For example:  2 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." Colossians 1:27  says you have Christ in you.  1 Corinthians 2:12–13  — "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." We don’t have to guess. We don’t have to hope we’re living a good life. You have a standard, and you can check yourself against it every single day. You know WHO you ARE — a son or daughter of God. You know WHAT you HAVE — Christ in you, holy spirit, the power of God at work in your life. And you know WHAT you can DO with it — greater works than Jesus did, according to John 14:12, because he went to the Father and made this power available to every believer. An Example: Holding a Book Up to the Plumbline Let me give you an example of what this looks like in my life. A few days ago, a good friend of mine gave me a book to read. It’s a thoughtful book. The author talks about love, community, belonging, finding your purpose, the power of transformation. Really good stuff. I was reading along and I kept thinking the same thing over and over: I already know this. And I learned it from the Word. The author of the book — maybe unknowingly — is paraphrasing what was already written 2,000 years ago in the New Testament. The language is different. She uses terms like “evolution,” “cosmic consciousness,” and “wholeness.” But when you hold it up next to the Word? The core ideas line up almost sentence to verse. So I did something kind of cool. I used an AI tool and I put the book side by side with the KJV bible. Concept by concept for many pages. Here’s what came out: APPENDIX The Full Side-by-Side Comparison The Unbearable Wholeness of Being by Ilia Delio (pp. 179–192) compared with the King James Version of the Holy Bible QUOTED FROM THE BOOK (page #) WHAT THE WORD ALREADY SAID (KJV) GOD IS LOVE — WHOLENESS AND ONENESS “God is the energy of wholeness and the irresistible lure that attracts every whole toward greater wholeness.” (p. 179) 1 John 4:8  — He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:16  — God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Deuteronomy 6:4  — Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. “Love at the heart of being empowers life toward more being and more life.” (p. 179) John 10:10  — I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 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. WE BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER — ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS “Every human person desires to love and to be loved, to belong to another.” ... “We are born social and relational. We yearn to belong, to be part of a larger whole.” (p. 179) 1 Corinthians 12:12–14  — For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. Romans 12:5  — So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. “We belong to one another because we have the same source of love.” ... “We are already one.” (p. 180) Ephesians 4:4–6  — There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. JESUS SHOWED A NEW KIND OF LOVE “Jesus showed us a ‘conscious love,’ one that sees, feels, and unites with others for the sake of life.” (p. 181) John 13:34–35  — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “It is not the religious act that makes the Christian.” (p. 181) James 1:27  — Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Romans 2:29  — But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter. “To return home to ourselves is to commit ourselves to new life. Jesus began his public ministry with a plea for conversion, to change the way we think about things.” (p. 183) 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. Ephesians 4:23–24  — And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND LOVE “Wisdom is knowledge deepened by love.” ...  “If love is absent from the core of knowledge—whether on the level of science, university education, or Christian faith—the end result is division, confusion, and separation.” (p. 182) 1 Corinthians 8:1  — Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Corinthians 13:2  — And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith... and have not charity, I am nothing. Proverbs 4:7  — Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. GOD IN CHRIST IN YOU — THE TEMPLE IS WITHIN “We must surrender within where God is seeking to be born.” (p. 184) ... “He realized that the church is not built with stones but with human hearts centered in divine Love.” (p. 184) Colossians 1:27  — Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1 Corinthians 3:16  — Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Peter 2:5  — Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood. LOVE AS POWER AND GIFT “Love is not a marketing tool; it is a form of worship, a transcendent spiritual power. It is the deepest creative power in human nature. It is bearing life as gift.” (p. 185) 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. Ephesians 2:8  — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. THE FULLNESS OF LIFE — GREATER WORKS “Jesus’ law of love is the law of Christian discipleship, for the one who loves will make greater wholes than Jesus.” (p. 187) John 14:12  — Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. NEW WINE IN NEW WINESKINS “As long as we remain in the old temple with old laws and old rituals, we are old wine that has lost its flavor. New wine must be put into new wineskins.” (p. 187) Mark 2:22  — No man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles... but new wine must be put into new bottles. 2 Corinthians 5:17  — If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. IT’S ALL PAID FOR “Those who out of love for Christ give themselves to the service of others will live, like the grain of wheat that dies.” ... “May this body immolated and this blood sacrificed for humans nourish us also, so that we may give our body and our blood to suffering and to pain—like Christ.” (p. 189) [Benjamin’s note: No need to suffer! It’s all paid for.] Romans 8:1  — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:24  — Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Isaiah 53:5  — He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ONE WHOLE BODY — CHRIST UNITES US “Because Christ unites different bodies into one body through his suffering on the cross, it is the cross with its gift of self-giving love that is the basis of community.” (p. 191) ... “Our relationship to Christ is our relationship to one another.” (p. 192) ... “Relationships that transform strangers into family.” (p. 192) Ephesians 2:14–16  — For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us... that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. 1 John 4:20–21  — If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar... And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Ephesians 2:19  — Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). I went through many pages and every major concept had a scripture that said it first — and said it better.  Where the Book Leans Now, here’s where the plumbline does its job. Because the book isn’t all straight. Some of it leans. The book talks about ongoing suffering as the path to God — that we need to suffer and sacrifice like Jesus did. But what does the Word say?  Well, the Word says Christ already paid for our sins. He already suffered so that we don’t have to carry that burden. (Romans 5:1, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:32, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 2:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, Isaiah 53:5).  The book also leans into the idea that you need to “evolve” your way to God, that human consciousness has to reach some higher level to connect with the divine. But the Word says that’s already done. You don’t climb to God. God came to you. The moment you believed and confessed, it was finished. Romans 10:9–10 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." That’s the starting point. Not the finish line. It’s done. Everything else — the growth, the love, the power, the renewed mind — flows from what’s already been given to you. Learn to Fish Now, I could just hand you my notes and say, “Here, look at what I found.” But that’s feeding you fish. I’d rather teach you how to fish. What I did with this book, you can do with anything you’re reading, watching, or listening to. And you don’t have to be a Bible scholar to do it.  There are AI tools available right now that can help you hold what you’re reading up against the Word.  Here’s my prompt:  I’m reading a book and I want to compare what the author is saying with what the Bible already teaches. I’m a Christian who reads the King James Version (KJV) exclusively. Here is the text from the book: [Paste the text here. You can type it out, take a photo and paste the image, or copy from an ebook.] Please go through this text concept by concept and do the following: 1. Identify each main idea or concept the author is expressing. 2. For each concept, find one or more KJV Bible verses that teach the same thing or a closely related truth. 3. If any concept contradicts scripture, point that out and explain what the Word actually says. 4. Put the author’s words in quotation marks with the page number if I provide it. 5. Write out the full KJV verse text for each scripture reference. 6. Use plain, everyday language in your explanations. Keep it simple and clear. Present the results in a two-column format: the book’s concept on the left, the KJV scripture on the right. The point isn’t how to use AI. The point is this: you have a plumbline, and now you have a tool that can help you use it faster. The Word is still the standard. The AI just helps you find the verses and make the connections. You still have to read it, study it, believe it, and do it. Building Straight This week, when you hear something — a podcast, a book, a conversation, something on social media, something at work — hold it up to the plumbline. Ask yourself: Does this line up with the Word? Like a builder checks a wall. And if it lines up? Great. There’s truth in a lot of places, because God’s truth is woven into the fabric of creation. But if it leans and is off? You’ll know. Because you’ve got the plumbline. You know who you are. You know what you have. You know what you can do with it. And you’ve got a written standard that never moves, never changes, and never lets you down. Psalm 119:105  — "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Amos 7:7–8  — "Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline." Build straight. Build your life straight. Build on the Word. And everything else in your life - everything - will line up. You are the best.  Amen? For Further Study Romans 8:1  — "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Isaiah 53:5  says he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Are healed. Present tense.  Romans 5:1  — "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Justified. Done. Peace with God isn't something you suffer your way into — it's already yours by faith. Romans 5:8-9  — "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." He did it while we were still sinners. We didn't earn it then, and we don't earn it now. Romans 6:23  — "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It's a gift. Not a paycheck you earn through suffering. Romans 8:32  — "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Freely give. Not "make us suffer for." 2 Corinthians 5:21  — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Christ became sin so we could become righteousness. The exchange is already complete. 2 Corinthians 5:17  — "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The old is gone. You're not dragging the old burden around. Galatians 3:13  — "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Redeemed from the curse. Not still under it. Galatians 5:1  — "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." If someone's telling you that you need to suffer to get closer to God, that's a yoke of bondage. Christ already set you free from that. Ephesians 1:7  — "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." We have  redemption. Present tense. It's done. Ephesians 2:8-9  — "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." Not of works. Not of suffering. Not of sacrifice. Grace through faith. Colossians 1:13-14  — "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Hath delivered. Past tense. Already done. Colossians 2:13-14  — "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." That's the nail in the coffin on this one. He blotted it out. He nailed it to the cross. The debt is cancelled. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10  — "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." Not appointed to wrath. Appointed to live together with him. That's the whole point. Malachi 3:6  — "For I am the LORD, I change not." Hebrews 13:8  — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." James 1:17  – “ with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." No shifting. No shadow of a change.  Numbers 23:19  — "God is not a man, that he should lie.” God doesn't change His mind. What He said, He does. Isaiah 40:8  — "The word of our God shall stand for ever."  Everything else fades, but the Word stands.

When I have concerns about situations, I confess : Philippians 4:6 Be careful, [be anxious] for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. When situations look hopeless, I confess: Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. When problems and concerns are too big for me to handle, I confess: Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. When I am not experiencing good health, I confess: 1 Peter 2.24 Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed. 3 John 2 Beloved, (your name here) I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in (good) health. When I'm overwhelmed, I confess: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me. Ten Things I Tell Myself Everyday My strength comes from God . Psalms 27 - the whole chapter Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 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." I am a son/daughter of God. 1 John 3:2 a Beloved, now are we the sons of God , and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God , without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; God wants the best for me. 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that God may prosper and be in (good) health. Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. (ask big. think big.) I don't worry or fret or get anxious about anything. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. I have no condemnation. Romans 8:1   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. I take everything in stride. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understandings. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. I am awesome and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully (awesome) and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. I am God's masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. I am more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I have power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. More verses that say we are a son/daughter of God: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18  Romans 8:14 Romans 8:16 Galatians 3:26 Galatians 4:7 1 John 3:1 1 John 3:2 John 1:12 Verses for When Overwhelmed/Anxious: Psalm 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God Philippians 4:6 and 7   Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Isaiah 26:3 :  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Psalm 61:2   From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 2 Timothy 1:7   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind. Proverbs 3:5–6  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded thee? Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever thou goest. Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded (confused): therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed (disappointed in my expectations). “ashamed"  In the original Hebrew, the word used there is bosh- the biblical meaning of bosh is much broader. It specifically carries the idea of being disappointed , delayed, or let down by something you were counting on. You know this because when God is the one helping, disappointment isn’t even an option. You can count on God. Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me? 1 Peter 5:7  Cast all your cares upon him for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ( Amplified Bible, Classic Edition ) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Hebrews 13:5b  For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5b ( Amplified Bible, Classic Edition ) WOW! ...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 2 Samuel 22:33 and 34 God is my strength and power, and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hind's feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Mark 11:23 and 24  For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Romans 8:37  In all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 2:14  Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Ephesians 3.20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ask big, think big. Deuteronomy 31:6  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. John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Verses When You Need Peace Isaiah 26:3 :  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Philippians 4:7 :  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  2 Timothy 1:7   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind. Romans 8:31 If God be for us who can be against us. Psalm 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Psalm 34:17  The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Proverbs 3:24  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Psalm 37:5   Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 18:30  As for God his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust him. Deuteronomy 28:8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Malachi 3:10b …Prove me now herewith ,  saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. The books of Psalms and Proverbs both give lots of peace Psalm 23 and Psalm 62 Verses for Relationships Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to thy bones. Philippians 3:13b Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before. Psalm 71:1  In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Let me never be put to confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33a God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Colossians 3:13  Forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ also forgave you, so do ye also. Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 Corinthians 6:14   Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness? Ephesians 5:11   and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Psalm 60:12  Through God we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall. 1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you (God in Christ in you) than he (the devil) that is in the world. Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Comparing yourself with others 2 Corinthians 10:12   For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. Corinthians 10:12 (Amplified Bible) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who [self-complacently] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack understanding and behaves unwisely. Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 4:31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. 1 Corinthians 13:5 and 6 The love of and for God doth not behave itself unseemly. Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Ephesians 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please turn in your Bible to Proverbs 23:7 What if I told you that you have POWER to make things happen in your life? Supernatural power, power from God to live the more abundant life. Not just life, getting by kind of life, but the MORE abundant life. Having all your needs met all the time in every category of life? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll learn from the Bible how to have Power in our lives We have power in our lives by thinking, saying, and doing the Word.   You and I, born-again believers according to Romans 10:9 & 10 , have easy access to power in this world.   This power enables us to be more than conquerors in every situation ( Romans 8:37 ). This power brings release to any mental or physical prison ( John 8:36 ) and victory ( 1 Corinthians 15:57 ) to our lives.   This power is from God. Whatever we believe is directly reflected in what we confess.  What we confess in the innermost being (our heart) is what we bring into reality in our lives. Confession of belief = receipt of confession; believing = receiving The law of believing works for both believers and unbelievers.   However, believers, because of the spirit from God within, will bring forth more abundantly.  Right believing is constantly knowing God’s power and presence are in you and with you in every situation!  How you think about a situation at this very moment will determine the outcome. Mark 9:23 If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. We want to align our thoughts, words, and actions with what God says in His Word so that we receive the abundance and power He promises.  We can shape every part of our lives for success by thinking, saying, and doing the Word to the end that our confession of belief is God’s Word. Walk with power by thinking the Word Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he Thoughts are the seeds of words and actions, and we receive the outcome of the thoughts we hold in our hearts. What we think, we are. Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right. Henry Ford Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Think those thoughts Jesus Christ thought.  Jesus kept his thinking lined up with the Word, but he had to work at it.  He had to direct his thinking to the Word.   Keeping our thinking on positive truths is the key to power for abundant living. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. God tells us exactly what to think about.  Think about what you think about. Science tells us that the average human has about 6,200 thoughts every single day.  Retemorize (retain & memorize) verses. This means you memorize verses to believe them, to make them the joyful meditation of our heart, so we receive what we confess. Job 3 is an example of what continual negative thinking can produce in one’s life once it takes root in someone’s heart.  Job 3:25  and Job 1:5  show that Job continually feared. - This is not what we want in our lives. In contrast, Mark 5:25-29  is the record of a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She spent all her money on doctors and only got worse. The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition of  Matthew 9:21  reads “ For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health ” - this is what we want in our lives. We continue to say the Word. This is the contest we have in our minds.  We have the freedom and authority to think the Word, which produces positive, successful fruit in our lives Walk with power by thinking the Word We just finished a class called Power for Abundant Living.  One teacher said that we replace our thoughts with God’s word.  He went on to say that if you go for a run or go to the gym and do a hard, sweaty workout, you don’t put on clean clothes over your smelly ones; you take off the old, smelly ones and put on new, clean ones. We replace our thoughts with God’s word to walk with power. How do I do this, Alicia? I’m glad you asked Here’s an example My friend has five kids. He told me that when his kids say something negative or something that doesn’t line up with the Word, he says, “Renew your mind”.   Renew - it’s as simple as that.  We put away our thoughts and think what God says.  For example, “I’m never going to get this project done, it’s just too hard.” NO! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let’s go God!” We walk with power by saying the Word Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Spoken words are referred to in God’s Word as coming from the ‘tongue” and the “mouth.” Whether positive or negative, they have power.  Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. We can keep, or hold our tongue, until the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart are acceptable in God’s sight My mother always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Our words can build up or tear down.  Before you say something, run it through your heart and ask, “Is this going to build up or tear down? This applies to words we say to others AND to ourselves. You are the person that you spend the most time with. You are the person who does the most talking to you. What are you saying? Is the Word dwelling in you richly  so that you speak it to yourself, so that you speak it to others? Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. We speak the positives and power of the Word, which minister grace to ourselves and others Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Can any challenge or issue in life be bigger than moving a mountain? We walk with power by doing the Word The “doing” of the word is sticking with our choices and refusing to back down on what we know to be the truth of the Word in any situation. “Doing” keeps us moving forward with power on what we decide to think and say. James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. This verse shows a man who looks in the mirror, sees his face, turns around, and forgets what he saw. We don’t want to read the Word and then turn around and forget what we read. We line up our actions with the Word; we do the Word. As we move, God can move and open doors for us to bring about godly impact, as you can read about in Acts 2, 3, and 4. To walk powerfully in life, we must do what we have decided to think and say.  We are fully equipped to be doers of the Word ( 2 Timothy 3:17). There are over 900 promises in God’s word; we can only do what we know.  We can search God’s Word to see what it says about our situation, or we can ask a fellow believer for help.  Once we find God’s promise that meets our need, we think it, say it, and take believing action (like the woman with the issue of blood - she continually said if I may touch his garment, and then she took action on her believing) and do the word. Believing = receiving.  What we confess in our innermost being withwhat we bring into our lives. We can determine to think, say, and do the world so that our confession of belief tracks with God’s Word and we reap God’s abundance and power in our lives. We can walk with power by thinking, saying, and doing the word.