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

Welcome to our Raleigh home bible fellowship. God bless you. In this home bible fellowship teaching, we'll learn a bit about communicating with each other without worthless words. In Ephesians 4:29, it says to not let unwholesome (foul, profane, worthless, vulgar) words ever come out of your mouth. Now, I don't know about you, but after a beer with some male friends on a boys night out, some foul words come out. Ya know what I mean?  But that's not what we're talking about here. We're not talking about some friends letting slip some f-bombs. We're talking about how a man or woman can build a person up. Building people up. Blessing people with words that strengthen them up is a clear sign of a mature person, particularly when the words are specific, encouraging, thoughtful, or insightful words that need to be heard. Ephesians 4:29 is a spiritual truth from which to learn how to use speech that is good for the building up of others according to the need and the occasion. And there's a purpose for this type of communication. The purpose is to construct your words in such a way that they will be a blessing to those who hear you speak. Have you ever been in a conversation at a party, and you're talking with one or two other people. Then slowly you notice that a few others start to lean into your circle of conversation, and they start to listen to what you have to say, and you see others start to nod and smile as you speak in agreement. This is a moment that you see the importance of letting no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.  Ephesians 4:29 says, "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." It's a Powerful Way to Live Doesn’t this sound like a powerful way to live? As mature men and women, we want our mouths to speak that which is good. In the context of (or in the verses surrounding) Ephesians 4:29 are two verses that give us specific advice on how to do this. Ephesians 4:31 tells us what kind of communication to NOT communicate, to not use in conversation with others, to “put away." Ephesians 4:32 shows us what we can become. Put Away What should we "put away?" Ephesians 4:31 says, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Let's look at this verse word by word.  Bitterness Bitterness in this spiritual truth means like a poison. When something is bitter, it's sharp and stinging. Words can sting. Like a bad bee sting. They can't kill you, but man! They can hurt. Bitterness can build up in our thoughts and minds when problems go unresolved or when we hold onto grudges. When we have problems in our minds, our words are problematic. Therefore, we need to pay attention to our words, solve outstanding problems and issues with others, and "put away" bitter, stinging words.  Wrath Put away wrath. Wrath in this verse is like anger. Wrath can flare up like a flame. Anger can come out of us particularly when we feel tired. Therefore, get make sure you get some good sleep every night.  Anger Anger used in this verse means indignation which has arisen gradually. It's like a lasting resentment. Prolonged and deep-seated anger needs to be resolved. Pray, ask for help from a spouse, consult with someone else, get help from a trusted friend or maybe even a professional therapist. To communicate well with others, we need to resolve all anger that's within ourselves.  Clamor Clamor is an outcry. Ever notice a loud, unruly man who speaks aggressively in a boisterous, brawling manner of speech. This is clamor. We want to put away this type of behavior. No one truly values an out-of-order, loud mouth. Those words are not graceful or good to the use of edifying, so we put them away. Evil Speaking Evil speaking is in reference to slanderous speech that is injurious to another person's good name. A spiritually mature person does not want to purposely injure another. But it can happen if we do not pay attention, if we are not mindful, of the words we speak. Therefore, think about what you say in reference to others. Speak well of others.  Malice Malice indicates having ill will or a desire to injure someone or see them suffer. Simply, we are to put away all malice. Out of the Heart and Buddha Jesus taught that the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The Buddha taught others about using the right kind of speech. By speaking kind and helpful words, we can become respected and trusted by others. Using the right type of speech is one of the noble eightfold paths of enlightenment that he taught. And using the right speech ultimately helps others to end their suffering.  And what is the right type of speech? The Buddha taught others to abstain from using words that were lies, divisive, abusive, and idle chatter. This he called "right speech." I agree. And this all seems to be truthful and helpful.  But  Ephesians 4:32 says , "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 shows us what we want to become by using good, right communication to others. We are to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.  Become Kind One to Another Kind as it's used here means good, gracious, and easy. It carries the sense of being mild or pleasant as opposed to being harsh, hard, sharp, or bitter. When we are kind, we are actively doing good in spite of someone else's behavior. When we are kind, endorphins in our brains are released. Endorphins, which are  structurally similar to the drug morphine, are considered natural painkillers because they activate opioid receptors in the brain that help minimize discomfort and bring about feelings of euphoria and general well-being. Kindness gets you high.   Love is Kind The love of God is kind, as I Corinthians 13:4 teaches us. And gentleness or kindness is a fruit of our spirit (Galatians 5:22). Kindness is spiritual in nature. The sign of a spiritually-mature person is one who is kind to others.  Tenderhearted and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Tenderhearted requires compassion. To be tenderhearted to others means being benevolent, empathic, and showing mercy. We should show, conduct, and express compassion to one another. And in doing so, we become tenderhearted. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, founder of Naropa and Shambhala Mountain Center,   taught that the foundation of fearlessness of a warrior king is when that man renounces his hard-heartedness and allows himself to be tender, open, exposed, and fully present. A warrior king is careful to not enclose himself with a thick impenetrable armour, but allows himself to be open, soft, and sensitive.  Forgiving It can seem very difficult to be forgiving, but Ephesians 4:32 doesn’t stop at “forgiving one another.” The verse continues with “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” What does that mean? It means that for a man (or woman) to become forgiving to another person, he must recognize that something greater than himself, that ultimate spirit of love, has forgiven him. We exist because of forgiveness and unconditional love, and that love just keeps flowing. Love keeps flowing. It's like a river that flows. If someone has done you wrong or said something terrible to you, don't dwell on that like a rock in a river. But instead, just flow right past it. Ask yourself, "What's next?" Just keep moving. Just as as the river flows, it changes. And so can you. You change. You're no longer who you were before reading these words. You've changed. And so, if you are to forgive others, you must understand that there's other processes in place that make forgiveness much easier than you think. Just let it flow. Summary As we put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and all malice and become kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to one another, the natural result (the fruit that grows outwardly from the tree) will be words that are good to the use of edifying and words that minister grace to the hearer. This is an abundant and powerful way to live.

​One of the best things in life is to be thankful. It’s simple to remain thankful when we keep in mind what God has done for us. Take a moment right now to think about some of the things you’re thankful for. ​My advice is to learn that when we have an attitude of thankfulness, that puts us in a frame of mind to believe the best, and we then can see how we can be successful and triumphant in every situation. By being thankful, we can help and serve others so that they can be victorious as well. You Have Been Invited Colossians 3:15 says, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." That spiritual truth means that we can let peace (that inner calm) be the controlling factor in your hearts and minds, which can help us decide and settle questions and concerns that may arise in our thoughts. To this spiritual peace, you have been invited as a believer. You have been invited to believe in and experience this spiritual peace in life. And be thankful for it. There's So Much to Be Thankful For We have so much to be thankful for. The house we live in. The food we eat. The clothes we wear. The school that we go to. The work that we do. And each other. I’m thankful for the family that I have. And all of our needs be being met. In Philippians 4:19, there’s a promise that all of our needs will be supplied. Choose to Be Thankful 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that in every situation, we can choose to be thankful and to give thanks. Why? Why is thankfulness so important in our lives? When we are thankful, we are continually aware of the good things God has done for us and given us and invited us to experience. By being thankful, we practice the continual presence of God in our lives. Colossians 1:12 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (made us sufficient) to be partakers (to share fully) of the inheritance of the saints (believers) in light. We give thanks that we can partake, live, and share fully everything this world has to offer. Triumph 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.” What’s that verse mean? When we give thanks to God, it causes us to be successful, victorious, prevail, achieve, and be triumphant in spirit. And through us and our success in life, that knowledge of God (what we know about God) is like a savor (a sweet fragrance) that is spread out and made evident (manifested) everywhere. We’re thankful that God always, always, not sometimes, not only on Sundays, not once a month, but always, always causes us to triumph. Even if we face a negative situation, we can find something to be thankful for while claiming a promise of God with believing. An attitude of thankfulness puts us in a frame of mind to believe, and we can see that victory come to pass. Remember (with thankfulness) what has been done for us. Remember what has been given to us. Remember (with thankfulness) who you are, where you are, and what you’re doing. Remembering (with thankfulness) will help us continue to stand on the spiritual truths that we know. Born Again In the past, I was alone, broke, with no direction or hope. Then, I met an amazing, outstanding woman, and I became a new person, literally born-again. When we’re born again, we are made near to God. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made near.” When we’re aware of truths like this, it’s simple to be full of thanks. Our logical response now to everything in my life is to be thankful. And to take a stand for God, give, and live in service. Be Transformed Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of being thankful and serving others. And do not be conformed to this world any longer with its superficial values and customs, but be transformed and progressively changed as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove for yourselves what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for you. Serve Others Being thankful helps us serve (to do things for others) with a renewed mind and spiritual attitude: when we pray for someone else who has a need, when we reach out and help someone, when we give someone our time and watch a movie together, when we teach someone something new, when we help someone with something their struggling with, when we prepare a meal for someone, when we take care of someone’s child babysitting, when we simply give someone a refreshing drink or a 10-second hug. We can be that type of person who as an attitude of being thankful, which puts us in a frame of mind to believe. And when there’s an opportunity to serve, we’re the first ones to say, “Here you go. I can do that for you.” And the result of our service with a thankful heart and mind is that others are blessed, God is glorified, and we are always richly rewarded when we serve others with love in our hearts. Thankfulness in our hearts also smooths the way for a relationship to be sweeter. When we are thankful for what God has done for us, we may find it easier to forgive others, because we remember what God has forgiven us for. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Being thankful truly helps us put on the mind of Christ and be like him. Being thankful is so important in our lives. Thankfulness actually leads to giving thanks. Thankfulness inspires us to serve others and to give thanks. Thanks be to God. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The truth of the matter is to give thanks, and to do it always. It takes no extra time at all to be thankful and to give thanks for all our blessings. And to give thanks well, we pray. Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a group of folks in Thessalonica (a port in Greece, north of Athens), and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-27 reads, “Rejoice always and delight in your believing. Be unceasing and persistent in prayer. In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God. For this is the will of God for you. Do not quench subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of the holy spirit that is in you. Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecies, which are spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation that you receive by praying. But test and examine and think about all things carefully so you can recognize what is good. Hold firmly to what is good. … and pray. And greet all the believers with a holy kiss. I solemnly charge you to have this read before all the congregation.” It's a Choice Thankfulness is a choice. God’s will for us is to have a thankful heart and mind and give thanks in everything. So that’s what we choose to do. By our choice, we determine our own thankfulness. Rather than focusing on the inconveniences, the negatives, or the pain of the situation, we can choose to remember what God has done for us, what we’re thankful for, so that we can live a life filled with love, joy, peace, power, and also to help others. A key to maintaining a mindset of thankfulness is prayer. When we pray, we speak to God from our hearts. We share our deepest thoughts. We get quiet and speak. Just like a child speaks to her dad. Praying helps get our thoughts straight. It also helps us unwind and release what's going on in our heads. Praying helps us remember that our needs our met. It can bring to mind what has been given to us. Peace Apostle Paul knew about the power of prayer when he wrote not just to believers in Philippi a long time ago, but also to you. To you, a letter, which in Philippians 4:6 reads, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything, every circumstance and situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God. And what will result? The peace of God, that peace which reassures your heart, that peace which transcends everything you understand, that peace which stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, that peace is yours.” I have learned that the more thankful I am for what I have today, the more I'll have to be thankful for tomorrow. The blessings just keep coming. Summary Giving thanks is so important in our lives. It helps us see what God has done for us. It helps us help and serve others. Being thankful is a choice. We choose what to put in our minds. We choose what thoughts stay in our minds. Rather than feeding ourselves negative thoughts and focusing on the bad things, we choose to remember, to look at, the good things, what has been done for us, given to us to enjoy, so that we can joyfully give thanks for everything. We choose to be thankful. And we have so much to be thankful for. Let’s keep developing and working on our thoughts of thankfulness and enjoy the rich blessings and success in our lives. Let’s be thankful in every situation every day. I hope that advice helps you be a better person and live a better life.

Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. God bless you. Welcome to our home Bible fellowship in Raleigh. Today, we explore the inspiring story of Aquila and Priscilla, a remarkable couple whose dedication to spreading God's Word and supporting Apostle Paul made a significant impact on the early Christian church. Through their example, we learn valuable lessons about teamwork, hospitality, and the power of living and working together in faith. Join us as we delve into their story and discover how we too can become faithful workers in Christ's ministry. I was thinking about my fellowship with God and with other believers. And about speaking the Word with and to others, and being an example to others at the coffee shop and in our neighborhood. And I thought about our new neighborhood, and our new house. And for some reason, I thought, what if Alicia and I moved right next to Aquila and Priscilla’s house.  Aquila and Priscilla, two wonderful believers. Apostle Paul knew them, and wrote about them. In Romans 16:3-5 , Paul writes, “3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers  in Christ Jesus. 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks. Unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches  of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise, greet the church that is in their house .” Paul speaks so highly of these two fellow believers. They were important to Paul. He called them “my helpers.” Using my Blue Letter Bible app, we see that “helper” in Romans 16:3 is the Greek word “synergos,” meaning fellow worker, a companion in work, and a workfellow.  This is the first occurrence of this snyergos-workfellow word. Right here in Romans 16:3. So, these two people are the first examples of what synergos-workfellows are. We can learn how to be helpers or fellow laborers in Christ by understanding more about Aquila and Priscilla.  When I was recently reading about Aquila and Priscilla, I learned a little bit more about myself and my wife. This wonderful married couple were fellow workers with the Apostle Paul.  (1) They lived and worked with Paul. I live and work with my wife.  (2) They helped Paul start new fellowships. My wife and I can help start new fellowships.  (3) They hosted home fellowships. My wife and I can host fellowships, and classes.  Please turn to Acts 18 , and let’s take a look at how Aquila and Priscilla lived and worked with Paul. (1) They lived and worked with Paul. (2) They helped Paul start new fellowships. (3) They hosted home fellowships.  In Acts 18:1-2 , it reads, “1 After these things, Paul departed from Athens (Greece), and came to Corinth (Greece). 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus.” (Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus, in what is now Turkey. He emigrated to Rome, where he met and fell in love with Priscilla in Italy.) Verse 2 continues… “Lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.” So Aquila and Priscilla travel “lately” from Italy to Corinth, Greece. They meet Paul in Greece.  In Acts 18:3, it says , “3 And because he was of the same craft, he (Paul) abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” So, (the first point I wanted to share) Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla lived and worked together. They fellowshiped with each other. Daily. They believed together. They rejoiced together. They strengthened each other with love and respect for each other. They were united.  Aquila and Priscilla were forced to leave their home in Rome, Italy. They could have become discouraged. They could have quit. They were uprooted from their home. But they stayed focused, held fast, were united, and spiritually energized. And they are written down, in the Word, as great examples of two people, a married couple, who stuck together, and were fellow believers and are great examples.  Not only did they know Apostle Paul, they lived with Paul, worked alongside him, and ate meals together. They sailed on ships with Paul (Acts 18:18). They were Paul’s helpers in Christ (as we just read in Romans 16:3). They ran fellowships (as we read in Romans 16:5). And they stood faithful with Paul throughout his ministry (as they’re saluted to in 2 Timothy 4:19). What a great team of believers. What a great fellowship they had with each other and with God. When we team up with fellow believers, and other disciples, we help each other build our believing and fellowship with God, and stay steadfast on God’s plain, simple, and good path in life. (2nd point I wanted to share) Aquila and Priscilla helped Paul start new fellowships. Corinth, Greece, was one of those areas where they started a fellowship. But when Paul left and sailed to Syria, Aquila and Priscilla sailed with him. Acts 18:18-19 says, “18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila;  having shorn his head (got a hair cut) in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.” Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla sailed from Corinth, Greece, to Syria. Then they all went to Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus. And Paul continued on his voyage to other places. When Paul returned, the Word grew mightly in that area in the space of two years to the point where, as it says in Acts 19:10 , “And this continued by the space of two years. So that all they who dwelt in Asia  heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews (Judeans) and Greeks (Gentiles).” Aquila and Priscilla were with Paul during this time. They were really spreading the Word, together, as coworking-fellowshipping believers to the point where everyone in Asia heard the Word. (3rd point I wanted to share)  Aquila and Priscilla hosted home fellowships in both Rome, Italy, and in Ephesus (western coast of Turkey). Romans 16:5 says, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house  (Aquila and Priscilla’s house).” And 1 Corinthians 16:19 says, “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. ” So, they had fellowships in their home. That’s one of the reasons Paul was so thankful for them.  (1) Aquila and Priscilla lived and worked with Paul. (2) They opened new areas of outreach with him. (3) And they hosted home fellowships.  These two believers, Aquila and Priscilla, learned a lot from Paul as he shared and taught the Word. Paul taught about the great mystery, the Grace Administration, the hope of Christ’s return, the accomplishments of Jesus Christ, and the one body of Christ. Being “synergos” or fellow workers with Paul, brought great benefits to Aquila and Priscilla, as they were willing to serve by speaking the Word to others.  For example, when Aquila and Priscilla were in Ephesus, they met Apollos, and “expounded unto him, the way of God more perfectly.” Acts 18:24-26  says, “24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John . 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly .”  Aquila and Priscilla took the time to speak the Word and teach the accurate Word to Apollos and to others. They learned enough  from Paul to teach others  in their home fellowships.  Aquila and Priscilla are great examples of fellow laborers. (1) They lived and worked with Apostle Paul. (2) They helped open new areas of outreach. (3) They hosted home fellowships.  They learned a lot. They spoke the Word, and taught others, what they knew, to bring them, to a knowledge of the truth. Not only was Paul thankful for them, but, as Romans 16:4 says, “unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches  of the Gentiles.”  Conclusion Aquila and Priscilla's story teaches us the profound impact that faithful teamwork and dedication to God's Word can have on our lives and communities. By living and working together with Apostle Paul, opening new areas of outreach, and hosting home fellowships, they set a powerful example for us to follow. As fellow believers, we too can spread the Word and support one another in our spiritual journeys. Let us be inspired by their legacy and strive to be "synergos"—fellow workers in Christ—bringing God's truth and love to those around us. Just like Aquila and Priscilla, we too can have an impact on spreading the Word as fellow believers. And that’s what I wanted to share.

Every day, my wife and I make time for a walk in our neighborhood. It's become a cherished routine—morning and evening, on grass, sidewalks, or by the roadside. As we walk, we talk about everything, from the big issues to the small, mundane details of life. These walks are more than just exercise; they're a time for connection and understanding. And sometimes, understanding means just listening. I've learned that when my wife says, "Babe, I’m not asking you to fix anything, just listen," it’s a gentle reminder that sometimes the best way to help is simply to listen. Today, l et’s dive into the power of listening, exploring why it’s so vital in our relationships and how we can become better listeners. By looking at examples from the Bible, we’ll see how listening can transform our interactions and help us truly support those around us. Why Listen? Why do we want to listen well? Being good listener can make a big difference in our ability to help someone. People who listen well stay focused, ask good questions, they try to understand, and respond with a heart and mind to help. Be Quick to Hear James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.” We are to be quick and speedy to hear. We have two ears and one mouth, so listening may be twice as important as talking. Listening is a great way to show love to someone and demonstrate that their life is important to you. And after we listen and understand more, we can then speak the truth in love. We want to demonstrate our love and compassion for others. I John 3:17 says, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” What are the bowels of compassion? That means the tender affections, kindness, benevolence, and compassion. We listen to others with compassionate kindness. With the love of God that dwells in us, we help others to meet their needs in this world with the spiritual truths we learn from God’s Word. So, first, we’re quick to listen, then, second, we gain understanding in order to help. Proverbs 18:13 says, “She that answereth a matter before she heareth it, it is folly and shame unto the her.” So, don’t respond to someone without first hearing what they have to say. Listening to gain understanding to help others is important. Remember, we are quick to hear, and we are slow to speak. No Formula, But Practical Keys There’s not a perfect technique or formula for being a good listener. It’s more about an attitude of heart. We listen with a heart to help people, knowing that we have a spirit within us and the spiritual truths we have learned to apply to help others. We can listen to help. There are some practical keys that can make us better listeners: Be quick to hear. Slow to speak. Be engaged. Be aware of your response (verbal and non-verbal) to what you hear. Avoid judging and being critical. Seek to understand. And ask questions. We can become genuinely interested in people and get engaged in their lives when we listen with love and respect. We gain their trust and come to know what kind of help they need. And we have the love of God to give to help them. One aspect of engaging with someone is to first handle distractions. You may need to move to a quieter place, turn off the music, put down your phone, and look directly at the person whose speaking to you. I have to remind myself to remove my hands from my keyboard, so that I can listen better to someone whose talking to me while I’m typing. And when someone is talking, believe to understand. Believe to understand them. When we focus on listening and believing to understand, we show that we value what people have to say. Our Response Another key to listening well is for us to be aware of how we respond to what we hear. Our response can greatly determine what is shared. If someone thinks that we’re giving a negative response, they may struggle to continue to speak openly. A positive response could be a simple nod, smile, saying, “I hear you,” eye contact, and leaning closer. Proverbs 20:5 says, “Counsel in the heart of a woman is like deep water, but a woman of understanding will draw it out.” Refrain from Judgement While listening we refrain from judgement or criticism, and we listen openly, which is another important key to listening well. We can avoid judging others according to our own emotions, our own experiences, or preconceived ideas. When we listen to others while being careful not to be critical of their thoughts or feelings, we make them feel at ease. Remember, we are seeking to gain an understanding so that we can help people with a spiritually-based, good response. Ask Questions Asking questions is another practical key to listening well that helps people to open up and talk. For example, let’s say someone says to you, “Boy, I’m tired.” What you can ask is something like, “What kind of tired are you?” This one question may open up the person to a more in-depth conversation. Philip In Acts 8:30, there’s a story about Philip. Philip applied this principle of asking questions as a key to listening well. One day, Philip was walking along and saw a man off to the side reading. Philip could have just passed him by. But instead he asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” And that one question lead to a life-changing conversation between the two men that you can read about in Acts, Chapter 8. Jesus Christ Another example of a good listener can be found in a story of Jesus Christ. He was listening to help in Luke 24, beginning in verse 13. In this story, two of Jesus’ followers were walking along the road to Emmaus, just after witnessing some shocking, life-changing events. As they were walking, they were trying to adjust to the new state of affairs. The person that they were following, Jesus, was killed. They witnessed that. But now they hear people reporting seeing angels, others saying that Jesus was alive again, and others saying that Jesus’s tomb was empty. Well, Jesus caught up to them and began walking with them along the road, but the two men didn’t recognize Jesus. Luke 24, verse 17, shows that Jesus listened to the two men carefully, gained an understanding of why they were sad, and asked them a question. Jesus asked, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” He asked the question, although he knew the answer. The answer was that he himself was the subject of their discussion. He could have illuminated their thinking immediately, but Jesus encouraged them to talk about what had happened, what they experienced, and what they heard. He listened to them. Then he responded. Luke 24, verse 25 and 27 reads, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, Jesus expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” He taught them everything. Jesus didn’t reveal who he was to them. But because he listened well, he was able to answer their questions, and teach them the Word, the spiritual truths, that they needed in order to be encouraged, and to have no fear, but to rejoice in what had happened. Jesus worked with these two men, listening and talking, because they were confused and not yet convinced of the truths concerning Jesus Christ. Later the men talked about their time walking and talking with Jesus, saying, “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” The really enjoyed the conversation. Like Jesus Christ, we too can listen to people when they need help in their believing. Being a good listener can make a big difference in our ability to help someone. We can ask good questions. Stay focused on what we hear, just like Jesus did on the road to Emmaus. Be Ready I Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and respect.” Be Graceful Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Give When we listen to someone, it doesn’t matter who it is, we want to help. Then we can give to them the spiritual truths that we know with love and care. We want to listen well to help. Summary Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Listening can make a big difference in our ability to help someone. So, let’s be ready to listen well. Verse references: James 1:19 I John 3:17 Proverbs 18:13 Proverbs 20:5 I Peter 3:15 Colossians 4:6

Visualization has been a part of elite sports for a long time. Olympic athletes use images of victory to help them achieve their goals and win competitions. Athletes mentally practice and simulate the competition. For example, a down hill skier may sit in a chair, close their eyes, and mentally visualize the downhill course, including every curve and turn. We too can use believing images of victory to experience great success in our lives. We can picture ourselves speaking God’s Word with confidence and boldness, overcoming hesitation. Bright Lights Apostle Paul, while in prison, wrote to people who lived in Philippi (Philippians Chapter 2:15-16). He wrote this letter to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers, and the spiritual truths that she shared with the Philippians back then are applicable for us today. He wrote that we may show ourselves to be innocent and uncontaminated in the midst of crooked and wicked people, among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the dark world, holding out to it and offering to all men and women the Word of Life. Paul had a believing image of the Word of Life being held forth by people who believed in God. We, too, can build a believing image of ourselves doing the same thing. Ambassadors One example of a believing image of victory is that we can see ourselves as bold ambassadors for Christ. We can mentally hold an image of ourselves that is described in II Corinthians 5:20, which says that we are ambassadors for Christ. In the King James Version, 2 Cor 5:20 says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." What does "ambassadors for Christ" mean? It means that we are people who can act as representatives or promoters. We represent. We promote. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God was making an appeal through us. We promote, we speak, we demonstrate, we live as examples of how to be reconciled to God. What does it mean to be "reconciled to God." On a basic human level, when two people (especially two people who are friends) have a disagreement about something, or when one person does something hurtful to the other, it causes a rift in their relationship. The more serious the issue is, or the more one person is hurt by the other (especially if the hurtful actions are intentional), the deeper that rift will be. For those two people to return to their former state of harmony and agreement, it is necessary for those two people to become reconciled to one another -- that is, for one or both people to indicate through their words and/or actions: (a) the reason for the break in their relationship; (b) a responsibility for contributing to that break; (c) some regret or sorrow for those words or actions; and (d) a promise that the cause of the break will not be repeated. Now, God created us to live in perfect harmony and fellowship with Himself. Since God is spirit, fellowship between God and us, therefore, requires some spiritual work, some necessary thoughts or actions to keep our fellowship connected and in good shape. God is making an appeal through us (asking others urgently and fervently to do something). We plead on Christ's behalf (we offer or present a reason for doing or not doing something) to be reconciled to God (to build or restore friendly relations between us and God). And that's what Paul meant in his letter. He wanted people to be ambassadors who help people get reconciled or back together with God. And remember, what is God? Creator, Faithful, Good, Great, Powerful, Strong, Spirit, Not a Man, Peace, Father, Supplier, Light, and Love. In 1 John 4:16, it says that God is love. That's pretty plain and simple to understand. What do you love? I love my wife, my children, pepperoni pizza, football, and many other things. But who do you love? Who? Because where there is love between people, there God is. Prepare to Be Ambassadors One way to help prepare ourselves to help others build a good relationship between them and God is by seeing ourselves (picturing ourselves) as ambassadors, just like Jesus did. Jesus spoke, acted, and lived with the authority and dignity to represent God. We can see ourselves just like that, speaking God’s Word in our community and workplace with confidence and boldness. But what does "speaking God's Word" mean? What should we speak? According to Philippians 4:8, Paul recommends that we could talk to others about: things that are true, things that are honest, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, and things that are of good report. This is speaking God's Word. We can see ourselves as ambassadors (representatives and good examples) of living a life that is "reconciled" or connected with power, abundance, and love. We can picture ourselves helping guide someone through a class, a good book, or a fellowship teaching. We can see ourselves as someone that others can simply come to and talk with. We can see ourselves as someone who helps others, speaks well about others, and treats others as we would want to be treated. Don't Hesitate Another part of our believing image of victory is to see ourselves speaking the Word boldly and not having any hesitation to hold back our words. In Ephesians 6:19-20, the Apostle Paul believed God to successfully speak as he “ought to speak,” with nothing holding him back. We can certainly believe God to open some doors (opportunities) so that we can speak and talk to other people about what we know and want to share. And we can always picture ourselves opening our mouths and speaking God’s Word with boldness and with love. Set Goals Let’s now consider a practical key that will build our believing images of victory and help us speak the Word to others. And that the practical key is to set specific goals. Rather than passively expecting circumstances to prompt us to speak God’s Word, we actively seek opportunities to speak for God and bring love and reconciliation to people. For example, we could set the goal to speak God’s Word to one neighbor or person while walking outside in the community. Let’s always remember that God works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), so we can be successful in setting specific goals that will help us carry out our believing images of victory in outreach. How many people do you plan to speak God’s Word to the next time you are out in your neighborhood? How about one person? How about speaking something to that one person that relates to that list Paul gave us: Paul recommended that we could talk to others about: things that are true, things that are honest, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, and things that are of good report. Talk about one of those things. Prepare Another practical key that will help us build our believing image of victory is to further develop our knowledge of God’s Word with a vision of speaking spiritual truths to others. We can prepare ourselves to speak God’s Word. To prepare, we could consider one verse and how to clearly communicate the meaning of that one verse to a person who has never heard it. For example, we could study Mathew 5:16, which says: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. That verse says that we can let our lights shine before other people, so that they may see the good things we do and that we give thanks. And when we're out and about in our neighborhood, we can have a great day, do fun things, and express to a nearby person how thankful we are to be living an abundant life. You could say, "Life is good. I'm sure thankful." We could also prepare examples of how good our life is. The weather is a good common-ground topic that we can also talk about with each other. I could say, "Today's weather is something special. Ain't it? I sure am thankful to be outside enjoying with everyone." So, prepare. We can prepare to speak. Preparation builds confidence and boldness. Let’s picture ourselves doing that. We will be surprised by how naturally and boldly we can explain spiritual truths to people because we have prepared. Summary As born-again believers, let’s enjoy building our believing images of victory when speaking to other people and helping people build a good relationship with God. We can see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, boldly speaking the Word and sharing with others those simple spiritual truths that we have prepared. Just as great athletes in the world today experience success, we can achieve success in our lives by building believing images of victory!

God bless you abundantly. In a world where truth is often seen as subjective and ever-changing, finding a firm foundation can seem challenging. However, the Bible offers a timeless and unchanging truth that provides certainty and guidance for every aspect of our lives. Inspired by a teaching from Rev. Tom Mullins, this lesson delves into the relevance of God's truth, how it sets us free, and why it is essential for living an abundant and purposeful life. Join us as we explore scriptures from Malachi, John, and Psalms to understand the profound impact of embracing and living by God's truth. If you have a Bible, please turn to Malachai. I am thankful for the opportunity to share with you about the truth tonight. What I’d like to share with you is based primarily upon a recent teaching I heard from Rev. Tom Mullins. And it’s about truth.  Truth is always relevant, always current, and applicable to our lives. God provides truth, which is a firm foundation upon which we can build our lives. Truth speaks to all people, in all places, across all cultures, and all races, and across time. Truth is unchanging because it comes from God that does not change.  Malachai 3:6 I change not.  Turn to John 8. There is a trend today… to think that there’s no absolute objective truth. And that truth is subjective, based on individual preferences or opinions. People say, “Everyone has their own truth.” Or, “People are living their truth.”  Tonight, we’ll learn that God is the source of all truth. God provides a standard by which we can live an abundant life. God’s truth provides certainty in the midst of uncertainty. Jesus Christ said that the reason for his being born was to make known the truth. And the truth would bring freedom.  John 8:31,32 says, “31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth makes us free. Turn to Psalms 119. We have truth as a foundation. We can learn about truth to build and develop our lives. And we can share it with others. God makes known truth, which provides guidance and direction on how life can be lived.  So, how does God make the truth known? God reveals truth through His Word. And we learn the Word through resources like fellowship teachings and the research and classes provided by our ministry. So, that’s how we can know the truth. Today, there is a lot of doubt, speculations, or predictions surrounding us. But truth is an objective reality.  Psalm 119:160 says, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.”  Truth is a constant that can be relied upon… for all time. Psalm 100:5 says, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”  Truth spans across all time. Turn to John 17. What is really true… is true for everyone.  Truth doesn’t change because the point of view changes.  Without the truth, we wound’t know what to trust. And this is the bad situation that many people find themselves in today. They don’t know the truth. And we have the joy of sharing the truth with them. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” We are sanctified. We are set apart by and for God through the truth. We’re just different. Believers are different. We’re set apart.  Turn back to and read John 14:6. It says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Right vs Wrong God’s truth is not based on what other people are thinking. No matter how many people agree, no matter how passionate they are, the truth is what God says is real and right. It’s what provides us with a guiding standard of what is right and wrong.  Rev. Tom Mullins shared a story about when he was out with a friend, and they met a young man, and they were talking about the truth. And the young man said, “Well, truth is all relative. It’s all how you look at it.” And his friend then pointed to the coffee pot nearby and said, “Do you mean that if I said that this coffee pot is a bowling ball, it would be a bowling ball?” And the young man said, “Well, if it’s a bowling ball to you...”  We know that’s just silly. Truth is not relative. The truth is not what you say or think it is. Truth isn’t just how I look at things. There is an established standard. Whether I agree with it or not, my thoughts don’t change the standard.  There are standards in a lot of things. I study the International Residential Code, which establishes an international standard for building a house. Imagine if there was no building standard. What would our houses look like, if everyone had a different idea about how many inches are in a foot? If I use the wrong standard for building a house, I’m going to get the wrong results. I might just build a Hobbit house. Similarly, if I use the wrong standard for building and guiding my life, I’m going to get the wrong results, right?  There are standards in math. 2+2=4, regardless of whether I believe it or not.  Turn to Isaiah 5.  There are standards in life. No matter how much I want to flap my arms and fly like a bird, I’m not a bird. This guy ain’t flyin.   People today say things like, “You have your truth, and I have mine.” They say, “I’m living my truth.”  But here’s the real problem with that. What happens when those so-called truths conflict? If there are as many truths as there are people in this fellowship, how can proper judgments of what’s right and wrong be made? If there’s no absolute truth, then there is no standard for judging right from wrong, good from evil.  Have you seen the news? There’s a lot of evil going on out there. The most terrible acts or crimes against humanity in war could be considered someone’s truth.  Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” It seems that people today look within themselves for truth. They have switched from an objective truth that we can all agree on… to “your” truth, “our” truth, “my” truth.  Accountability If I reject the objective truth of a situation, I am also rejecting accountability for my thoughts. For example, if I think that I can be consumed with fear in a certain situation, then that will be my reality, my truth. But what I’m doing in that situation is… I’m trying to dismiss responsibility and accountability for what happens as a result of wrong believing. See, the truth is, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) When people reject the truth of God’s word, they endeavor to reject responsibility and accountability for what they think, say, and do. If I reject the building standard, then I need to be responsible for my Hobbit house that I build as a result.  John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” God wants us to know and do the truth and stand in the light… by placing the word of god in our hearts and our minds and in our actions. And to speak the truth to everyone.  Ephesians 4:15 says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Speak the truth in love. Turn to Mark 11. We need to speak and live the truth in love in order to grow and mature in this life. We are to speak the truth in love to those we meet because it is the truth of the Word that will bring freedom to those who hear.  Here’s some “truth” for you. Let me throw down some truth. And if you believe it, you shall receive it. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 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.” Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” This is some good truth, right? Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful (or anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” So, we can do all things, through the truth, which strengthens us. Conclusion   Here’s the truth. God has given us a standard that we can know and act upon. We can live and share this truth with others when we speak the truth in love. When we know the truth, we can live a free and abundant life.  Throughout this teaching, we have discovered that God's truth is unchanging, relevant, and the foundation for a fulfilling life. By recognizing that truth comes from God, who does not change, we can build our lives on a solid foundation. Embracing this truth helps us navigate the uncertainties of life with confidence and clarity. As we continue to learn and apply God's truth, let us also share it with others, speaking the truth in love and living as examples of the freedom and abundance it brings. Remember, the truth sets us free, and by living in this truth, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings in our lives. God bless you.

In a world where professional success is often measured by financial gain, there lies a deeper, more fulfilling approach rooted in biblical principles. Inspired by an article from James Ellis, a successful businessman in the film industry, this teaching explores how abiding in God's Word can lead to profound success in life and business. By applying the four key principles shared by Ellis—thinking big, respecting God's timing, acquiring necessary skills, and practicing the principle of giving—we can experience both spiritual and professional growth. Join us as we delve into John 15 and discover how to bear much fruit in every aspect of our lives. Let's learn the blueprint for success. I'd like to share what I've learned from an article inside the most recent magazine edition. The article is "Far-Reaching Professional Success" by James Ellis ( page 14 in this The Way.org Magazine ). James is from Vista, California, and he is a successful businessman in the film industry. Please turn to John 15.  He starts the article with a verse. Psalms 128:1, “Blessed is every one that feareth (or respects) the Lord; that walketh in His ways.” James writes, "I would like to present a few principles of walking in God's ways that I apply. They have certainly made me happy and successful in business. For believers, there is more to success and happiness than just financial gain. We are interested in moving the Word of God over the world, and our involvement in any business gives us a great opportunity to do that. Whether we own a corporation or are an entrepreneur or an employee, every twenty-four hours, we have a profound opportunity to move the positive godly truths about life in our culture."  James gives four Biblical principles of walking in God’s ways that he has applied for years because they work for him. We can apply these principles to our lives and businesses, too, and see success.  Principle #1: Think big. Principle #2: God's timing is important when executing an idea. Principle #3: Acquire the skills necessary to be your best in your occupation or field. Principle #4: Practice the principle of giving. In his article, for each principle, James provides personal insight and several verses that apply to certain situations in life. In every situation in life or business, we find the verse, the promise of God, the spiritual truth, for that situation, and we apply it, and act on it. We get the verse in our heads, put it on our hearts, we think upon those things, we speak those truths, we confess the positive, and we act on what we believe, in order to receive, and to see the results of our believing action.  Believe. Act. Receive. So, Principle #1. Think big. James asks, "How do we picture ourselves? How do we see ourselves? Do we see ourselves as God sees us? If we do, that's thinking big." Well, how big is big? Here's how big big is. We have God in Christ in us. I have God in Christ in me. That's how I see myself. That's how we see ourselves, because that's how God sees us. We have been given the gift of holy spirit. That’s big. That means we have been given the power and authority to make things happen, in our lives and in our jobs. James writes, "Who allows us to think this big? God does. What is it contingent on? Ultimately it is our responsibility to match our thinking to Christ's thinking and act on it. And when we do, we will bear much fruit. Fruit develops only when the right conditions are met." James includes John 15:4, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."  Huh? What does that mean? John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Believe. Ask . Receive.  That sounds like a great formula for a successful life and business, right? “ Ask  what ye will, and it shall be done.” How? How shall it be done? Abide. What does abide in John 15 mean? Abide is the Greek work “men-o” and it means to remain and wait, in place, do not leave, continue to be present. Abide also means to live, continually, to endure. Abide also means to remain as one, don’t become another or different.  So, what are these vine, branch, and fruit references in John 15?  A long time ago, I had a grandmother, grandmother Gromicko. She died when I was young, but I remember going over her house, and in the backyard, she had vines, with a ton of fruit, grapes. And the vines were thick and dense, full, and tall. And there was the big vine, a branch, and the fruit.  And in John 15:1, we read, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." Now, “husbandman” is the tiller of the soil, the vine dresser, the land worker, the farmer.  Okay, so we have: God is the farmer, Jesus is the vine.  In John 15:5, we read, "I am the vine (Jesus), ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me, ye can do nothing." So, Jesus is the vine, and we’re the branches. And we can’t bear fruit alone, by ourselves. Without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing.  Like James (author), I have a successful business. There is so much going on in my business, 31 employees, courses, classes, webinars, videos, conventions, etc. How do I do it? How do I manage it all? John 5:30 says, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” The same thing is true with John 15:5, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me, ye can do nothing." Okay, so we have God is the farmer, Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. We are to abid and remain in place with Jesus Christ (the holy spirit, God in Christ in me) because we can’t do anything alone. What's the fruit?  This fruit in John 15 is the Greek word "kar- pos ", and it means "that which originates or comes from something, an effect, the result." And that fruit, which results and comes from something else, is the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit that comes from the holy spirit. Okay, so we have God is the farmer, Jesus is the vine (can’t do anything without God in Christ in me, as we remain and abide and stay present), we are the branches that hold forth the fruit, of the spirit.  What exactly is the fruit of the Spirit referred to in John 15 (which James refers to in his business-success article?) The fruit of the Spirit is described in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." God (farmer), Jesus (vine), us (branches, can’t do anything without holy spirit, which is God in Christ abiding in us), the fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance). And that’s what James is talking about that results in a successful business: this fruit. This fruit is available and can be distributed, when you have a successful life (or business).  Fruit of the spirit is cultivated in our lives much like a fruit-bearing vine does. I still remember how, in the late summer, I was able to pick grapes from the branches of my grandmother's fruit-bearing vines, because she nurtured them, cultivated the vines to grow.  In order for those vines to bear fruit, first, something had to be planted in the soil, like a farmer planting a seed in the good ground. As the vines grew, developed, and matured, eventually, they produced fruit to enjoy.  Spiritually, our lives develop in a similar way. A person receives God’s seed, the gift of holy spirit, when they confess Jesus as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. The life in this spiritual seed is activated and grows to maturity as a born-again believer walks by the spirit, operating the manifestations of the spirit (which produces fruit). These manifestations (there are 9 of them) are listed in I Corinthians 12, and they are speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith (believing), miracles, and gifts of healings. Operating these manifestations in our lives produces the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance). A person can be a Christian, having holy spirit within, and yet not produce any fruit of the spirit because the spirit is only potential power   until  it is operated. What must happen between the seed being planted and the fruit being produced is our cultivation, or nurturing of the seed, as we live or walk by the spirit. We are to walk by the spirit, which includes (i) walking (thinking, believing, speaking, and acting, living) by the Word that we know (the spiritual truths, the promises in God's Word, the written revelation that we know)... and (ii) by the operation of the nine manifestations of the spirit. We are to walk, and to operate, to manifest, and that produces fruit. Producing the fruit of the spirit profits not only our own lives but also the lives of those we know, fellowship with, help out, love, and minister to.  In the context of life and business, this article and John 15 teach us what results when we have the holy spirit abiding in us.  John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:12 teaches us how to treat each other. John 15:12, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” And love is one of the fruit of the spirit, right? So, that’s just a small part of the article that I wanted to share with you. I highly encourage you to take a look at the business success article by James Ellis in the recent The Way Magazine. And keep on abiding in love and producing fruit of the spirit in order to live a life filled with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Through the powerful analogy of the vine and branches in John 15, we learn that true success stems from abiding in Christ and cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. By embracing the principles of thinking big, respecting God's timing, acquiring skills, and giving generously, we can see transformative results in our lives and businesses. Let these timeless biblical truths guide your professional journey, helping you to bear fruit that not only prospers your endeavors but also enriches the lives of those around you. Embrace these lessons, abide in God's love, and watch as your life flourishes with love, joy, peace, and more.

Welcome to our home Bible fellowship in Raleigh. Today, we dive deep into understanding the relevance of the Bible’s messages for us. Inspired by my study of the first eight chapters of Romans, this teaching explores the importance of knowing to whom the scriptures are addressed. By rightly dividing the Word, we can discern which parts of the Bible are written specifically for our application today and which parts are for our learning. Join us as we uncover the spiritual rights, privileges, and benefits that come from understanding and living by the truths addressed to us. The truth shall make us free. Thank you. Please turn to Romans 1. I am currently studying the first eight chapters of Romans. And I’m comparing the King James Version of each verse with the Amplified version. I’m learning a lot. Each letter from Romans through Thessalonians begins by saying who the letter is addressed to. The beginning of each letter makes clear to whom it is written. For example, in Romans 1:7, it says, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” Bam. That’s us. Saints, referring to born-again believers. So, Romans is addressed and written to us. People who believe in God in this modern day and time. Let’s go to Romans 15. The entire Bible is not addressed to us. Only some parts are. Sections of the Bible are written for and addressed to particular people. Knowing to whom a verse is written is a key to rightly dividing (rightly understanding) the Word. When I read a book, a letter, or a verse in the Bible, I ask myself, “Is this written to me?” All of God’s Word is for our learning, but not all of it is for us to apply to our lives. We should apply what is written for and addressed to us. The parts of the Bible addressed directly to us are the seven Church Epistles: Romans through Thessalonians. These are what we can specifically apply from God’s Word, so that we can live a more than abundant life. What is not addressed to us is for our learning. So that’s everything that happened before Pentecost. Let’s read together Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime [regarding times before the day of Pentecost] were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Let’s turn to Exodus 29. If we read something (like from the Gospels or the Old Testament), which are not written to us, but for our learning, and we can not make an accurate application of it, it’s because the words or principles from that part of the Bible conflict with applicable truths that were written to us. For example, the following verse is addressed specifically to Israel (Judeans), Exodus 29:36: And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement.⁠… This verse conflicts with all of the verses that are in Romans, which tells us that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, (not an animal) was our sacrifice. Let’s go to Romans 3 and see that for ourselves. Pass out paper. Let’s read together Romans 3:23-24: 23: KJV: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (AMP: We all have sinned and continually fall short). 24: KJV: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (AMP: We are justified, declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life, as a gift by God’s precious, undeserved grace, through the redemption, the payment for our sin, which is provided in Christ Jesus). In the Old Testament, God’s commandment is to “offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement.” But we know that Jesus Christ was our sacrifice, our payment. Let’s read together Romans 5:8: KJV: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (AMP: But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us). Let’s read together Romans 6:6: KJV: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (AMP: We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin). One more. Let’s read together Romans 6:7: KJV: For he that is dead is freed from sin. (AMP: For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin.) These verses, verses that are written to us, seem very clear. These verses help us understand that we do not need to offer daily animal sacrifices as commanded by God. Why? Because we are to read the verses that are written to us (for us to apply to our lives). And by doing that, we understand Jesus Christ was our sacrifice. Turn to Acts 2. Ever receive a text message from someone? Just as we need to know if the message is to us or not, we need to know to whom a Bible verse is written. When I read a verse, I ask, “Is this message addressed to me?” Then I can correctly understand what applies to me, or what is simply for my learning. And that helps me rightly divide God’s Word so that I can confidently live the spiritual truths that apply to me. Let’s read together Acts 2:38: Then [on the day of Pentecost] Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in… water? No. That’s old testament. Baptized every one of you in… the name of Jesus Christ… for the what? Remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [the gift from the Holy Spirit, God in Christ, in you]. After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, God sent His gift of holy spirit, and it became available for men and women to be born again, to be God’s sons and daughters. Being born again as a child of God is what gives us a spiritual life. This new birth gives us spiritual rights, privileges, and benefits. We can claim every one of these given to us by our heavenly Father through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. Let’s look at just a few. (1) According to the Word of God written to us, we were crucified with him. Let’s read together Galatians 2:20: I am [was] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (2) According to the Bible verse that was written to us, we were reconciled to God by him. Let’s read together II Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. (3) According to the Word of God, we were justified by him. Let’s read together Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (4) According to the Bible that is addressed to us, we were made righteous by him. Let’s read together Romans 5:16-18: And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment (Adam) came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ), the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (5) Last one. According to the Word of God, we were sanctified by him. Let’s read together I Corinthians 6:11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. God reconciled us to Himself; He can not separate us from Himself. God justified us; He can not bring an accusation against us. God made us righteous; He can not condemn us. God sanctified us; He has no wrath awaiting us in heaven. Conclusion We have learned that when we read the Bible, we have to be clear about to whom the scripture is addressed. When we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves, “Is this addressed to me to apply to my life today, or is it just for my learning?” What is not addressed to us is for our learning. When we’re clear about what to read and how to read it, we can apply amazing spiritual truths that have been revealed to us in our day and time, which are written in Romans through Thessalonians. Those are books/letters of the Bible that are written to us. By reading Romans, I’ve learned that we no longer live in sin. We no longer do works in order to be saved. We simply believe. Being born again as a child of God is what gives us spiritual life. This new birth gives us spiritual rights, privileges, and benefits. We can claim every one of these truths, given to us by God, through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. Today, we have learned the critical importance of understanding to whom the scriptures are addressed. By distinguishing between verses meant for our application and those for our learning, we can rightly divide God’s Word and live confidently in the spiritual truths meant for us. The letters from Romans to Thessalonians are particularly relevant to us as modern believers, providing guidance on how to live a spiritually abundant life. As we embrace these truths and apply them, we gain profound spiritual rights, privileges, and benefits given to us through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. Let’s continue to study, discern, and live by the Word, growing in our faith and understanding every day.

Hold onto your hats, folks! Last week, I embarked on a daring adventure - teaching my daughters by diving into every verse in John 14 through John 17. Today, get ready to put on your detective hats as we uncover the secret connections between Jesus' wisdom in these chapters and the quirky musings of the Apostle Paul. By playing detective and comparing the basic rules laid down by Jesus with Paul’s elaborate explanations, we'll crack the code on how to navigate this crazy world as reborn believers. So, grab your magnifying glass and join us on this wild ride as we unravel the mysterious harmony between Jesus’ parting words and Paul’s epic letters, unveiling a grand message of faith, grace, and a whole lot of love. In the Gospel of John, chapters 14 to 17, Jesus is hanging out with his disciples right before he gets arrested and crucified. It's like a super cool teaching session. Jesus had already done some crazy miracles, talked about God, and dealt with some angry religious folks. But in these chapters, he talks about leaving his buddies, but promises that the Holy Spirit will always be there for them. It's a crucial moment because he knows he's about to be taken away. During this time, Jesus gets his squad ready for what's coming and assures them that he'll stick by their side. So, let's check out what he says in John 17. Both Jesus and Paul teach about one God, the Father. There is one God, the Father, who sent his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. In John 17:3, Jesus says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul writes, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." Paul emphasizes the belief in one God, called the Father, matching Jesus' statement of the only true God who sent his son, Jesus Christ. Both Jesus and Paul teach that Jesus is the way. John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus comforts his disciples by assuring them that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He emphasizes that no one comes to the Father except through him. In Ephesians 2:18, Paul reaffirms this with, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Paul underscores that through Jesus, we have access to the Father, aligning with Jesus’ teaching that He is the only way to God. Both Jesus and Paul teach the promise of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17, Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 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. In John 14:20, Jesus continues, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” Both Jesus and Paul teach about God, the holy spirit, dwelling in us, and also Christ abiding with us forever. That’s God in Christ in You. In Colossians 1:27, Paul writes, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Paul expands on this in Romans 8:9: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…” Paul confirms that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, giving us life and quickening our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in us. Both Jesus and Paul teach about the holy spirit, which teaches us all things. John 14:26: Jesus says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 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.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:10, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Paul writes how the holy spirit teaches us spiritual things so that the eyes of our understanding will be enlightened in Ephesians 1:18. Both Jesus and Paul teach about the Power of Prayer. In John 14:13-14, Jesus says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” The refrigerator that glorifies God. Paul emphasizes this in Philippians 4:6-7 where he writes, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything 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.” Paul encourages believers to bring their requests to God with thanksgiving, building upon Jesus' promise that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things (1 John 3:20). Both Jesus and Paul teach about Love. In John 15:9-12, Jesus says, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved them. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 13:8-10, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Paul underscores the importance of love, repeating Jesus' command to love one another. Both Jesus and Paul teach about Overcoming the World. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus spoke plainly to the disciples that they would experience sorrow and persecution, but he assured them of their ultimate victory over the world. Paul says in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Paul reassures believers that they are more than conquerors through Christ and that nothing can separate them from God's love. Both Jesus and Paul teach about Joy. In John 16:24, Jesus says, “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Here, Jesus is teaching his disciples about asking and receiving so that their joy may be full. A verse from Paul that mirrors this concept of fullness of joy through believing, asking, and receiving can be found in Philippians 4:4-7 which says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Paul encourages believers to rejoice in the Lord and to bring their requests to God through prayer and supplication, with the assurance that God’s peace will guard their hearts and minds. This expands upon Jesus' teaching that through asking in His name, a believer's joy will be made full. Both Jesus and Paul teach about Being Saved. In several of His teachings, Jesus conveyed that salvation is not based on works but on believing and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here are some key passages from various verses in the Gospels. In John 3:16, Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In John 5:24, Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 6:28-29 reads, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." These are key verses where Jesus teaches that believing (not works) brings salvation. Paul takes that and adds that salvation is not through works but by believing and confessing. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, “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." In Romans 10:9-10, Paul writes, "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." Both Jesus and Paul teach about Unity. In John 17, Jesus prays to all future believers, asking for their unity and that they may experience the love and glory shared between the Father and the Son. In John 17:20-26, Jesus says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Paul builds upon that on with the holy spirit in Ephesians 4:3-6, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 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.” Paul urges believers to maintain unity, reflecting the oneness Jesus prayed for. Both Jesus and Paul teach about Doing All Things. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Jesus emphasizes the necessity of remaining in Him to bear fruit and do all things. In Philippians 4:13, Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul highlights that believers have the strength to do all things through Christ. Summary Alrighty, folks! So, basically, Jesus was dropping some serious wisdom in John 14-17 about believing and getting that sweet Holy Spirit hookup. Then comes Paul, like, "Hold my scroll," and goes into detail with all the nitty-gritty for those reborn peeps. When you blend Jesus and Paul's teachings like a smoothie, you get this epic guide to living your best life with faith, grace, and love. So, let's keep rocking that abundant life vibe, tapping into the power within us, and leveling up our knowledge with the OG teachings of Jesus and Paul. Dive into these lessons like a boss, and watch your spiritual journey go from zero to hero!

Once upon a time (well, not really, just a while back), I had a gig as a home inspector for a solid twelve years in good ol' Pennsylvania. Then, out of the blue, I got this fancy request to be an expert witness in some legal shindig. Now, mind you, I had zero experience playing detective in a courtroom, but hey, why not spice up my resume with a dash of legal drama, right? Who knows, maybe I'd discover my hidden talent for dropping truth bombs in a legal context! An expert witness is a person with specialized knowledge, skills, education, or experience in a particular field who is called upon to provide expertise (their opinion) in legal proceedings to assist the court with understanding complex technical or scientific issues. On the day of the trial, I was called by the judge to sit next to him, while the attorneys for both sides of the argument asked me a ton of questions. At the end of the questioning, the court ruled that I was to be considered an expert witness. I was directed to give testimony as to what happened. What happened? A homeowner hired a contractor to install a new slider door. One night, it rained. And the next morning, the homeowner found large puddles of standing water in her dining room. The water permanently damaged the wood flooring. She asked the contractor to take responsibility. The contractor did not. She sued the contractor. And she hired me to inspect the slider door and its installation and determine the cause of the problem she experienced. I did just that by spraying water onto the door and flashing areas. And she asked me to be her expert witness in court. And I agreed. In court, I testified. My client, the homeowner, she won the case, based primarily upon me being her witness. I had knowledge and experience in a particular situation, and I was asked to help others understand what was apparently a complex issue. For me, it was simple. I understood, fully understood what was going on. They didn’t. As a witness, I provided information that helped bring a problem to a solution. We can do the same as witnesses. Witnesses for God. Now, what does that mean to me? “Witness for God.” Remember, God’s not an old man, with gray curly hair, floating in the clouds, pointing down at us, and doing good and bad things to people. I can’t give witness to that, because that doesn’t exist. That’s not God. What is God? What can I give witness to? What is it that I can share with others, that which I know, experience, and understand. Let’s read John 4:24, which says, “God is a Spirit. And they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is Spirit. I understand that. I can witness to that. God is peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). I can testify to experiencing that. God is light (1 John 1:5), and God is love (1 John 4:16). I can provide some info on knowing love, for sure. Now these things, I can bear witness to, because I’ve experienced these things. I have knowledge of these things. That’s what God is. Please turn to 2 Timothy 3:17. I know what you may be asking yourself. “Well, Benjamin, how do I come to know what God is?” The Word. The purpose of the Word of God is that we can learn about the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, so that we can be fully equipped and able to do great things in life. Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:17. It says, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” That’s the purpose of God’s Word. The written Word is how I get to know what God is. Let's read Matthew 4:4. It says, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” So, we are to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. Well, what is the Word that comes out of God’s mouth? Let's read 2 Timothy 3:16. It says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” So, this Word of God, that comes out of the mouth of God, is given by inspiring men and women who wrote the books and letters of the Bible. Ah, but I know what you may be asking yourself: “What happened before humans were able to write the Bible?” How were people supposed to learn about God before written language even existed? The answer is oral tradition. Oral tradition is a form of human communication where knowledge, art, ideas, and culture are held, transmitted, and received orally from one generation to another. The transmission is through speech or song and may include hymns, poetry, parables, and stories. Let's read Ephesians 5:18, where it says that we are to “be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” In this way, it is possible for a society to transmit oral history, law, truth, culture, and knowledge across generations without a writing system. But before the written word existed, where did that oral history, law, truth, culture, and knowledge come from? Where could everyone go, initially, to see the truth and learn about our Creator of the Heavens and Earth? The stars. Not only are we witnesses of God, but so are the stars. Please turn to Revelation 12. God put his Word in the stars. So that everyone could learn the truth, even before there was any writing. Before words were written, before the alphabet existed, before an inspired revelation from God was written down, God’s Word was written in the stars. I’d like to tell you about one example of how God’s Word is written in the stars. Let’s read Revelation 12:1-5, where it says, “1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” What a great story! God gave this vision to Apostle John, who wrote these words by inspiration. These words describe great truths which can be studied in the Bible, and the stars. In Revelation 12:1, the word “wonder” is the Greek word sēmeion, which means “a sign.” And signs, miracles, and wonders serve as both evidence of God's presence and evidence for believers to help share the Word with others. And the “sign” in the stars in verse 1 is a woman, “a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet.” And the only sign of the Zodiac that is a woman is Virgo. Now, the Zodiac is astrology, not astronomy. We don’t study or believe in astrology. Astronomy is science. Astrology is not science. Take a look at these images from “The Witness of the Stars” by E. W. Bullinger’ and “Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed” by Victor Paul Weirwille. Now, this woman in verse 1 is “clothed with the sun.” According to astronomy, the sun, as it appears to travel through the ecliptic each year, enters into the mid-body between the neck and the knees of the constellation Virgo, which “clothes” the woman with “the sun.” The ecliptic is the path the sun moves through the stars during the course of a year as it passes through the twelve constellations. Astronomy is the study of the stars, and you can see the stars and study them for yourself tonight if you’d like. These astronomical details in John’s vision describe twenty days of the year when the sun was in this position in the stars. Now, the sun was in this position (moving through the Virgo woman, clothing her with sunlight), from August 27 through September 15, in the year 3 B.C. The woman also had “the moon under her feet.” And the sun and the moon were in this configuration with Virgo on one day only, and that was September 11, 3 B.C. This description given in Revelation 12:1 exactly describes the astronomical occurrence of September 11, 3 B.C. Also, on September 11, 3 B.C., Jupiter (the king planet) could be seen approaching Regulus (the king star) in the constellation Leo, which is another astronomical sign of the Messiah, the ultimate king, coming. In verse 2 of Revelation 12, a woman gives birth. Verses 3 and 4 describe the Adversary’s fall from heaven and his plan to slay the child that was born. In verse 5, the child is born and ascends to God’s throne. By way of the stars, God’s story, God’s plan for us believers was known long before it was put into writing. Biblical astronomy is an understanding of the stars as they tell the story of Jesus Christ. Just as the sun and moon mark our days and nights, so do the stars and planets tell the story of God’s design and plan for our lives. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and Earth, and set the stars in their courses, he wrote out his story, his plan, for us to live in this day and time. Sometimes, it’s difficult for us who are used to reading God’s Word in written form to understand that God can and does communicate to people in more ways than just the written Word. Let's read Hebrews 1:1. It says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” One of the “diverse manners” in which God spoke was through the signs of the stars. Just as the written Word declares God’s love for us, so do the stars. And we are witnesses to the stars. And we are witnesses for God. Please turn to Acts 1. Acts 1:8 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, situated just before Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven. It serves as both a promise and a direction to disciples, outlining the scope of their mission and the source of their power for witnessing. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days, teaching them many things. Just before His ascension, He promised them the Holy Spirit, which would empower them to be His witnesses. Let’s read Acts 1:8, where it says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” As born-again believers, we can be witnesses. We have knowledge and experience in all kinds of situations in life, right? And sometimes, we have opportunities to help others understand what is apparently a complex issue for them. And for us, maybe it’s simple. Maybe we can fully understand what’s happening, and they don’t. But as expert witnesses for God, in God’s court, we can be inspired to provide testimony and information about the stars and the scripture that helps fully equip people to do good works and live more than abundant lives. And that’s what I encourage you to do.

Hey there! Life can throw some tough stuff our way, right? But don't worry, this lesson is all about how we can use some biblical wisdom to tackle those challenges head-on and come out on top feeling happy and strong. We'll dive into passages from James and Matthew to see how knowing who we are in Christ, choosing our words wisely, and embracing the idea of victory can help us beat any obstacle. Come along with us as we figure out how to handle life's ups and downs with confidence and a smile. It's all about unlocking victory. Please turn to James 1. We all experience challenges in life. But just because problems come up, it doesn’t mean that we’re automatically defeated. To live in victory, we must also live in the world. And the world and other people can give us challenges and problems to deal with and overcome. To live in victory, we must face and get through the problems. So let’s learn how to overcome challenges in life. And to do this, we must (a) know who we are, (b) know what to say, and (c) know that victory is available. Let’s read James 1:2. It says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” The Classic Amplified reads, “Consider it wholly joyful, my brothers and sisters, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.” “Consider it wholly joyful”? This was a difficult verse for me to understand. When I read it, several times. How is it possible to look at various problems, trials, and challenges in life, and say, ‘Hey, I’m joyous. I am going to be all joyful while going through this situation.” We must understand that if the Word says it’s possible, that means… we can do it. Let’s learn more. Please turn to Matthew 8. I can have joy - in the middle of any situation, any problem. I can have joy - in the middle of a hurricane. A problem may arise in my life, and the Word says I can overcome it. And when I overcome problem, I might as well enjoy it. Let’s read Matthew 8:24. “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” So all of a sudden, there arose a violent storm, and the fellas in the boat were being overcome and covered up by the waves, but Jesus was sleeping. He was Mr. Chill. Everything was flying all around them. The disciples were worrying. They were thinking that they might die. But Jesus was asleep. Jesus wasn’t surprised by the storm. He knew he could handle the problem. He wasn’t afraid of the situation. Let’s read Matthew 8:26. It says, “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, (he spoke angrily, he condemned it, he punished it with his words), and there came, all at once, a great and wonderful calm, a perfect peacefulness. I think God wants us to do the same. Turn Back to James 1. When storms in life approach, when problems arise, when we experience challenges and tribulations, we can use our believing, the power within each of us, and the authority we have been given, to solve the situation and overcome it. We haven’t been given the spirit of fear, but of power. And that’s why we can “count it all joy.” Please read along while I read the Amplified James 1:2-4 says, “2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brothers and sisters, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith brings out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, mature in your believing, lacking in nothing.” When a problem comes up, believe, believe the promises we’ve been given, and believing brings out patience. And let’s decide to be joyful in the trial, in the process. We can do this! We are mountain movers! (Mark 11:23). We’re more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37). Our believing has overcome the world! (1 John 5:4). We move, we conquer, we overcome, and we might as well enjoy it. Let’s decide to be joyful in the process, God will take care of the progress. Let go, let God. Let’s not focus on the storms, the wind, the rain, and the waves, but focus on our believing actions. And we can start that process by knowing who we are. Know Who You Are How in the world was Jesus able to sleep in the middle of the storm? Because he knew who he was. And he knew who the disciples that were with him were. He knew that they could use their believing to calm themselves and the storm. When you know who you are, you know there’s not a problem out there that’s bigger than you. Now, I’m still practicing on solving problems immediately (with the snap of my finger) or by speaking just the right word at the right time. I still make mistakes. I’m far from perfect. And I still can feel overwhelmed and pressured and sad, that’s for sure! But that doesn’t mean that I can’t overcome problems. It may take some time, but I’m assured, convinced, I believe that I will overcome all my problems, no matter how long it takes. We, as individual believers or a united family, have the ability to stand through a storm and overcome it. By knowing who God made you to be and living in that revelation and truth and believing. Personality traits are important, like being kind, shy, knowledgable, responsible, expressive, etc. But we’re talking about living in the identity of who you are in the family of God, as God’s child, having God in Christ in you, in the renewed mind in manifestation, with authority, justification, and righteousness. That’s how God made us. That’s who we are. If we don’t identify with who we are, with God in Christ in us, we will identify with what the world says we are. And that’s not good. Please turn to 1 Corinthians 10. Do you know the British rock group The Who? “Who Are You?” is one of their songs. In the song, they ask, who are you? Great song. Gotta listen to it. So, who are you? Let’s read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and let’s learn a little more about who we are. It says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” That’s who we are. We are strong enough to bear and overcome any storm, and no storm ever lasts forever. Let’s turn to John 16:33. Let’s read John 16:33 where it says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus overcame the world, so no matter what comes at us, we’re built to do the same. We can overcome the world too. That’s who we are. There are many more spiritual truths that help us understand and identify with who we are. Let’s remind ourselves of these things, and we’ll remind ourselves also that we can have victory. We have to know who we are. Now let’s learn what to say. Please turn to Romans 8:31. Know What To Say What should we say while we’re in the middle of a problem in life? Paul says in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” That’s what we say. Who can be against us? No one. Not a thing. Who’s for us? God. Who can be against us? No one. Romans 8:32 says, “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?” So, we say,”God will not hold back anything from me.” Romans 8:33 says, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” We can say that I am chosen, blameless, and justified by God. Romans 8:34 says, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Amplified Classic says, “Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay for our problems], and more than that, he was the one raised from the dead, and who is now at the right hand of God, presently interceding with God for us.” So, what do we say? “God in Christ in us, that spirit, is intervening in all our problems on our behalf.” Romains 8:35 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” We say, “No problem will separate us from the love of God.” Romans 8:36-37 says, “36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We say, “We’re more than conquerors.” Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What should we say? We say, “Nothing and nobody can separate us from the love of God.” That’s what we can say. Turn to Colossians 3. Let’s learn that victory is available. Know That Victory is Available Victory in a situation in life is available if we take the time to consider what we think about. It’s all in the mind. What we think about affects our actions. What we focus on affects how we interact with other people. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” We can set our minds and get focused on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only worldly value and not spiritual value]. So, let’s think about what really matters in life. Turn to Ephesians 6. When we are in disagreement with someone, sometimes we focus not on things above, but on what they said or did to us. And sometimes those people are 100% wrong. I get it. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Hurt people hurt people. Hurt people hurt people. There are a lot of hurt people out there. And sometimes, they hurt others. People are not perfect. I’m certainly not perfect. And I have hurt people. And people have hurt me. But our imperfections come from (a) the flesh (my body is not perfect), (b) the un-renewed mind, and (c) the adversary. So, when dealing with people, focus on the things above more than the things that are on the earth. Victory Is Waiting for You Deuteronomy 20:3-4 says, “3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” We don’t have to do what the Old Testament folks did. We don’t have to go out and fight battles and wars with our enemies every day. But when we’re in a spiritual competition, we know that God is with us. Jesus has already won those spiritual battles for us. We already have the victory in all situations. It’s there for us. It’s for our taking. We just have to go out and claim what is rightfully ours. Conclusion Today we learned, how to be all joyful while going through a storm in life. We can use our believing to overcome problems. We know who we are. We know what to say. Victory is available, and it’s waiting for us to go out and claim it. We learned that even in the midst of life’s most challenging storms, we can find joy and peace by anchoring our faith in God's Word. By understanding who we are in Christ, speaking powerful truths over our situations, and embracing the victory that is always available to us, we can overcome any trial. Let us take these lessons to heart, apply them in our daily lives, and face every challenge with a joyful spirit, knowing that God is with us and victory is ours for the taking.