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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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