Amos 8:4-7

God cares for the poor and abused in the world through His followers. Do not be deceived, making money at the expense of the poor, He will not tolerate. Do not be deceived, He cares for ALL the poor and abused in all countries. Do not be deceived God cares for the poor and abused. There are consequences to our actions.

As believers we need to hate injustice…and love others as He does.

God shows no partiality.

Every person you see was created by God to bear his image and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Imagine the impact this promise would have on the society that embraced it. What civility it would engender. What kindness it would foster. Racism will not flourish when people believe their neighbors bear God’s image. Will society write off the indigent, the mentally ill, the inmate, or the refugee? Not if we believe, truly believe, that every human being is God’s idea. And he has no bad ideas. High IQ or low standing—doesn’t matter. First string or cut from the squad—doesn’t matter. Max Lucado

Amos 8:4-7

4 Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, And make the poor of the land fail, 5 Saying: “When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit, 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals— Even sell the bad wheat?” 7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their works.”  The New King James Version

The fourth vision report again emphasizes divine judgment. Amos renews the accusations of injustice before transitioning to an expansion on the Day of Yahweh.

The merchants have no respect for the sacred day. They only want it to end so they can return to their unjust business practices. God reveals how the merchants’ thoughts revolve around greed and fraud. They cheated the people into giving more money for less grain by using weights skewed in the merchants’ favor. Faithlife Study Bible

Fail means essentially “to have no means of survival.”

The New Moon, the first day of the month on the Hebrew calendar, was a day of special sacrifices, a feast day, and a Sabbath day. Rather than observing the New Moon and the weekly Sabbath with worship, thanksgiving, and rest, these people were impatient to resume their cheating and oppression of the poor. 

In biblical times, the ephah was the most common measure of dry volume. To make the ephah small, therefore, was to cheat the customer of value received for price paid. The shekel was a unit of money. To make the shekel large was to cheat the customer by taking too large a price (weight) of silver for value received. 

Israel’s system of indentured service for members of the covenant community was to be humane and limited in time. The rich and powerful of Amos’s day were making slaves of Israel’s poor, the people they had dispossessed of their lands.

The chaff and other refuse of the threshing floor, perhaps even moldy or mildewed wheat, were mixed in with the good wheat to stretch it further and make a greater profit.  

The form of the Hebrew oath marks its seriousness: God will not forget. Their works refers to the economic injustices Amos spoke against, as well as other sins, including unfaithfulness to God. The NKJV Study Bible

The rich and powerful of the land were the most guilty of oppression, as well as the foremost in idolatry. They were weary of the restraints of the sabbaths and the new moons, and wished them over, because no common work might be done therein. This is the character of many who are called Christians. The sabbath day and sabbath work are a burden to carnal hearts. It will either be profaned or be accounted a dull day. But can we spend our time better than in communion with God? When employed in religious services, they were thinking of marketings. They were weary of holy duties, because their worldly business stood still the while. Those are strangers to God, and enemies to themselves, who love market days better than sabbath days, who would rather be selling corn than worshipping God. They have no regard to man: those who have lost the savour of piety, will not long keep the sense of common honesty. They cheat those they deal with. They take advantage of their neighbour’s ignorance or necessity, in a traffic which nearly concerns the labouring poor. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Exodus 31:13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

Matthew 4:1-4

Believers live and breath in the Word of God made flesh, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Only by immersing ourself in Scripture, and in the power of Holy Spirit to teach us, are we able to stand. Then and only then will the fruit of the Spirit be manifested in us and the love of God shown to the world. 

God knows that we are mere humans and tolerates our ignorance until we know Him  fully.

Reconnecting with my heart.
Why? Because it emboldens me to access—to draw on—what is at the core of human dignity (the light that is within). That at my core, I touch the capacity to grieve and to give, to tremble and to be courageous, to doubt and to be faithful...
to be uncomfortable and to love, to be watchful and to be generous…
to be fully human and fully alive… compassionate, patient, resilient, kind, unselfish, responsible, spirited, high-minded. To be a listening heart. Sabbath Moments 

Matthew 4:1-4

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” The New King James Version

The temptations faced by Jesus follow the same pattern as the Israelites’ disobedience in the desert. The Israelites demanded bread, doubted the Lord’s presence, and despaired of His help. 

Jesus reverses all of these acts of faithlessness. God led His people through the desert for 40 years due to their unfaithfulness. The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days so that His fidelity might be set in contrast to the nation’s infidelity.

Matthew emphasizes that the Spirit leads Jesus; the devil is allowed to test Him but does not lead Him. The Greek term used here, diabolos, refers to a spiritual figure who is adversarial to God and His purposes. This figure is referred to by the Greek term satanas.  Satan in the Old Testament and the Serpent of Genesis

Fasting during this time period meant eating nothing at all. The text does not seem to imply that Jesus was sustained supernaturally during His fast; instead, it emphasizes that He experienced hunger. Jesus’ 40-day fast recalls Moses’ 40 days on the mountain, the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert, and Elijah’s 40 days at Mount Horeb.

The text does not say whether the devil is in human form. The devil uses this challenge twice in his temptations of Jesus. He turns the words of Matthew 3:17 into a taunt. The devil is tempting Jesus to break His fast, which the text implies would be equivalent to disobedience to God the Father. Faithlife Study Bible

Satan did not lead Jesus to the temptation; the Holy Spirit did. This temptation took place immediately after Jesus’ baptism. Spiritual victories are often followed by testing.

Jesus’ response to all three temptations was to quote the Word of God, showing His followers the power of Scripture in battling the Evil One. 

There was nothing morally wrong with turning stones to bread; Satan was tempting Jesus to do a miracle outside of the Father’s will. This explains why Jesus quotes Deuteronomy. Bread alone does not sustain life; ultimately God is the One who sustains all life. Thus it is our responsibility to trust God and remain in His will. The NKJV Study Bible

In the temptation of Christ it appears that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can be resisted. It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus it appears that our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions only. Satan aimed in all his temptations, to bring Christ to sin against God. 

He tempted him to despair of his Father’s goodness, and to distrust his Father’s care concerning him. It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantage of our outward condition; and those who are brought into straits have need to double their guard. Christ answered all the temptations of Satan with “It is written;” to set us an example, he appealed to what was written in the Scriptures. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Exodus 34:28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Joshua 15:61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

Mark 1:12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Amos 8:12-14

God will not allow idols in our life He loves us too much. Anything that we value above Him and the gift of salvation in Jesus and the guidance of Holy Spirit is detrimental to our walk with Him.

Judges 18:27 (ESV) "But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.”

Earlier this week, we met Micah, whose mother created an idol after he confessed he stole her silver. Along with enshrining this idol, Micah hired his own "priest," falling into idolatry. (Judges 17:2-5;  Judges 17:9-10) We also met the Danites, who, like Micah, sinned against God. Today's passage tells the story of their continued disobedience and its long-lasting ripple effect.

Along the journey to seize the city of Laish, the Danites stopped at Micah's house and stole his ephod, household gods, and carved and metal images. (Judges 18:17) Not only did they steal Micah's idols, but they also hired his "priest" for themselves. (Judges 18:19-20) The Danites moved further and further away from the Lord's plans through repeated disobedience.

The ripple effect continued as the Danites killed the citizens of Laish and destroyed the city. After rebuilding, they named the city Dan, worshiped Micah's carved images and were served by the "priest" and his descendants until the fall and capture of Shiloh, (Judges 18:30-31) which occurred in the final years of judges in Israel. (1 Samuel 4) God's people "moved him to jealousy with their idols … He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh" (Psalm 78:58-61). The idolatry in Dan was a snare to God's people for years.

While theoretically Micah and the tribe of Dan lived under the law of the Lord, (Exodus 20:1-17) in reality, their actions proved their loyalty and obedience did not belong to the Lord. The ripple effects of Micah's initial sin of stealing led to individual idolatry that grew into idolatry for an entire tribe. 

Whether good or bad, every choice we make has a ripple effect on others. Our actions will negatively impact others when we choose to live outside the Lord's will. We can all think of sinful choices someone close to us has made, and sinful choices we have made, that caused pain to us and those we love.

However, our effect can instead be positive if we keep the law of God in our hearts and choose to trust in the Lord Jesus, whose sacrifice had the greatest ripple effect of all: "For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many" (Romans 5:15). When we delight ourselves in Him and commit our ways to Him, our legacy will point others to Jesus.First5 

Amos 8:12-14

12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, But shall not find it. 13 “In that day the fair virgins And strong young men shall faint from thirst. 14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, ‘As your god lives, O Dan!’ And, ‘As the way of Beersheba lives!’ They shall fall and never rise again.” The New King James Version

Another likely wordplay alluding to the idolatry of Israel. The Hebrew word here—usually translated as “sin” or “guilt”—sounds similar to the name of the Canaanite goddess, Asherah. King Ahab had erected an Asherah image in Samaria. Some English translations convey this idea directly by referring to the “idol” or “goddess” of Samaria. Faithlife Study Bible

Those in Israel searching for the word of God would have to circle all of Israel’s territory, but in vain. The fair virgins and strong young men are those who are most vigorous and apt to survive. Dan in the far north and Beersheba in the far south were the limits of significant Israelite settlement. In Amos’s day, Beersheba was in the kingdom of Judah. Israel could swear oaths by the Lord, claiming they loyally worshiped Him from the extreme north to the extreme south of His land, but that would not relieve the famine of God’s word. The NKJV Study Bible

Here was a token of God’s highest displeasure. At any time, and most in a time of trouble, a famine of the word of God is the heaviest judgment. To many this is no affliction, yet some will feel it very much, and will travel far to hear a good sermon; they feel the loss of the mercies others foolishly sin away. But when God visits a backsliding church, their own plans and endeavours to find out a way of salvation, will stand them in no stead. And the most amiable and zealous would perish, for want of the water of life, which Christ only can bestow. Let us value our advantages, seek to profit by them, and fear sinning them away. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:21 Then I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it and ground it very small, until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that descended from the mountain.

1 Kings 12:28 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

1 Kings 12:29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

John 1:12-13

God loved His creation with a love so great that  He  offered His only begotten Son to die in our place so that anyone who believes in Him will share an everlasting life in His kingdom. Christ within is our greatest  gift. 

Lord help me to be a peacemaker in a world of division.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

When we sing that song from the core of our human connection, we play a role in making a difference. “Human history is a history not only of cruelty,” Howard Zinn reminds us, “but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places–and there are so many–where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

I’ll give John O’Dononhue the last word. “There is a kindness that dwells deep down in things; it presides everywhere, often in the places we least expect. The world can be harsh and negative, but if we remain generous and patient, kindness inevitably reveals itself. Something deep in the human soul seems to depend on the presence of kindness; something instinctive in us expects it, and once we sense it we are able to trust and open ourselves.” SabbathMoments 

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. The New King James Version

Emphasizing that the glory of Jesus, the Word, is the same as the glory of God the Father. The Greek term monogenēs, meaning “one and only” carries the sense of uniqueness and special beloved status. John’s use of monogenēs foreshadows the emphasis on the intimate relationship between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus is the unique and beloved Son of God, sent from God to fully represent the Father on earth and reveal the Father and His plan for salvation in a previously unparalleled way. The Son reflects the Father perfectly and perfectly carries out His will. The close relationship of Father and Son means their works and will are in perfect unity. Alluding to two central attributes of the divine character used throughout the old testament steadfast love and faithfulness. Jesus embodies the ultimate expression of God’s covenant loyalty and unmerited favor toward the world that rejected Him. Faithlife Study Bible

The phrase believe in His name occurs three times in the Gospel of John. Name does not refer to the term by which He is called, but to what His name stands for—the Lord is salvation. 

In this context, the phrase means to believe that Jesus is the Word, the life, and the Light—that is, He is the Christ, the Son of God. To them He gave the right refers to the legitimate entitlement to the position of children of God. 

By believing, undeserving sinners can become full members of God’s family. This new spiritual birth is not of blood, that is, by physical generation or by parents. Nor is the new birth of the will of the flesh, that is, by personal effort. Neither is the birth of the will of man, that is, something done by another individual. Each person must individually trust Jesus Christ for eternal life. It is a gift to be received, not a reward achieved through any human effort. The NKJV Study Bible

The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ’s own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. 

All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as the means, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. 

He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

John 11:52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

John 3:12-17

The Father did not send His Son to condemn the world but that through Him they could be saved. No greater love exists!! We live because He died in our place!

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

That at my core, I touch the capacity to grieve and to give, to tremble and to be courageous, to doubt and to be faithful, to be uncomfortable and to love, to be watchful and to be generous…
to be fully human and fully alive…
compassionate, patient, resilient, kind, unselfish, responsible, spirited, high-minded, a listening heart. 

“Well, nobody else can live the life you live. And even though no human being is perfect, we always have the chance to bring what's unique about us to live in a redeeming way.” Fred Rogers

With a few exceptions, I do my best to see those around me with Mr. Rogers' lens: Inside of everyone a light shines. Inside of everyone, there is a sound that no one else can make. Yes... A song that truly saves people.

Terry Hershey “Sabbath Moments” 

We are all made in God’s image and in his likeness. Sin has distorted this image, but it has not destroyed it. Our moral purity has been tainted, but do not think for a moment that God has rescinded his promise or altered his plan. He still creates people in his image to bear his likeness and reflect his glory.

As we fellowship with God, read his Word, obey his commands, and seek to reflect his character, something wonderful emerges.  We say things God would say; we do things God would do. We forgive, we share, and we love. In time an image begins to appear. God’s goal is simply to rub away anything that is not of him so the inborn image of God can be seen in us.

Because God’s promises are unbreakable our hope is unshakable!

Max Lucado

John 3:12-17

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The New King James Version

“The Son of Man be lifted up” alludes to both the crucifixion and the exaltation of Jesus in His death and resurrection. 

This verse presents a concise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world He created. The statement is remarkable in its depiction of divine care for the entire world—not just His chosen people, Israel. The Greek term used here is monogenēs, meaning “one of a kind.” At one time, it was presumed that the term derived from the Greek words monos (“one” or “only”) and gennaō (“to beget”). The translation “only begotten” is based on this assumption. Subsequent manuscript discoveries produced evidence that the term actually comes from monos and the noun genē (“kind” or “type”). The term monogenēs therefore refers to uniqueness and has no inherent reference to chronology or origin. 

Conversely, the Nicene Creed used this term to assert Jesus’ inherent relationship to the Father: that as the eternal Son He is “begotten [gennēthenta], not made” by the Father. Jesus’ reflection and representation of the Father is complete. As one sent by God, Jesus fully represented Him on earth. Faithlife Study Bible

Nicodemus, referring to the new birth, asks, “How can these things be?” Here Jesus answers the question. New birth is by the Son, by the Cross, and by faith. Every time the words lifted up occur in the Gospel of John there is a reference to Jesus’ death. When Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, those who looked at it lived. So it is with the Son of Man.

God’s love is not restricted to any one nation or to any spiritual elite. World here may also include all of creation. At His first coming, Jesus came so that the world through Him might be saved. When Jesus comes again, He will come in judgment upon those who refused His offer of salvation. The NKJV Study Bible

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Life Church Vineyard

Founding Pastor Ron Grubb

We returned last night from my nephew’s wedding at the Basilica@Notre Dame. What a beautiful ceremony that honored our Lord and blessed their union. I am thankful for my family!

You can have all this world. Give me Jesus!

“The Power of a Clear Conscience”

A clear conscience makes a soft pillow. 

Your conscience has to do with your soul. It is not the Holy Spirit speaking. The clearer your conscience the more you can hear Holy Spirit. 

5 injuries inflicted by a guilty conscience:

1. Invites personal hatred. It is the source of internal reproach. It can be influenced by the opinion of others especially those we love the most. God is consistently speaking we need to believe we are worthy to hear Him because of the cleansing of the Blood of Christ. It is fostered by the reading of the Word of God and knowing that it applies to you.

Job 27:6 

6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.

God empowers us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. He does not intercede in our lives until we are prepared to listen.

2. Induces poor self image. It is the source of self-condemnation. God does not inflict condemnation. When we die to self Holy Spirit can guide us in to God’s will.

1 John 3:20-22 

20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

We need more confidence in how God views us not others. 

3. Initiates warped perspectives. It causes us to view things as defiled versus pure. The fruit of the Spirit allows us to view the lives of others through the lens of God’s love not through our distorted view of our culture. We can love others without judgement. 

Titus 1:15

15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

4. It damages our faith. It undermines or “shipwrecks” our faith. 

1 Timothy 1:18-19

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

5. Invokes God’s alienation. It hinders intimacy with God. Christ’s covers our sins.  We are forgiven our sins in Jesus. Most things we may not even realize as sin. We confess our sins when we realize that it is a sin. God knows our sins…we often do not. Confessing our sins makes us in aggreement with God and gives us a clear conscience. This happens in reading the Word and letting Holy Spirit life it to us.

Guilt is debilitating. 

A clear conscience improves our life:

1.Our inner life thrives 

Proverbs 10:3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

2. Our leadership is enhanced:

Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

3. Our memories are sweeter:

Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.

4. Our thoughts result in wisdom:

Proverbs 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

5. Our work is more meaningful:

Proverbs 10:16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.

6. Our speech is valued:

Proverbs 10:2 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little.

7. Our words improve others’ lives

Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

The New King James Version

Acts 22:17-21

In the Body of Christ there are many testimonies. Yours  is for His glory and  to let others know that in Him is salvation and abundant life.

Christ will not leave you as He found you…you will be changed!

Acts 22:17-21

17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ” The New King James Version

Paul shared his personal testimony. God has given to each of us a testimony of how He has changed our lives. We must share that testimony to everyone who will listen. Peter exhorts us to always tbe ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.

The men who had accompanied Paul heard the sound but could not understand the words that were being spoken to Paul. We are not told why they could not understand the sound they heard.  The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 10:17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

Acts 7:58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 8:1 |Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Luke 22:49–53

Jesus came as the the Prince of Peace. 

He came not to condemn the world but that through Him we could be saved!

May the  glory of God be manifested. He has already won the battle! not by power or might but by faith and the salvation he gives to those who believe.

John 12:27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Meister Eckert's “If you can only learn one prayer, make it this one: Thank you." 

As God prepared the Israelites to face a new land, he made a promise to them. “Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you” (Exodus 34:10). Max Lucado

Luke 22:49–53 

49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”  The New King James Version

This shows that Jesus had compassion even on those who came to arrest Him. 

The domain of darkness is likely a reference to satanic influence. Faithlife Study Bible 

John indicates that this impetuous disciple was Peter. His violent act risked giving the impression that the disciples were seditious inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

Jesus mercifully healed the ear of one who was taking Him to His death. Jesus illustrated here the love for His enemies that He had commanded. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus here gave an illustrious example of his own rule of doing good to those that hate us, as afterwards he did of praying for those that despitefully use us. Corrupt nature warps our conduct to extremes; we should seek for the Lord’s direction before we act in difficult circumstances. Christ was willing to wait for his triumphs till his warfare was accomplished, and we must be so too. But the hour and the power of darkness were short, and such the triumphs of the wicked always will be. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 26:51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

Luke 2:46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

Luke 19:47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,

Life Church Vineyard

Grief Counselor of Hospice Rory Bay

Salvation is beautiful!

Wordy wisdom vs spiritual wisdom

Anyone can be a new creation it does not mean we will be perfect.

“You receive from God in the measure that you believe in His power to do what you cannot do in your life.”

Paul was a life coach to the Corinthian Church. Paul always dealt with problems head on. He discussed all the things that the local Church encountered. 

I can’t… God can!

The Gospel of Jesus counteracts culture.

"It has nothing to do with our goodness but everything to do with His.”

1 Corinthians 1:13-17

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. The New King James Version

There should be unity in the Body of Christ…not divisions. There is no difference in our Churches we are united in Jesus Christ.

Instead of “you do you”…be the you that God created you to be. 

It does not matter what others think of you. It only matters what God thinks of you. 

Philippans 2:9-11

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The New King James Version

The only words we will ever need to hear is “well done my good and faithful servant”!

We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of heaven and earth. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 and 1:26-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  The New King James Version

God redeemed us to share an abundant life in Him.