Month: February 2025

Tuesday 020425

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

1 Timothy 2:1-4; John 12:27-36.

Tonight’s lesson might get a little rocky for some … but I think there is value in it.

Over the years, have you noticed the songs that have come on the radio? I’m going to just a few:

I can only Imagine

Talking to Jesus

If I got Jesus

These hardly can be considered a long list, but my point is, have you ever put your earbuds in and actually listened to the lyrics?

I remember when my mother-in-law was still alive, and ‘I can only imagine’ came on the radio. Arms were lifted into the sky and praise and worship followed.

I still want those memories to come into my life.

Surrounded by Your glory… What will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus… Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence… Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah… Will I be able to speak at all?

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

To this day, this is one of the more powerful GIFTS that we (mankind) have been given. The gift of our imagination can be so strong and influential in our lives. We can use our imagination to our advantage but with that being said, our imagination can destroy us. It can lead our hearts in the direction of darkness. We can bury ourselves if we allow ourselves to focus on the wrong image.

This is another good reason why we keep in God’s Word. It’s an even better reason why we keep in constant communication with Him.

While I was still working, a song came out, that to this day I want to shout and begin talking with Him.

I’m talking about the song:

TALKING TO JESUS

When I worked, we couldn’t wear earbuds, we were told it was a safety hazard. By not hearing this song, it was the real ‘safety hazard.’

If you’ve never been blessed enough to hear the words, turn on your radio; pull up the video on your phone, tablet or laptop. Put in your earbuds, put on your headphones, turn up the volume and just listen to the words and enjoy.

The song begins:

Grandma used to pray out loud, By her bed every night…

This song tells it all in the first sentence. Even though today I’m a grandpa, when I heard this song for the first time, I remembered hearing the voices and sounds from my grandparents.

To me, it sounded like mumbling… Like she was out of her mind…

From this point, the song just grabbed onto me, holding me quiet and still, wanting to hear every syllable.

She said, Boy, this kind of praying… Is what saved my life… You outta try it sometime…

And then, the ‘frosting on the cake’ …

And now I know she was right… She was talking to Jesus… She was talking to Jesus… She’d been talking to Jesus… For all of her life…

Kids, parents, grandparents … this is a lesson we all need to hear.

1 Timothy 2

vs1 ‘…So then, this is what I want to ask you first. Please pray for all people. Ask God to supply what they need. Ask God to help them. Thank God for what he does for everyone…’

vs2 ‘…Pray in that way for kings and for all rulers and people who have authority. Pray for God to help them, so that we may live our lives without trouble or danger. Then we can live in a good way that respects God and other people…’

vs3 ‘…It is good that we should pray like that. It makes God, our Saviour, happy…’

vs4 ‘…He wants to save all people. He wants everyone to know his message about what is true…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Cause now I’m talking to Jesus… She got me talking to Jesus… She got me talking to Jesus… Yeah, my mama was right…

Cause now I’m talking to Jesus… Yeah, I love talking to Jesus… And I’ll be talking to Jesus… For the rest of my life…

This is what our lives are missing is that one-on-one relationship with Him that is going to save us.

What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… Don’t you know… What a friend we have in Jesus… Oh-oh-oh, what a friend we have…

It is in those times when we are alone and in His presence when time stops. Our lives are made complete. The questions we may have, they’ve been answered.

What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… Oh-oh-oh…

This one song, still to this day, just satisfies me.

I saw my wife post a video on Facebook this morning…

IF I GOT JESUS

The song’s opening lyrics are relatable, as they convey the idea that Jesus is all that is needed, even during the darkest times of loss.

I’ve had a dollar to my name… I’ve had friends that walked away… And I’ve even lost myself a time or two… There were bridges crossed and burned… But through all the wreckage I have learned… There is one thing that I can never lose…

This song begins as if it were an example of life. How much money has just slipped through our hands throughout this life we’re in? Maybe today we need money.

How many friends have gone away over the years? Think back through your school years, your college days, how many friends have you had and how many are still here today?

There is one lesson from this song that we can ALL learn from.

If I got Jesus… I’ve got all that I could ever need…
Take the world away from me… And I’ll be okay…

Repeat it and say it again:

If I got Jesus… There’s a hope that’s living deep inside… A joy that I could never hide…
a safe place to fall… If I got Jesus, I got it all, mmm…

This is our Hope. It is the one only wish that will ever keep us human beings whole. This world that we live in is trying so hard to stop you in your tracks so they can take from you, whatever it is that you have …

But:

If I got Jesus… There’s a hope that’s living deep inside… A joy that I could never hide…
a safe place to fall… If I got Jesus, I got it all, mmm…

After Jesus had raised Lazarus from his tomb, He foretold us of His own death.

John 12

vs27 ‘…Now my heart is troubled—and what shall I say? Shall I say, Father, do not let this hour come upon me? But that is why I came—so that I might go through this hour of suffering…’

vs28 ‘…Father, bring glory to your name! Then a voice spoke from heaven, I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again…’

vs29 ‘…The crowd standing there heard the voice, and some of them said it was thunder, while others said, an angel spoke to him…’

vs 30 ‘…But Jesus said to them, it was not for my sake that this voice spoke, but for yours…’

vs31 ‘…Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown…’

vs32 ‘…When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me…’

vs33 ‘…In saying this he indicated the kind of death he was going to suffer…’

vs34 ‘…The crowd answered, Our Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever. How, then, can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man…’

vs35 ‘…Jesus answered, the light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going…’

vs36 ‘…Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

We should continue with these verses …

You have until I call your name, when the trump sounds it is over for my church.

My Father’s will is done, once again.

The end is near, ARE YOU READY?

I love all of y’all. Keep your Bibles open and continue to study His Word every day. Rely on His Message always.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Ps-since I’ve wrote this,

JESUS CHRIST by Van Zant

… they hung Him up …

… on a cross …

… they nailed Him by His hands and feet …

… the blood He lost …

… … …

… our SAVIOR …

… the HOLY One …

JESUS CHRIST

Monday 020325

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:3; Ephesians 5:6-10, :15-16; Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:9-10; Romans 11:33-35; Colossians 4:5-6, 2:2-3; 1 Corinthians 1:25, 30.

So, this morning I woke up, read my morning devotional from the Bible, and today lesson was planned out for me.

This morning’s devotional was found in:

Proverbs 13:20 ‘…One who walks with wise people will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

The book of Proverbs is a great book that we can read and use as our devotionals every month. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, if we were to read a chapter every morning that corresponds with the date, in the months of January, March, May, July, August, October and December; by the end of the month, we’d have the book of Proverbs completed. In the months of April, June, September and November, if we were to read an extra sentence every day, by the end of the month, we’d also have the book completed. Our biggest struggle would be in February, where there are only 28 days: 29 on leap year (every 4^th year). In the month of February, we’d have to do a little extra reading throughout the month so we could finish by the end of the month. But after a while, we’d get it done.

To mankind, ‘WISE’ might mean to be smart. In the dictionary the word WISE is defined as: having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Bible defined the word in several ways:

1 Corinthians 2

vs12 ‘…We have received God’s own Spirit, not a spirit that belongs to this world. As a result, we can understand all the good things that God has given to us…’

vs13 ‘…Those are the things that we speak about. We do not use clever words to speak about human ideas. Instead, we speak the message that God’s Spirit has taught us. In that way, we explain a spiritual message to people who have God’s Spirit…’

vs14 ‘…If someone does not believe in God, they cannot accept the message that comes from God’s Spirit. They think that God’s message is silly. They cannot even understand those things. Only God’s Spirit can explain them to people…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

A wise person has the ability to discern and handle practical matters.

A wise person is open to learning from others.

A wise person pursues righteousness, which includes being forgiving and hating falsehood.

A wise person focuses on relationships and day-to-day living.

A wise person walks with other wise people and cares for the poor.

A wise person demonstrates their wisdom with a meek spirit.

A wise person shows their wisdom through their good conduct.

A wise person avoids jealousy and selfish ambition, which are considered earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

A wise person builds their life on Jesus’ words and message of the body of Christ.

So many of our churches today, in their own minds they are wise, they say they tell the truth, they speak about Jesus and then they completely fall apart and begin teaching His Flock what they want to teach.

They begin making up sermons using mans words instead of reading what God has had written for us, they begin to ‘tickle our ears’ with words they want us to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 ‘…For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

From maybe a clearer version:

2 Timothy 4:3 ‘…Do this, because a time will come when people will not listen to God’s true message. Instead, they will want to hear all kinds of new messages that will make them happy. So, they will find many teachers for themselves who will tell them what they want to hear…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Wise can easily be explained by comparing a man that, to himself he ‘thinks he understands’ what is right and wrong; compared to the man that reads his Bible so he can find out how God has defined a word in His Word.

Ephesians 5

vs6 ‘…See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience…’

vs7 ‘…Therefore do not become partners with them…’

vs8 ‘…for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light…’

vs9 ‘…for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth…’

vs10 ‘…as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Us, mankind, we are never going to do enough to please God on our own, we need Jesus in our lives to accomplish this.

No matter how much we want to do well, we are never going to be able to get over that hump in the road that will get us to the other side.

As soon as we realize this simple fact, we will be able to make ourselves complete by allowing Jesus to take control in our lives and steer us in the ONLY correct way forward.

It is the hardest lesson we MUST learn and then once we truly understand it, it is going to be the easiest thing that we’ve ever done. We simply need to move out of the way and let Jesus show us the way.

Ephesians 5

vs15 ‘…So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise…’

vs16 ‘…making the most of your time, because the days are evil…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

We are ONLY able to sense this if we are taught the right way. When we try and do it on our own, we’re going to fail. And I don’t mean that looking only at ME, MYSELF and I … I mean when ‘WE,’ ALL of us human beings, when WE try and do it on our own, WE ARE GOING TO FAIL. We need Jesus to guide us in the right and ONLY way.

Romans 12:2 ‘…And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

These words are so simple and yet they’re so important for us to realize, WE NEED GOD ON OUR SIDE.

Philippians 1

vs9 ‘…And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment…’

vs10 ‘…so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

That ‘Day of Christ’ is going to be the most important day in our lives. The more we have His Bible open, and we read His Words, we’ll know what that day is going to mean to our future, with and InHIM.

This is where you must realize that we need Jesus each and every day that we are on this earth, alive and how important that it is that we are doing HIS will, we are living the life that HE wants for us to live. Everything that really matters is from Him.

Romans 11

vs33 ‘…Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways…’

vs34 ‘…For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor…’

vs35 ‘…Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

This earth and universe that we are living in, our lives and everything that we see in front of our eyes, have all been given to us by our Creator. Everything that we have, He has given us. We need to wake up and realize this one simple truth.

If and when that day comes, if we haven’t accepted this simple and easy choice, our life as we know it will be over. This is that ONE opportunity of using our FREE WILL for us to choose.

We can either BELIEVE or we have the option to unbelieve but that is all there is that we, ourselves can truly do on our own.

The choice is wide open for us to decide which way we want to go.

Colossians 4

vs5 ‘…Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity…’

vs6 ‘…Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Colossians 2

vs2 ‘…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself…’

vs3 ‘…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Life, as we know it can be so short, life as the Bible tells us is actually going to be sooo LONG.

We have the ability to choose LIFE and live with Him that has created us or we can opt on nothing but torment and exist the way we have chosen for our future.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ‘…For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 1:30 ‘…But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Make your choice wisely and allow God to be your pilot and steer you in the direction that He wants you to go.

I love y’all. Keep reading His Word and study more and more every day. Studying is the only thing that really matters. Keep your Bibles open and easily accessible.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Sunday 020225

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Exodus 1:1-6; Matthew 9:29; Mark 5:34; Luke 18:42; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrew 11:1; Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:31; John 13:31, 35; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:5-7.

After finishing the book of Genesis, I had my Bible opened at Exodus 1, and I began to read:

Exodus 1

vs1 ‘…Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob…’

vs2 ‘…Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah…’

vs3 ‘…Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin…’

vs4 ‘…Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher…’

vs5 ‘…And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already…’

vs6 ‘…And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

I had to ask myself, is this not life? In life, people get married, children are born, they grow up and live their lives and then one day, we die, and we’re gone.

Our lives today have been filled with so many half-truths that we never end up hearing an entire story anymore, it seems so much is left for our imagination to complete a sentence, and it is this imagination that is getting so many in this world in trouble.

The other day, my wife and I were traveling in the car spending an afternoon together, when over the radio I hear a man speaking about how great a song is, and paraphrasing, the words to the song were something like ‘Jesus loves you all the time.’

I spoke up to my wife and I said, its such a shame that the artist stopped after just saying ‘half the truth’ and not finishing with the entire truth.

My wife asked me what I meant, you might be asking the same thing, but it should be a ‘GIMMIE,’ it should be something that we should ALL already know.

Jesus loves us, we should ALL know that … but that alone and by itself, doesn’t really do anything for us to make us complete.

Listen, we know we don’t have to jump through any hoops or ring any bells, for us to earn Jesus’ love, but what we do need to do is BELIEVE in Jesus Christ and what the Word tells us about Him.

Jesus ‘PRIMARILY’ came to this earth for the House of Israel; but Jesus also came to teach ALL the world about FAITH and how we were going to need it in our future.

Matthew 9:29 ‘…Then He touched their eyes, saying, it shall be done for you according to your faith…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Mark 5:34 ‘…And He said to her, daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Luke 18:42‘…And Jesus said to him, regain your sight; your faith has made you well…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Hebrews 11:1 ‘…Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Jesus LOVES Every One of us, but we need to BELIEVE that He loves us. We MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for our sins to give us LIFE. We MUST BELIEVE that Jesus is God, and we MUST BELIEVE that God can do whatever He tells us that He can do.

If we don’t BELIEVE it ALL, then what good is only believing part of it going to do for us, I mean really?

When we read that Jesus came to this earth, to die on a cross for our Salvation, if we don’t BELIEVE in it, what have we gained?

What did Jesus gain if we don’t believe in Him?

Jesus came to this earth to die on a cross for us, He gave up His life, for our Salvation; but if we don’t believe it, then nothing is going to happen for us.

Everything is based on our FAITH. We MUST BELIEVE for it to be so.

Jesus did come to this earth and die on a cross for our Salvation, we MUST believe that for us to gain from Jesus’ sufferings on that cross.

It is when you don’t believe, the fact is still going to remain the same that Jesus DID die on that cross for our Salvation, except, because you didn’t believe, there will be no salvation for you … one day, you eventually are going to die and after your life has ended, your future will be, everlasting torment.

In our man-made churches that exist all around us today, when the end comes, can you just sense what evil is going to fall onto their shoulders.

Jesus is going to ask them ‘why didn’t you teach them to ‘Follow Me?’

What could they answer … ‘I taught them to love’ … ‘I taught them John 3:16’ … ‘we sang good music’ … ‘we held our services on tv every week.’

It is so hard for me to sit back and watch newly formed, neighborhood churches prey on an area over earthly monetary values. I was in a church that was just starting up and all they focused on was what was the average annual income for the homeowners, what were the family sizes in a neighborhood, where they needed to build for the most bang for their buck.

I don’t remember reading about that anywhere in the Bible, where we’ve been directed to place our focus on that type of attack to teaching ‘HIS’ flock.

What happened to teaching the world around us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What happened to spreading the Good News to every soul within our reach?

Where do these churches find this hate among themselves that would make any person want to seek out such evil instead of teaching the truth?

Jesus came to teach us all about love, how we were to love our fellow man.

Matthew 22

vs37 ‘…And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…’

vs38 ‘…This is the great and foremost commandment…’

vs39 ‘…The second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Mark 12:31 ‘…The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

John 13

vs31 ‘…I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another…’

vs35 ‘…By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

1 John 2

vs15 ‘…Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…’

vs16 ‘…For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world…’

vs17 ‘…The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

How can anyone argue that they love others, more than they love themselves, when they’re only interested in the earthly monetary gain when setting up a new church?

Are these man-made churches interested in anything other than money?

Listen, all of you out there reading this article, shout at the top of your lungs to those around you, tell them to open the Word for themselves and read about what God has given us. Tell them to learn the Word for themselves and learn what is right and what is wrong. Tell those around you they need the Word in their lives, not a neighborhood church.

Jesus hated religion when He came to this earth to save us. He didn’t die on the cross just so a church could get started in a neighborhood. He died on that cross for you and me. He dies so that we could live out Eternity in heaven with Him.

2 Corinthians 5

vs14 ‘…We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they all share in his death…’

vs15 ‘…He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

The important One here is Jesus. He is the only One that matters.

He is the One that should be preached on Sunday mornings. We shouldn’t be noticing how comfortable the pews are. We shouldn’t be talking how great a sermon our pastor gave. We shouldn’t be talking about how good the coffee was in the church’s break room.

Our time in church should be ALL about Jesus. Instead of us having 60-minutes of Bible study and then a 60-minute church service we should have two hours of Bible study. We should study and read the Word all day long.

Man, whether he’s a pastor, a deacon, a bishop, a priest, a pope, whatever, none of the prior are anything but a simple, ordinary ‘man.’ They’re not going to get you into heaven, they’re not going to get you Everlasting Life, they’re not Jesus, they aren’t standing in for Him while He’s away, they’re nothing but a ‘MAN.’ Jesus is the ONLY way.

1 Timothy 2

vs5 ‘…For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus…’

vs6 ‘…who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved…’

vs7 ‘…and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Keep your Bibles open and keep your nose in the
Word. Study as much as you can. Share what you read with those around you.

I love y’all.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen.

InHIM. ><)))o>

Saturday 020125

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:8, 12:19, 13:10; Ephesians 4:16.

In tonight’s lesson I think we should delve deeper into this edification of the church.

The word ‘edify’ comes from the Greek word oikodomé, which appears in the New Testament of the King James Bible about 20 times and translates to ‘the building of a house.’ In the Bible, edification is more than just encouragement, and it’s considered to be one of the purposes of the church. 

Some say that Christians who are edified are more effective and enthusiastic, and that those who are weak in knowledge and strength are more likely to become discouraged and fall away from their faith.

The explanation above should be reason enough, why we should keep our Bibles always open and set next to where we normally sit at night, so that we can easily grab onto them, at any time, and begin reading the Word.

1 Corinthians 14:12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

More than just teaching the church our feelings or teaching them what we believe in, I think it is important that we teach our church what has been written in the Word.

Right away there will be those ‘version police’ that will pop up out in the open and spark the debate on which version we should and should not be reading from. My only real problem with that is where is it written which version is the only correct version for us to read? If we’re reading an English or a Spanish version of the Bible, it is a translation, it’s not the first one ever written. A personal opinion has nowhere to be voiced in a church.

A person should keep an opinion of any sort, if it cannot be found in the Word, it should be kept privately to themselves.

The original Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Primarily the O.T. was written in Hebrew and the N.T. was written in Greek.

So, the argument over which version we should read in English shouldn’t even be a discussion by anyone. It doesn’t really matter, whatever version we use in English is a translation, it is a version written different from the original version.

The Word is what we have been given by God. It is that Word that we should be passing on and teaching to those that are being edified. As I’ve stated earlier, we shouldn’t be teaching our feelings or our beliefs, we should allow God to handle that on His own and we should ONLY teach the Word as it is written.

There are four versions that I use the most, the KJV (King James Version), the NASB (New American Standard Bible), the GNT (Good News Translation), and the EASY (Easy English Bible) versions.

When I do, visually show the KJV (King James Version), almost always it is for the benefit of those ‘version police’ out there among us.

To me, if a person doesn’t talk like a Shakesperean play, ‘wherefore art thou Romeo’ what value is there in the KJV (King James Version).

There are some teachers of the Word, that change the words that have been used, to make it easier for them to read that version of the Bible, but to me, what these teachers are mostly teaching is the exact reason I tell others, to use a different version of the Bible that they understand, mostly because, it’s okay.

I display most times the NASB (New American Standard Bible) because, once again, to me, it is the most accurate Bible in English. compared to the original languages that were used.

There is the GNT (Good News Translation) and for me, this version has been written using the words I most often use. I am most comfortable when I read from the GNT.

And then finally, there is the EASY (Easy English Bible). The EASY version is used in the most very basic words found in the English language. The writings are so much more in detail.

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…’ KJV (King James Version)

‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’ ‘…not a result of works, so that no one may boast…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…When you believed in Jesus, God saved you because he is very kind. You could not save yourselves, but that is God’s gift to you…’ ‘…He has not saved you as a result of any good things that you have done. So, nobody has any reason to be proud about it…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

If we are going to Edify those believers that are around us, maybe rather than us telling them what they need to believe in, we should allow them to find the writings for themselves in the Bible and they should study on their own. This idea to me defines a ‘church’ because if and when we do get together, we can speak about what we have each been reading on our own.

I think rather than us going to church to be preached to, we should instead be going to church so that together, we can be taught what the Word says.

There are churches that are so large that the members sign up into smaller groups so they can personalize their learnings a little more. Once again to me, this then should be their church, the smaller group.

To much emphasis is put on the ‘size’ of the church that we go to … who is the pastor … what kind of music do they play … do they have coffee and doughnuts … is there childcare. To me none of the above has anything to do with church and the ‘edification’ that the Bible teaches us.

According to GotQuestions.org, Paul repeatedly mentions edification in:

1 Corinthians 14

vs1 ‘…Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…’

vs2 ‘…For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries…’

vs3 ‘…But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation…’

vs4 ‘…The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church…’

vs5 ‘…Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification…’

vs6 ‘…But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching…’

vs7 ‘…Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp…’

vs8 ‘…For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle…’

vs9 ‘…So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air…’

vs10 ‘…There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning…’

vs11 ‘…So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me…’

vs12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’

vs13 ‘…Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret…’

vs14 ‘…For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive…’

vs15 ‘…What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also…’

vs16 ‘…For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying…’

vs17 ‘…For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified…’

vs18 ‘…I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all…’

vs19 ‘…nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue…’

vs20 ‘…Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature…’

vs21 ‘…In the Law it is written: ‘By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,’ says the Lord…’

vs22 ‘…So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe…’

vs23 ‘…Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane…’

vs24 ‘…But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all…’

vs25 ‘…the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you…’

vs26 ‘…What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification…’

vs27 ‘…If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret…’

vs28 ‘…but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God…’

vs29 ‘…Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment…’

vs30 ‘…But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent…’

vs31 ‘…For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted…’

vs32 ‘…and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets…’

vs33 ‘…for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints…’

vs34 ‘…the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says…’

vs35 ‘…If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church…’

vs36 ‘…Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only…’

vs37 ‘…If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment…’

vs38 ‘…But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized…’

vs39 ‘…Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues…’

vs40 ‘…But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4:12 ‘…for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 10:8 ‘…For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 12:19 ‘…All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 13:10 ‘…For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4:16 ‘…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Paul’s goal was to edify, and he believed that edification was one of the reasons spiritual gifts were given to believers. He also believed that the church should work to edify itself for the health of each member.

I love every one of you. Remember that one day, Jesus is going to teach each one of us what all entails in that word LOVE.

Keep your Bibles always open and study the Word that God has given to each one of us.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen InHIM. ><)))o>