Mastering Your Emotions – Living From Peace, Not Pressure
Blurb:
Emotions are real—but they were never meant to lead your life. When you understand how God designed them to function, you can stop being controlled by how you feel and start living from truth.

Category: Theology & Christian Living
Tags: emotions, peace, identity, mind, truth, spiritual growth, authority, transformation

Emotions are not the problem.

But they were never meant to be in control.

Many people live their lives led by what they feel—up one day, down the next, stable when things are good, overwhelmed when they’re not.

But Scripture shows something different:

You were not created to be led by emotions—you were created to live from truth.

Where Peace Actually Comes From
Jesus made something very clear:

John 16:33 — “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.”

Peace is not something you create.

It is something that comes from:

what He has said
what you understand
and what you choose to hold onto
So when peace is missing, the question is not:

“What’s wrong with me?”

But:

“What am I allowing to shape my thinking?”

Emotions Follow What Leads
Scripture teaches this clearly:

Romans 8:6 — “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Your emotions don’t lead your life—
they follow what your mind is fixed on.

If your mind is:

on fear → emotions follow
on pressure → emotions follow
on truth → peace follows
This is why Scripture continually points us back to:

what you think on matters

You Have Authority—But Here’s What That Means
You may not control what you feel in a moment.

But you do have authority over:

what you agree with
what you dwell on
what you allow to remain
Jesus said:

John 14:27 — “Let not your heart be troubled…”

That’s not pressure—that’s direction.

It means:

You are not required to stay in what you feel.

Guarding Your Inner Life

Proverbs 4:23 says:
“Guard your heart… for out of it flow the issues of life.”

This is where it becomes practical.

You guard your heart by being aware of:

what you allow in (what you hear and see)
what you meditate on
what you continue to replay
Because whatever you give attention to—
gains influence.

What to Do When Emotions Rise
There will always be opportunities to feel:

anxious
overwhelmed
fearful
But Scripture gives a response:

Philippians 4:6–7 — bring it to God, and His peace will guard your heart and mind.

This is not ignoring emotions.

It is:

• not letting them take authority
• not letting them define your direction

The Real Shift
Most people try to control how they feel.

But real transformation happens when you learn to:

lead your life from truth—so your emotions come into alignment.

Peace is not the absence of pressure.

It is the result of being grounded in something greater than it.

Final Thought
God gave you emotions—but not to lead you.

They are meant to:

• respond
• inform
• complement your life

But not define it.

You don’t have to be ruled by how you feel.

You can live from truth—and let peace lead the way.

God’s Will Is to Heal – What Scripture Actually Reveals

Blurb:
Is healing really God’s will? Instead of building beliefs from experience or opinion, we have to look at the full picture of Scripture—what God reveals about Himself, how Jesus demonstrated it, and how we are meant to understand it today.

Category: Healing, Signs and Wonders
Tags: healing, God’s will, faith, Jesus, identity, truth, Holy Spirit, restoration

When people ask if it is God’s will to heal, they are usually trying to reconcile two things:

• what Scripture says
• what they have experienced

But truth is not built from experience.

Truth defines how we understand experience.

Start With the Nature of God
Before looking at outcomes, we have to understand who God is.

Malachi 3:6 — “I am the Lord, I do not change.”

Acts 10:34 — “God shows no partiality.”

God is not shifting.
He is not selective.
He is not developing new responses.

What He reveals about Himself is consistent.

Throughout Scripture, God is revealed as:

life-giving
restoring
healing
Exodus 15:26 — “I am the Lord who heals you.”

Psalm 103:3 — “Who heals all your diseases.”

Isaiah 53:5 — “By His stripes you are healed.”

This is not occasional behavior.

This is His nature being revealed.

Jesus: The Exact Expression of God
If we want clarity, we don’t interpret God through situations—we look at Jesus.

Hebrews 1:3 — “He is the exact representation of His nature.”

Jesus did not come to introduce a new version of God.

He revealed what had always been true.

But He did not operate independently.

John 5:19 — “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father doing.”

This means:

• His actions were Spirit-led
• His ministry was precise, not random
• He revealed both the will of God and how it functions

Throughout the Gospels, we consistently see:

• He was moved with compassion
• He responded to faith
• He discerned by the Spirit
• He acted with authority

Matthew 8:3 — “I will—be clean.”

Matthew 4:23 — “He healed all kinds of sickness and disease.”

Acts 10:38 — “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed.”

Jesus is not selective—He is revealing.

He shows us:

• the heart of God
• the nature of the Kingdom
• and how truth is received and responded to

Understanding the Tension People Feel
Here is where many struggle:

If God heals… why doesn’t everyone experience it?

This question does not change truth—but it does reveal something important.

God’s nature is not inconsistent.
But human understanding, receptivity, and alignment often are.

Scripture shows that the Kingdom of God functions through:

• faith
• receptivity
• understanding
• response to truth

This is not limitation on God—it is how relationship with Him operates.

The Real Shift
The question is not:

“Why didn’t this happen?”

The question is:

“What has God revealed—and how do I learn to live in alignment with it?”

Because Scripture consistently points to this:

• God is life
• God restores
• God heals

Final Thought
God is not withholding healing.

He has revealed Himself as the source of life.

Through Christ, that life has been made available.

The journey is not convincing God to act—

it is learning to understand, receive, and walk in what He has already made known.

Holiness – What It Is and What It Isn’t

Blurb:
Holiness is one of the most misunderstood ideas in Christianity. Most people think it’s about behavior, separation, or perfection—but that’s not what Scripture actually teaches.

Category: Theology & Christian Living
Tags: holiness, identity, sanctification, grace, righteousness, transformation, truth

Holiness is one of the most talked about—and most misunderstood—truths in the Christian life.

For many, it means:

• trying harder
• avoiding sin
• separating from people
• or becoming morally perfect

But that’s not what Scripture reveals.

Holiness Starts With Identity, Not Effort
1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us something foundational:

Christ has been made our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

That means holiness doesn’t begin with what you do.

It begins with who you are in Him.

Holiness is not something you achieve.
It’s something you receive—and then learn to live from.

What Holiness Is NOT
To understand holiness, we have to remove what it isn’t.

1. Holiness is not behavior control
You don’t become holy by trying to avoid sin. That’s effort—not transformation.

2. Holiness is not separation from people
Jesus walked with sinners without becoming like them. Holiness doesn’t isolate—it remains untouched.

3. Holiness is not moral perfection
The law demanded perfection—and proved man couldn’t produce it.

4. Holiness is not external appearance
It’s not defined by dress, behavior, or outward image.

Holiness is not something you build from the outside in.

What Holiness Actually Is
Holiness is wholeness.

It means:

• nothing missing
• nothing broken
• complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10 says:

“You are complete in Him.”

That’s holiness.

Not striving—
but being made whole through Christ.

Why This Changes Everything
If holiness is behavior, you will always struggle.

If holiness is identity, everything shifts.

You’re no longer trying to become something—
you’re learning to live from what you already are.

Hebrews 10:14 says:

“By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

That means:

• You are already made complete
• And you are learning to live in that reality

How Holiness Actually Works
Holiness flows from the inside out.

Not:

behavior → identity
But:

identity → behavior
As you:

• understand who you are
• renew how you think
• live from truth

Your life begins to reflect Christ naturally.

Holiness is a fruit—not the root.

Final Thought
God didn’t call you to become holy by effort.

He made you holy through Christ.

Now you live from it.

Not trying to reach it.
Not trying to earn it.

But learning to walk in what is already true.

Dr Kevin Cicchino
One Truth Ministries
May 6, 2024

Sin & Separation – What Actually Happened?


Most people think sin is just behavior—but that’s not the real issue. Until you understand what actually happened between God and man, you won’t understand why salvation is necessary or what it truly restores.

Category:
Biblical Foundations

Tags:
sin, separation, identity, salvation, gospel, spiritual life, truth, foundation, Adam and Eve, redemption


God was never the one who broke when man fell—man did.

And that distinction matters more than most people realize.

Because if you misunderstand what actually happened, you’ll misunderstand what salvation is—and why you need it.

The Gospel Didn’t Start as a Reaction
The gospel didn’t begin as God trying to fix a problem He didn’t expect.

God wasn’t reacting.
He was revealing.

Before man ever fell, God already knew the cost of redemption. What we call “the fall” didn’t create panic in Heaven—it exposed what happens when man steps outside of the life he was created to live.

The issue was never God’s stability.
It was man’s disconnection.

What Actually Happened
When man sinned, something deeper than behavior changed.

This wasn’t just disobedience—it was separation at the level of life itself.

Isaiah 59:2
“Your iniquities have separated you from your God…”

Man didn’t stop existing.
He stopped being connected.

His spirit—designed to live in union with God—became disconnected.
And when that happened, something else took over.

The soul.

Mind. Will. Emotions.

What was meant to follow the Spirit became the leading force instead.

That’s where self-centered living begins—not in actions, but in source.

Man started living:

from his own reasoning
from his own desires
from his own interpretation of truth
Not because he was designed that way—but because he was now disconnected from what gave him life.

What Sin Really Is
Sin is not just what you do.

It’s the condition you live from.

Romans 3:23
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

That “falling short” isn’t just failure—it’s misalignment.

It’s not just missing the mark.
It’s choosing a different one.

Sin is:

living from yourself instead of God
defining truth instead of receiving it
functioning independently when you were created to be connected
At its core, sin is a distortion of identity.

Separation Isn’t Distance—It’s Disconnection

When Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t leave the garden.

They hid.

Genesis 3:8
“They hid themselves from the presence of the Lord…”

God didn’t move away.
Man withdrew.

That’s what separation looks like:

1. hiding
2. fear
3. shame
4. confusion

And it all starts with believing something that isn’t true about God.

That pattern hasn’t changed.

Anytime someone:

lives by their own logic over truth
trusts emotion over what God has said
or builds their life on anything outside of Him
They’re functioning from the same broken system.

The Real Condition of Man
Before salvation, the condition is clear:

The spirit is disconnected from God
The soul becomes the decision-maker
The body responds to the world, not God

Ephesians 2:1
“You were dead in trespasses and sins.”

This isn’t physical death.
It’s spiritual disconnection.

A person can:

1. think clearly
2. feel deeply
3. act intentionally

…and still be completely disconnected from the life of God.

That’s what it means to be spiritually dead.

Why This Matters
If sin is only behavior, then the solution is improvement.

But if sin is separation, then the solution is restoration of life.

That’s why salvation isn’t about becoming better.

It’s about becoming alive again.

When a person receives Christ:

1. the Spirit of God restores what was lost
2. connection is reestablished
3. and life begins the way it was always meant to function
4. Not independent.

But in union.

Reflection

• Are you living from your own thinking, or from truth revealed by God?
• Have you understood sin as a condition—not just behavior?
• Have you responded to Christ in a way that restores connection—not just agreement?

Because knowing about truth isn’t the same as living in it.

Final Thought
You were never created to live from your own understanding.

You were created to live connected to God.

The gospel isn’t behavior management.
It’s the restoration of life itself.

Not improving what you were—
but becoming what you were created to be.

Blurb:
Most people try to fight sin by focusing on behavior—but that’s not where real change begins. If you don’t understand how transformation actually works, you’ll keep fighting the same battles without lasting results.

Category: Theology & Christian Living
Tags: sin, identity, transformation, sanctification, Colossians 3, spiritual growth, grace, truth

Most people approach sin by trying to control behavior.

But that’s not where the real issue is—and it’s not where real change happens.

If you misunderstand how sin works, you’ll spend your life managing symptoms instead of walking in freedom.

Start Here: Go Back to the Source
If we’re going to understand how to deal with sin, we don’t start with methods—we start with truth.

Scripture doesn’t just tell us what to do. It reveals how life actually works.

And when it comes to dealing with sin, one of the clearest passages is Colossians 3:1–17.

The Real Problem Isn’t Effort—It’s Understanding
The early believers in Colossae had experienced real transformation. They had come out of paganism and into a new life in Christ.

But then something familiar happened.

Sin showed up again.

And like many people today, they were vulnerable to the idea that the solution was:

a better method
a deeper system
or a more advanced spiritual formula
But Paul makes something clear:

There is no method that produces freedom apart from understanding the gospel correctly.

External systems may look spiritual—but they don’t produce real transformation.

Where Real Change Begins
Paul doesn’t start with behavior.

He starts with identity.

Colossians 3:1–4 tells us:

• You have died with Christ
• You have been raised with Him
• Your life is now hidden in Him
• Christ is now your life

This is where most people miss it.

They try to fight sin without first understanding who they are.

But if you don’t start from identity, you’ll always fall back into effort.

The First Principle: Know Who You Are
The failure to deal with sin often comes from what can be called spiritual amnesia.

Forgetting who you are leads to living like who you used to be.

So the foundation is simple:

Know your identity
Rest in it
Think from it
Act from it
You are not trying to become new—you are learning to live from what has already been made new.

The Second Principle: Deal With Sin Completely
Paul makes it clear that sin doesn’t exist in just one area—it affects everything.

He addresses:

• Private life
• Public life
• Relational life

This matters because many people try to isolate sin instead of understanding it.

But sin isn’t just a behavior—it’s a pattern of thinking and living.

And until that is addressed, it will continue to show up in different ways.

You’re not just dealing with actions—you’re dealing with source.

The Third Principle: How Transformation Actually Happens
Paul doesn’t leave this abstract—he shows how it works.

1. Call sin what it is
Stop softening it. Stop renaming it. Truth exposes what deception hides.

2. See sin from God’s perspective
Not as something small—but as something that contradicts life itself.

3. Recognize the contradiction
You are not the “old man” anymore. Living in sin is inconsistent with who you now are.

4. Put it to death
Not manage it. Not negotiate with it. End it.

But this is where most people stop—and that’s why they struggle.

The Missing Piece Most People Ignore
You cannot remove something without replacing it.

Paul doesn’t just say “put off”—he says “put on.”

That means:

Replacing old patterns with Christ-like character
Choosing new actions that align with truth
Living from love, not effort
Real transformation is not subtraction—it’s replacement.

What This Looks Like Practically
As sin is removed:

• It is replaced with Christ-like character
• It is expressed through new actions
• It is sustained through truth and relationship with God

This is not behavior management.

This is life transformation.

Final Thought
You will not overcome sin by trying harder.

You overcome sin by:

• understanding who you are
• thinking from truth
• and living from what God has already done

The gospel doesn’t just tell you what to stop.

It shows you who you are—and teaches you how to live from it.

That’s where real freedom begins.

We are so honored to have come and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with Pastor Faheem Micheal Joseph and his beautiful people in Shiekhupuru, Pakistan.

The ground was prepared as we sent teams out to hit the streets  that we trained to use soul winning scripts to Share the gospel and invited everyone to the meeting.

This is the first step we took to bring spiritual revival in Pakistan as we raised there vision to empower Christians of Pakistan spiritually as well as socio-economically.


We have also begun the work of establishing a bible school there for teaching the word of God to the people. We have over 65 sign up and the list is number is rising weekly.

Since the meeting we have spread the word evangelizing the region of almost 20 miles. There have been mane than 500 salvations as many have come to the faith from there muslim practices and now are followers of Jesus Christ. Many miracles, signs and wonders have taken place. We have a video we will share in service with all the testimonies. Truly God has done a great work...and still is.

Galatians 6:7-8 – Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

The mindset to love who God calls us to love, and accomplish what God tasks us to accomplish, can deepen our sense of purpose. That is the secret to a fruitful and fulfilled life, in great relationships.

Unfortunately, we all encounter obstacles which can distract, or even paralyze us,  from that great life God had planned. The inability to say no, confront, and establish consequences in relationships when you need to  can be of the most difficult obstacles in life. We can see this in problems like:

• A child who doesn’t do homework or clean up after herself
• A husband who controls his marriage by getting angry when his wife disagrees with him
• An employee who is defensive about poor performance, and becomes “unconfrontable”
• A boss who intimidates her employees by being critical of those who speak up about problems in the organization

Cenario's like these seem to sap your energy, get you off track, discourage you and even bring about emotional damage.  Many can identify with these examples and understand when I say"This is not a good place to be."

The Bible presents a solution, which, in a word, is called boundaries.
Boundaries are your personal property line, where you set out where you end,  and where the other person begins.

Inside of these boundaries lay your time, energy, resources and money. Here is where you decide for yourself what to do with them.  Boundaries help you determine when to say yes, and how to say no.  Yet so many people feel guilty about having boundaries, or that the Bible teaches us not to have them.

Proverbs 4:23 is a wonderful verse which teaches on a very rich level, how boundaries can help us.

Let’s take a look:
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Here is the breakdown of the passage, not in the exact word order, but in a linear flow for you:

• Your heart: Your heart is the core of who you are, your insides, literally the “inner person.”   The word refers to all of the contents that reside in your mind.  That includes your values, thoughts, opinions, feelings and decisions (Will).   If you have ever experienced “losing heart”, when you become discouraged or demotivated, it is often because you either allowed someone to take your time or energy, or because you allowed someone inside your heart who had no business being there, and the result was that there was hurt and damage.

• Everything you do flows from it: Your heart so important that our entire life’s path depends on how healthy your heart is.   All of your actions, how you treat yourself, how you engage in your relationships with God and others, and the impact you make on the world,  all directly come from your heart.  For example, leaders who reflect on their careers will often look back on matters of the heart as being tipping points that changed the trajectory of their lives.  Think of it from the health perspective.  If you take care of your body and eat right, exercise and sleep well, you are likely to have a healthy body for a long time. But neglecting or abusing your body can easily result in sickness and dysfunction. Your heart is simply critical to living life in God’s way

• Guard: literally, to protect.  In other words, watch over your inner self, and keep it from harm.  I love the fact that God put this specific word in this specific place!  That is the role of a boundary, whether it be the word “no”, a difficult confrontation or some limit you need to set in a relationship.  So often, people think that saying “no” and taking responsibility to guard yourself is selfish and “all about me.”   But we have been entrusted with the task of guarding this most precious gift of God.  I often tell people to change the “S” from Selfishness to Stewardship, for that is how the Bible teaches it.

• Above all else: Every word of the Bible are, by definition, from God.  When you see the words “above all else” in the Scriptures, that’s a highlighter, meaning, “pay attention, this is a priority.”  So often we think that saying no to preserve our hearts should be unimportant.  But God instructs us that this is a critical and life-preserving stance to take.

This is just one of so many passages that teach us that clear  and loving boundaries are a tool for good in our lives. Pray over this verse and ask God to guide you to the right boundary that you need to establish today.  

It's down to you
Do you struggle with the inability to say no, confront, and establish consequences in relationships when you need to? How does that affect your life? We all desire to have fruitful and fulfilled lives and God’s Word says guarding our heart is the primary way to achieve those goals!







 

The Effectual Calling of God

God's will must be impressed on the natural state of humanity for people to react to God's message of love and hope. Paul speaks of this in 2 Timothy 2:24–26. He writes that "the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." God is the one who grants repentance that leads to knowing the truth. Peter also clarifies this phenomenon when he says that God "called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). The word "called" in this verse is the Greek word kaleo. Kaleo is the expression of God calling sinners. In this passage, kaleo is used in participial form, which means that God is the subject and God is impressing the effectual call onto sinners. This leads them to salvation. Rather than being invited to God, the word kaleo is a much stronger action. The correct understanding is that God is calling or drawing someone to Him rather than simply inviting someone to Him.

"Irresistible grace" is another phrase to discern the effectual calling. Humankind, without God, is "dead in the transgressions from sin" (Ephesians 2:1), and people cannot reach out to God or understand the gospel message. God provides the calling and the knowledge for humans to respond to Him, which comes to us by faith. Our missing element to reach God. Romans 3:10–11: "as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.'" The doctrine of total depravity shows that ,Until a person is receptive to God calling them
no one can reach God.

The general call of the gospel that everyone has the capability of hearing is different from the effectual call that leads to salvation. Jesus stated, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). In this verse Jesus is saying that few have experienced the effectual call, although many have heard the gospel message. Romans 1:6 also teaches the effectual call when Paul writes to those "who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." Acts 16:14 alludes to the effectual call when Luke describes Lydia's heart being opened by the Lord so she could respond to Paul's message. These examples show that God's calling is a definitive action toward those He saves. He chose His children in Christ, "… before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him …" (Ephesians 1:4).

Jesus, being the Son of God, knew that these individuals to whom He was talking were not numbered among His sheep. Only God’s elect, or those whom Jesus referred to as His “sheep”, will hear His voice. These will be called to faith in Christ, and they will therefore believe in Him. All the rest will be left in their sins. Praise God  He calls to us and for the faith God Gives us as He approaches us in salvation.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jesus said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63). The Spirit of God gives eternal life, and unregenerate man, or man who is “in the flesh” so to speak, is completely without the ability to accept the Gospel of Christ unless he is called to faith by God Himself (John 6:44, 6:65, Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14).

Summary
No one can turn to God without God first impressing Himself on them. Everyone is capable of hearing the gospel (John 3:16), but because of humanity's sinful nature no one turns to God apart from His effectual call.

Faith Scriptures to build you up in the Truth of God

Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

John 3:16 ESV  
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 10:17 ESV
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Luke 17:5 ESV  
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 7 helpful votes
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 2:20 ESV
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Romans 5:1 ESV
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9 ESV  
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 1:2-4 ESV  
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

1 Samuel 7:12 ESV
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Galatians 2:16 ESV  
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Matthew 17:20 ESV
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

1 John 1:3-7 ESV
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

 I am not one to read the newspaper, watch TV news or anything like that. Usually what I hear is by overhearing conversations and occasionally being informed by my 91 one year old mother who catches bits and pieces between naps while watching TV.  
It has been my experience that when there is something important for me to know, pay attention to and intercede for, the Holy Spirit sees to it that I am informed. This week I was in the grocery store and noticed a bold letter, newspaper headline announcing what has happened in Afghanistan, with the caption, “The Destruction of the World is at hand”.  Normally I don’t pay attention to newspapers at all, but seeing this I knew to acknowledge that I saw it and turn the volume of my spiritual listening up.
My first thought reaction was, “And then Jesus comes! God said it would happen!” Then I began to see on social media, the different forms of prayers Christians were praying. Some were very fear driven, others were giving God their ultimatums if he didn’t stop the madness and killing of Christians.  A little taken back by these prayers, my next thought was, “But this comes as no surprise to God. He made sure to record in His word that these things would happen.”
And then by the Holy Spirit it hit me, “They don’t know lest they have heard.”

Romans 10:14 says “But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?” vs 17 says,”So faith comes by what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

God so loved the World that He gave. What did God give? He gave Jesus. He gave Love. He gave Himself.

 Everything he created he spoke”Himself” into. As Father, He named and gave purpose to keep alive all He created.
He then spoke life into creation with the command to “reproduce after their own kind.” In speaking this command, the ability He placed within his creation was awakened. From plants to animals to humans.

God gave us very important attributes of Himself like, Love, Joy and Peace. He placed in each of us these qualities to show him as we purpose them in our actions daily. God the Father is Love. So he poured out the love of Himself to His creation as an expression of His love. Everything created within our being is his love. Our hearts, heads, blood, cells, brains, ears, eyes, skin, on and on. God is Joy.  His Joy flowed when He saw It was good. Then he sealed creation with His Peace. His stamp of approval on everything because on the 7th day He rested.  God so loved the World that He gave. What did God give? Himself.

 Living this life was never meant to be hard. It was never meant to be dissatisfying. It was never meant to be complicated. It was never meant to be destroyed. When man went against God’s created purpose, the place for “Himself” was now altered. Now the plan and purpose of God was interrupted. Love became distorted,  joy and peace no longer centered in God.

Well, I have Good News!
God so loved the world, that He, for us, was now without form or void.  So, He gave reconciliation through Jesus! His only begotten son. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! He gave us a way to have Him in our hearts once again. God eternal, has given us the path to reconnect with Him as He intended for us to live on earth; as it is in heaven. He is the way, the truth, and the life!
 
 Accept Him into your heart. Matthew 8:17 “He ‘himself’ took our weakness and carried our diseases” This was referenced by Matthew after Jesus healed Peter’s dying mother in law. On His three year journey to the cross, Jesus met with and destroyed everything evil that was in the path of and coming between us and God, here on earth. He carried it all to the cross. He bled out, removing its “power” from having dominion over God’s creation. The woman with the issue of blood, the deranged man, the blind man, the lame man, the impoverished people, the proud, the accusers, the murderers, the thief, fornication, adultery, satan’s deceptions and ultimately death. It was all nailed to the cross and His blood washed it all away.  When they pierced him in his side, the water, the Holy Spirit, was poured out on all flesh. The Holy Spirit,  the reconciliation of the “Power of God” to rule and reign once again in the heart of God’s creation.

A father and mother purchased new bedroom furniture for their son. They told him to clean his room and remove the old furniture to make room for the new furniture. He was so excited. When the furniture arrived, the movers could not place the new furniture in the room because the son had not removed all of the old. He cleaned the room but saved the pieces of furniture that he did not want to get rid of. He cried and pleaded with his parents for the new furniture. He shouted to them that he hated them! His parents told him, “You cleaned the room and that is great. However, the new furniture will only fit and be useful in your room when you remove all of the old.” Realizing that the part he had to do was the hold up of getting his new furniture, the boy immediately removed all the old furniture and received the new. Joy filled his heart and love was restored.

 God has heard your cry and your prayers for the evil destruction that is happening in the world to cease.  Your prayers are important and man should always pray and not faint. As you stand in faith for things to change, just know that The answer is here!!

 The question is:
Are you prepared to receive it? Have you allowed your heart to be washed and cleansed through Jesus, the Word of God.
Rid the old way of being, in order to make room for the new. Accept reconciliation with the Father. Live according to His plan and purpose in life. Give love to Him as He gave love (Himself) to us.  God never changed but we did. Get back on track. Search the scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to uncover the power to stay faithful to this life in Him. Prepare the way of the Lord. Amen.

Scripture Study:
Romans 10; 1 John 4; Genesis 1; Matthew 1-8; Isaiah 44; Joel 2:28; Isaiah 59; Revelation; Ezekiel; Titus 3; Acts;

 

Scriptures:
Proverbs 23:7, Romans 12:2, John 17:17, John 8:32, Ephesians 4:23, Philippians 4:8, Philippians 2:5

THINKING
Everyday our  lives are impacted  by powerful thoughts. Choosing to be positive with our thoughts, makes us more likely to follow them up with actions, leading to a positive outcome. Giving over to  think negatively, can result in destructive behavior. God doesn’t want us to struggle with wrong-thinking, which is why He gave us instructions to help us develop godly thinking.

Mindsets and attitudes shape thoughts. So, the object is to be aware of what thoughts go into our mind from our eyes and ears. Everyday we have an enormous amount of good and bad influences that are constantly competing for our thoughts. We ultimately control which thoughts and ideas we embrace and which ones we reject. This is our decision to make. No one can make your decisions for you. We become what we believe. Aligning our thoughts to be influenced and reflect the word of God, shows our love for him in our decision making process. As a result His protection is seen, keeping our minds safe.

If we let the world  be our guide and govern the way we think, we can be overwhelmed by wrong-thinking, which drags us down. Philosophies contradicting  what the Bible says is everywhere. One mans convictions spoken does not mean it’s true. Conforming our minds to man made philosophies only limits us. The consequences hold us back from achieving our true potential. The only thing we can count on is consistently reading and studying the unchanging truth of the bible, that leads to a radical transformation of the mind.

The backwards mind set and ideas of this world effects everyone. No one will escape that influence. When worldly philosophies permeate into our minds, eventually they cause the feeling of being trapped and in bondage. Meditating on the Scriptures is the only thing that brings supernatural renewal and refreshing to our thought life. The world tempts us to think in the natural, but the Scriptures teach us to think supernaturally about living.

"Thinking like Christ liberates us"

Refection
Jesus’ teaching known as “The Beatitudes” is recorded in Matthew 5:1-12. Within this passage, He identified attributes or experiences that will be manifested in the lives of those who are indeed the children of God. Each of these experiences is a reflection of the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus Himself endured, and each of these brings the promise of God’s blessing.
Jesus’ teaching in this passage is as follows:
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)

Application
Jesus began by teaching that we as God’s children will know and experience what it is like to be poor in spirit, even though the kingdom of Heaven is ours. We will know what it is like to mourn and to be partakers with the Him, the Man of Sorrows (John 16:20-22, Isaiah 53:3), and yet we are assured that the time will come for us when we will be comforted.
We will also be brought to a position of meekness or humility as God works in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:10- 11). And yet the time will come when we will inherit the earth.
We will hunger and thirst for righteousness when surrounded by unrighteousness in a wicked world (Psalm 42:2, 63:1, 143:6). However, we are assured that the time will come for us when we will be filled, and we will hunger and thirst no more (Revelation 7:16-17).
We will also find ourselves called upon to sacrifice something of what we have and could have kept for ourselves, in order to be merciful to someone in need. And in return for the mercy that we have shown to others, Jesus promised that we will receive God’s mercy shown toward us in our own time of need.
The love of Christ will be manifested in the life of every believer, and this love will motivate us, and even compel us, to show mercy to others

Conclusion
(Matthew 25:31-46, John 13:34-35, I John 3:11-20). Our faith in Christ will be shown to be a genuine faith by love manifesting itself through acts of mercy. Jesus taught that in return for the mercy that we show to others in their time of need, we will receive the mercy of God in our own times of trouble, and eternal reward and blessing in Heaven.  
Jesus also taught that we will know something of what it is like to be pure in heart. As those who have been called to faith in His Son, God has given us a heart to obey Him and keep His commandments (John 14:23-24).
We will also know and experience something of what it is like to be peacemakers among those who are self-willed. As believers, God has ordained that the life of the Prince of Peace will be manifested through our lives lived here on the earth (Isaiah 9:6-7, II Corinthians 4:7-12).
Jesus concluded His teaching in this passage by saying that we as His people will also know in some measure what it is like to be persecuted. We will be excluded, insulted, and falsely accused because of who we are, believers in Christ (I Timothy 3:12).

Pastor Kevin Cicchino
Live One Truth
"Christian Living"
 July 2021

"Failure is part of the human experience. To take risks, at times, implies failure. In fact, the only way to avoid failure is never to try, and that is no way to live at all. We have all experienced failure and the fear of failure. However, if we allow this fear to control us, we may never become who God meant for us to be. Playing it safe causes our lives to become a barren wasteland that could have had so much potential.
Here are five things to remember when facing this fear."

Remember that everybody fails
Failure is no big deal, it is universal. It is a natural part of life. “We all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). We all fail. In fact, we learn most about life through failure.
Realize that failure is not final
Failure is neither fatal nor final. In fact, the fear of failure is often worse than the experience itself. Proverbs 24:16 says, “A righteous man falls seven times and rises again.” Even the righteous man falls and gets up seven times. He just rises again; it’s OK.
However, what if you’re stumbling because you’re rejecting God and being foolish? This is different, it is disobedience.
Romans 8:28 says, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The message here is simple: If you err on the side of unrighteousness, repent right away. Ask the Lord for forgiveness. But if you err on the side of righteousness and you make a mistake, pick yourself up and keep right on going. Learn from your failure and move on. Don’t camp around the fires of guilt and failure.
When you learn through failure, you become a success through it. Falling down is part of the pathway to success, and when you stumble and fumble, God will use your time on the ground to build you up.
Sometimes the pathway to God’s greatest desire for your life will be riddled with failure. Don’t drop out; it’s a part of life. Don’t make failure such a big deal that you sabotage your own future.
Recognize the benefits of failure
Failure educates us. We may have made more mistakes than successes. However, we chalk it up as education. We try something, and if it doesn’t work, then we scrap it and try again. At least, we’re erring on the side of righteousness. God delights in a heart desirous to serve Him.
Failure also makes us less judgmental. When you fail, you become a lot more sympathetic, sensitive and kind to others. Failure will restrain your arrogance. It will cause you to be less judgmental. If there is no other reason for failing except that we learn to be a little more merciful to others when they fail, that is a great reason. We can learn a lot from failure.
Redefine failure
Let’s redefine failure. Failure is not that you didn’t arrive at your goal; failure is not even making an effort.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
God did not say to come in first. He is not looking for people who want to be famous. He is looking for the faithful.
The foolproof way to overcome and override failure is to make love the motivation for everything you’re pursuing. When you do what you do out of love, you never fail because love never fails.
Replace fear with faith in Christ
I have the strength to face every condition by the power that Christ gives me (Philippians 4:13). The answer to overcoming the fear of failure is not a program—it is a person! Jesus will provide us with the power.
When we experience fear, we must put our trust in God. We should set great goals and make sure our motivation is love. Then go for it! Failure is not when we stumble in trying to serve God, it is when there is no intention to serve God. When God sees hearts desiring to bring Him glory, He will turn everything around for good and those failures will become blessings.
Let’s set our hearts on God, and watch our fear of failure fumble and fall.

July 2021
Pastor Kevin Cicchino

The Issue: Everyone seems to wrestle with some sort of fear. Today we will look at a number of these fears and see what Scripture says is the key to overcoming them. Let’s begin with the fear that often comes with the uncertainties of the future. With all of the big decisions that need to be made in life, along with preparing for college and a career, the many unanswered questions about the future can seem quite scary.

What does the Bible say?
Even David had a fear of the future. When his popularity grew in Israel and he was anointed to be the next king, Saul became very jealous and tried to kill him. Note what these verses show about David’s fear:  I Sam. 21:10-12 – David fled from Saul and was even afraid that other people (such as Achish) would turn him in.  I Sam. 22:1; 23:14-15 – Because of his fear, he hid from Saul in a cave, as well as in the mountains and in a forest. Psalm 34 is David’s response to the situation in which he found himself. Notice how David was able to come to grips with his fear:  Ps. 34:4 – He sought the Lord, openly telling Him of his fears.  Ps. 34:8 – He had confidence and peace in God’s goodness.  Ps. 34:17, 19 – He knew God was aware and in control

What should I do?
We have an all-powerful God who cares for us. We can give all of our concerns about the future over to Him, allowing Him to do with them as He wills. When we trust Him, we can move forward with confidence, instead of fear (note Matt. 6:25-34).

How do I start?
Do you believe what the Bible says about God’s unchanging character, which includes His immeasurable love, kindness, and grace for you? If you do, you will naturally turn to Him as your Provider of peace and strength when you struggle with anxiety and fear.  But of course, in order to believe what the Bible says, first you need to know what it says. Next you need to affirm Gods word out of you mouth and hold fast to it in your heart based on what Gods says; not your thoughts of anxiety or fear.

Here are some affirmations to start your path of peace:

• When we’re anxious about a decision we have to make, we can be confident that the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is leading and guiding us.
• When our own hearts tell us that we don’t measure up, we can rest in the presence of a God who is greater than our hearts and does not condemn us.
• When our minds are filled with worry and doubt, our loving God doesn’t turn away; He stays with us, holding our hand and giving us strength.
• When we’re afraid of not having enough, our Heavenly Father assures us that He knows what we need even better than we do, and will provide it for us.
• When we feel like we’ve tried everything and don’t know where else to turn, Jesus promises us His peace, which is stronger than any peace the world can give us.

No matter what is causing your anxiety or fear, God is right there with you to give you peace, protect you, and provide what you need. There are many reasons we might feel worried, but God knows them all, and He has already overcome everything that troubles us. Amen! Give God the Glory!

by Wanda Brown

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19.

Marj was a 7 year old girl. 4th in the line of 5 children. She loved reading and was usually doing just that while her siblings played outside. On just such a day her mom instructed Marj to go outside and tell her siblings it was time to come in the house. She did just that and her siblings responded, “Ok!”, but kept right on playing. Moments later Mom told Marj to tell the children she said to come in now! So Marj, being obedient, went out and told the others, “Momma said, Come in the house now!” “We’re coming!”, they shouted back at her and called her a snitch. Although they didn’t move right away, they eventually came into the house. After dinner, when the chores were all done, it was time for tv and dessert. It was ice cream night and when mom came in with the ice cream there was only one bowl and she gave it to Marj. The others got upset, protested saying, 'she didn’t say that you meant right now!’, ‘I didn’t hear her call us in!’ and cried for ice cream. Instead they had to get baths and go to bed, while Marj enjoyed tv and her ice cream reward for her obedience to what her mother told her to say and do.

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19
Oftentimes this statement is read as though Jesus was saying “if” you destroy this temple. But that is not at all how He was expressing this event. Jesus, when he spoke these words, knew who he was and why he was here on earth. He knew the death he was facing, the burial, and the resurrection to return to the Father. So He was not just simply making a statement. He was giving a command. He was declaring the truth. Jesus was giving command according to what the Father had said. He commanded them to destroy his physical body, and let them know, He would raise it up in 3 days. He had purpose and He spoke the truth and declared what the Father had spoken to him, about him, therefore taking position as the Messiah.

Were the hearers listening and willing to accept the truth? Did they have their spiritual ears on or did they allow the filter of their imaginations of what they thought they knew determine the meaning of what Jesus was saying?
 Verse 20 says, “They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’  By their mind’s eye they spoke of a building, but by the Spirit, the temple Jesus had spoken of was his body.”

“Do you not know that your body is (the) temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you which you have of God; and you are not your own?”  (I Cor 6:19)

When called to testify the false witnesses told conflicting stories based on their interpretation of what they thought Jesus meant.  They mocked Him, they told lies, and they accused him. (Mathew 26:61, 27:40; Mark 14:58 and 15:29)
But that did not stop Jesus.  He knew his authority and the power that worked within him. He continued sharing the truth, speaking what the Father said, giving command of the word to fulfill His purpose, that the Father may be glorified.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten-Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have life eternal. (John 3:16). Jesus was determined to Glorify the Father at any cost, even at the cost of his own life. So that we may live eternally with them.

Be encouraged!
 Speak the Word of the Father. Be bold to speak the truth. No matter how people may mock you, tell lies against you, be in disbelief or persecute you. Stand in the authority and with the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Continue the good work He has begun in you until the day of Christ Jesus. Those who have ears to hear will hear and obey what God has said. Give to them and let them see Jesus, that the Father may be glorified!  Eternal life will be the reward for all.
 

by Wanda Brown

Jesus gives the command 

Matthew 21:1-5
“When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethpage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead] saying to them, :Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you]. This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
 Behold, your king is coming to you
 Gentle and mounted on a donkey
 Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden”

Disciples Carry out the command 

“Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them, and they brought the donkey and the colt, and placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats.” v6-7

The people acknowledge and receive Him as Messiah and King 

“Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],
“Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”
When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement],
Saying Who is this? And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” v8-10


Invite Jesus to come into your temple and He will clean house!

Matthew 21:12-13
“And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].
Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’ but you are making it a ROBBER”S DEN”

When you let Jesus in, He will set you free from the clutter of being in bondage and the oppression of captivity. And who the Son sets free is free indeed!  You have invited Him to dwell in your temple and because He is the light of everything that’s right, filth and uncleanliness gets uncomfortable and has to move. That Light will expose and pull out things that you may not have even known were there. He’ll let you see them as they’re leaving and He will even call them by name, but they have got to go! They want to go because they are in the presence of God. So, let them go!
You may say…
“But God I’ve had that or have done that ever since I was a baby.”
 “It makes me feel comfortable.”
 “I know it hurts me but, I don’t want to let that one go,”
 “That's what I was taught and it's all I've ever known.”
“That’s not hurting anybody”
“I feel ‘happy’ with that one around”
“Don’t remove that one Lord it hurts to let go”
“I know it makes my blood pressure rise but that’s my favorite food.”
“I know my sugar is high but I love cheesecake, ice cream and donuts.”
Listen!
When you allow Jesus into your temple, it becomes His dwelling place. You are inviting God Himself to come live within you. He’s a big God! so he needs every nook and cranny of space to dwell in. He’s a jealous God! He’s not gonna share His temple with other gods (anything that you give attention to over God}. So he will expose them to you so you can kick them out!!! So let them go and kick them O-U-T!

Why would a good God do such a thing?

Because, He is a good God and He loves you, He will hold no good thing from you.
When you let Him in, He becomes one with you and He brings a boat load of everything you need, into your temple. First of all there’s healing from all the wreckage of the things that you let go of. Your house is swept and clean, whiter than snow, and smelling good. Now absolute joy, righteousness, peace, prosperity, love, compassion, and good health have moved in and is the atmosphere of your Temple.

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me[following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST (renewal, blessed quiet) FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and MY burden is light.”

Be encouraged:

We have to put in the work.

THE GREAT COMMISSION
Before He ascended into heaven: 
“Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually- regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The Father gave Jesus all authority and power to speak the command of His Word, that as believers and His disciples, we may operate in the same power and authority, to carry out HIs plan of reconciliation.
If you are a believer but you are holding on to the things that Christ has already set you free from, let it go. You don’t need it. It is no longer a part of who you are. You have the greatest gift that was ever given, resident on the inside of you. Let the spirit of God take full resident on the inside of your temple.
If you are hearing this gospel for the first time and because of what you have read today, you are experiencing that burning desire on the inside for something greater. You desire a change to occur in your life and to let go of all the hurt and pain you've been holding on to. Now is your day of salvation and Jesus is the way. God has imparted to you a measure of faith to know that when you call on the name of Jesus you are saved! Call His name," Jesus"!  Now, salvation is yours! Welcome into the family where Jehovah is your Father! All heaven is rejoicing!

Give and live salvation  
God's desire for us is to live the life of salvation to its fullness here on earth through the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary for our sakes. So let us live each moment of the day on purpose and in His purpose. He has given us the promise of living eternally with the Father when we become one with Him.  
*Selah

*scripture quotes from KJV Amplified version

July 2021
Pastor Wanda Brown

“And in like manner the Spirit joins also its help to our weakness; for we do not know what we should pray for as is fitting, but the Spirit itself makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered. But he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for saints according to God.”  (Rom 8:26-27)

A few months ago I was at the grocery store. Now I don’t know about you but, oftentimes, I talk to myself while I’m shopping. This particular day, I had been praying and holding a conversation (in my prayer language) in the spirit all morning and continued speaking to God as I went through the aisles of the store. Then I decided to stop and just listen. What I heard I had not experienced before. I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me in His heavenly language.  It was so sweet, it was strong, it was comforting, so clear and direct and so empowering that I could do nothing but pause, close my eyes and weep. He had connected with my spirit in such a way that English words would not adequately describe.

As the cashier checked out my order, she asked me “what I was doing tonight”. I shared with her that we were having Bible Study.
I found myself led to ask, “Could I pray for you tonight at Bible Study?” She stopped what she was doing to ponder for a moment, then said “I want to be specific.” She went on to share that she is a believer and a single parent and desires a husband. I promised her we would pray.
 
While the Word was being spoken at the Bible Study that night, the Holy Spirit gave me the Wisdom to apply to the prayer as we prayed for the young lady. You see, what I now realize is that in the store He had already spoken to me, by the Spirit, what needed to be prayed in intercession for that young lady. Praise God we can pray out those mysteries when we don't know what to pray.
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who come to him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf. (Heb 7:25)

 The interpretation in English, of that prayer I heard The Holy Spirit pray, was now revealed to be spoken in this realm for manifestation to this young lady’s desires. What was bound on earth was already bound in heaven.

“What was loosed in heaven was already loosed on earth.” (Mat 18:18)

We prayed God’s perfect will and in His perfect way towards that young lady, her desire was set in motion in the Spirit in her life.
AMEN!

Be encouraged!
Jesus made it very clear, as children of God it is important that we communicate with Him. It is important that we develop a relationship as one with the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit in order to carry out the plan and purpose God has given us to fulfill.
 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me and I am in you.” (John 14:20)
If you are not living the life of salvation and you desire a relationship with God, Call upon His name, Jesus, and receive Him into your heart. Now that Christ is in you, receive the Holy Spirit. He is available for every believer to teach and guide you in this walk with Christ.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit-the Father will send Him in My name-will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14: 26)

Develop your relationship with God. Speak to him daily. Get to know who you are now, by reading the scripture and discovering the commands of God. He says “the one who keeps My commands is the one who loves Me.” (v21)
Talking to God and listening to Him speak through the Word helps to guide you through your day with the purpose that The Father may be glorified!
and those in the world through Christ might be saved.

‘Do not fear, for I will show you kindness

This series has been broken down into 3 daily readings.


Day 1

2 Samuel 9
“And David said, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ And he said, ‘I am your servant.’ And the king said, ‘Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.’ The king said to him, ‘Where is he?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.’ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ And he answered, ‘Behold, I am your servant.’ And David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.’ And he paid homage and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?’
“Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, ‘All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.’ Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, ‘According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.’ So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.”

We thank God for the reading of his Word so we can edify and grow in you... We bow down before you, our good and gracious God, asking for the help of the Holy Spirit as we turn to your Word and praying in Christ’s name. Amen.

Well, here we are at chapter 9, and after all the clashing strife of chapter 8, we turn from the sights and sound of these battlefields and turn in to what is a beautiful picture: an expression of God’s lovingkindness, his covenant love, as it is expressed through the life of his servant David in the way in which he treats this man Mephibosheth.  As we continue in this study we see that from chapter 8 which had a tremendous amount of killing in (this was not, simply a kind of tribal skirmish, but the reason for this is because the enemies of God must be subdued and must be defeated). In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ steps forward as the King to subdue all the enemies ranged against God and his purposes.

2 Samuel 9, we might say that we find David at his best. I think it nudges his defeat of Goliath into second place.The defeat of Goliath in 1 Samuel is, of course, magnificent, where he stands before him in his frailty and yet in his power. But now, here we have this display of kindness. And it’s very, very important that we recognize immediately that when we talk about the kindness here, it’s not simply a matter of David being nice to somebody. We’re familiar with saying to people, “I hope you have a nice day,” or “Be nice to your teacher,” or whatever it might be. And that is, of course, important. But what is being expressed here is the covenant love of God. The context means "the steadfast love of God". In some versions of the Bible, it is his “lovingkindness.” It is his covenant care. The “steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,” writes Solomon later, “and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.”[1]

Now, it is, as I say, to get this otherwise, we will quickly go wrong. It is a love that commits itself to another by making its promises a matter of solemn historical record. So in other words, he’s not simply being nice to the person up the street. What is being displayed here in the life of David is this commitment to another in the fulfillment of promises that are a matter of solemn record. The Lord Jesus Christ steps forward as the King to subdue all the enemies ranged against God and his purposes.
 
Now, in chapter 8 we recognized that “David reigned over all [of] Israel.” He “reigned over all [of] Israel.” That’s the fifteenth verse. And we discovered that the model of his administration was marked by justice and by righteousness—that as the king, he sought then to operate in his leadership by doing what was good and what was right. And in doing so, he recognized—still in chapter 8 and in verse 6, and then again in verse 14—he recognized that it was the Lord that had given him victory.

He recognized, too, actually—going all the way back to chapter 7—that it was on account of God’s promises to him and his presence with him that he found himself in the position that he did.
2 Samuel 7:20:
“And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!” In other words, he’s saying, “You know everything about me. You know what I’m like. The fact that I am here today in this position”—notice verse 21: “Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.”

And so, chapter 8 provides us a summary of David’s reign. Some of what is described in chapter 8 took place before David became king, and some of what is described in chapter 8 is actually a record of something that took place after this, chronologically. And so it is that we move from that and into chapter 9.

The end of chapter 7 into the beginning of chapter 9. So, for example, you will remember that in the balance of chapter 7, David expresses his gratitude to God. And it actually says in verse 18 that he went in, and he sat before the Lord, and he says, “Who am I that I would ever be in a situation like this?”[2] And then he expresses his gratitude to God, and he asks God to continue to bless his house:
 “For you, O Lord God”—the end of 7—“have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” Chapter 8 is a summary of the reign, which is set in there for us so that we might have a fuller detailed picture.
Notice that David seldom sits, but when he sits, he actually thinks. And as he thinks and as he considers, he then proceeds.

The Question David Posed
He is sitting there, and he’s saying to himself, “I wonder, is there anyone left of the house of Saul?” After all, he has done a tremendous job of eradicating all of the enemies and all of the potential threats. And indeed, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was actually reflecting in this way in order to check and see if there were any other people that represented a threat to his kingship. After all, Saul and his house had fought long and bitter battles against David.  So it wouldn’t be surprising if he said, “I’d better just check and make sure that there’s nobody left that could come up against me and so threaten what I’m doing.” That wouldn’t be surprising. But that is not what he’s saying.
He wasn’t thinking about eliminating an opponent but instead finding somebody, an undeserving somebody, to whom he could show “the kindness of God”—which is what he refers to it as in verse 3—to whom he could show “the kindness of God,” an undeserving member of Saul’s house.
It’s important for us also to recognize that this reflection and this question doesn’t come out of the blue. It’s not “all of a sudden, appears out of nowhere.” And in order to make sure we understand that, lets fo to chapter 20 of 1 Samuel. Remember in that context that David and Jonathan expressed their commitment to one another, and you will see this in 20:14. And Jonathan says to David, he says, “Listen, if I’m still alive after all of this—when all of this shakes out, if I’m still alive—show me the steadfast love of the Lord. Be kind to me. Be kind to me with the kindness of God, the covenant love of God. Show me that, so that I may not die. And furthermore, do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever.” And verse 17: “And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”
Now, here’s the thing: David had not forgotten that he made that promise. Nor had he forgotten that he gave a similar assurance to Saul himself. In chapter 24, when Saul acknowledges to David, he says, “I know you’re going to be the king. I know that your kingdom will be established.” And then he says to him, “But I want you to swear an oath to me. ”This is 1 Samuel 24:21: “‘Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, … that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.’ And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up [from] the stronghold.” Now, that is a long time ago. That is at least a decade; maybe two decades have elapsed. And as David sits in this situation and reflects, he says to himself, “I wonder, then, if there is anybody that I could display this kindness too.”
And so the word gets out. I imagine that his people around him would have said, “You know, David has been talking a lot these last few days—talking to himself almost—and saying, ‘I wonder, is there anybody?’” And so the word is passed to Ziba.  Ziba is the one who is able to come, declare his servanthood to David in verse 2, and as he’s given the question again, Ziba is able to point him in the right direction. And he “said to the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.’” And you will notice that that is the final statement in this chapter as well.There is something about the helplessness, about the predicament of this individual that speaks to David’s kindness and his compassion.
Now, we know from chapter 4 that the event concerning this person had to do with the occasion when warfare began to ensue and his nursemaid picked him up and made a run for it, and “she fled in her haste,” and “he fell and became lame”, 2 Samuel 4:4 His name was Mephibosheth.” Now, he was five years old at that time. By this time in this chapter, he is a young man and has a son of his own. So I say to you again, time has elapsed. And time has not eroded David’s desire to express this covenant love to the servant of Saul.

Now, when he finds this out, when he is given the news, he doesn’t waver, and he doesn’t reconsider. I suppose it would have been possible for him. This sometimes happens in life, doesn’t it? You have a good idea. You have a genuine desire. And then you get the answer to your question, and then it sort of goes away from you, all of a sudden, for no good reason, and you just don’t follow through. I mean, it would have been possible for him to say, “Well, now that I’ve got the information and thought about it for a little while, it was a long time ago.

Conditions were different then. After all, it was something of a formality. It was just between me and Jonathan. After all, times have changed.” All of the kind of things that we’re tempted to say.
You think about the covenant of marriage: “It was such a long time ago. Things have changed. I’ve changed. We’re different now.” You see, if David was simply operating on the basis of his feelings, there’s no saying what he would have done. But the reason that he poses the question is because he is prepared to pursue for no other obvious reason at all than the fact that he promised: “I promised. And because I promised, I will seek this person out.” Hence the question that he has posed.

Day 2

The Action David Took
Notice the action that he then took. He follows up on this. He wants to know, verse 4, “Well, where is he?” And Ziba said to him, “Well, he’s in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” The little we know about that simply affirms the fact that he’s not in much of a place, he’s obviously dependent on the care of others, and really, he has nothing very much to say for himself.
You know, when you’re a king, I think you want nice people around you. You want to make sure that your entourage is a good group. That would be standard, wouldn’t it? What kind of king is it who’s gonna have a cripple in his entourage? Why would he do this? No obvious reason. What would this individual have to offer? Nothing very much. You see, that’s why I say this is not about being nice. This is about the loving-kindness of God, painted in this amazing sketch in this incident in David’s life.

Love always takes the initiative.  And what Mephibosheth would have anticipated in making his supervised journey to meet the king we can only imagine. After all, he would know that David had done a very, very good job of removing any potential threats to his kingship. He came from the lineage of “the son of Jonathan,” he’s the “son of Saul.” Saul is his grandfather. Saul was the great enemy of David. Therefore, he’s not able to say, “Well, you know, I’ve got a very good lineage. My background is terrific. I can probably appeal to that.” No, he wouldn’t want to make much of that. Furthermore, he has really got no position of power or anything at all. But here he comes. And no surprise that he falls before David—falls before him—and he “paid homage” to him. In other words, his approach is respectful, and at the same time, it is fearful.
This is not about being nice. This is about the loving-kindness of God, painted in this amazing incident in David’s life.
Now, I want you to see something that I think may be important, but it’s not a main and a plain thing. And it is simply this: that up until this little encounter here, where we read in the second half of verse 6. Now, you will notice here, when Mephibosheth shows up, the narrator says, “And David said to him…” It doesn’t say, “And the king said to him…” It’s almost as though by this motion, the writer wants us to recognize that what is now taking place in this conversation is something beyond simply king to subject. It is David addressing Mephibosheth: “And David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’” To which he must have said, “He knows my name! How’s he know my name?” Well, let that settle in your thinking.
“Do not fear.” “Do not fear.” You think how many times in the Bible an encounter like this is preceded by this very phrase, “Do not fear.” “Fear not.” Do you find yourself looking at this and saying, “Well, that makes me think about something a lot later on”? The angelic word: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be [for] all [the] people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David”—the city of David!—“a Saviour, [who] is Christ the Lord.”[8] And here David, of “the city of David” fame, brings this individual to him, and his maneuver is “I don’t want you to be afraid. I don’t want you to be afraid. And I’ll tell you why you don’t need to be afraid. Because…”
And verse 7 is the turning poinmt, David said to him, ‘Don’t fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.’” In other words, “What you’re going to be able to enjoy as a result of my kindness to you is not on account of anything in you. It is on account of a promise that I have already made a long time ago—a promise that you would know nothing about.” After all, he was, as we say, only five years old. But it was the covenant that David had made with Jonathan that lay behind the assurance that he now gives to Mephibosheth.

The Provision David Made
And that action is then followed by the provision that he made. So, the question that he posed: “Is there anybody?” Answer: “Well, there is a fellow.” “Okay, well, where is he?” “Well, he’s over there.” “Well, go get him. And bring him.” So he sent for him, and he summoned him, and he came to him, and he spoke to him, not top-down but mano-a-mano: “Mephibosheth, I’m David. Don’t be afraid. I’m going to show you the kindness of God, because of the promise that I made to your dad.”
And the provision is described for us there. What is he going to do? Well, he tells him: “I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father.” “Your grandfather’s place is gonna be yours.”  So you imagine the provision that was there in Saul’s, that had been taken away. It was under the custody of others. It wasn’t in the provison of Mephibosheth—no, not for a moment.
This is unbelievable. If it doesn’t astonish us, then we need to think a little more. He’s been living in the house of Machir, a no-name location. And, proverbially, with the stroke of a pen, he is all of a sudden a rich man. All the fields and the basic regimen that Saul his grandfather enjoyed is now going to be his. That’s the first thing.
Secondly, “And you shall eat at my table always.” “You shall eat at my table always.” This is more than “bare necessities, the simple bare necessities.” This is the fullness… It’s like when you get into John chapter 1: “Out of the fullness of his grace we have all received…” That’s what this is a picture of here.
Now, if you think about this: David had enjoyed the same privilege at Saul’s table. Because remember, the whole deal was that David enjoyed the privilege, as a prince of the court, to sit at the table of Saul. And you’ll need to reread 1 Samuel 20 again for yourself, when he says, “I’m going to not show up at the table. And I want you, Jonathan, to check out your father’s reaction.” And it is in his absence from the table of the king that Jonathan displays to him the affection and love and support and obedience that recognizes David’s kingship, which gives rise to his covenant promise to Jonathan, which then leads to the circumstance that we find before us now. The covenant that he had made with Jonathan is the basis by which he keeps his promise, securing for Mephibosheth honor and blessing beyond what he could ever imagine.
So, “Your grandpa’s place is yours. You will always eat at my table.”
Thirdly, you will notice that he provides for him a management team to ensure that Mephibosheth will be able to enjoy these benefits. And you will notice in verse 12 that Ziba—who was himself a prosperous fellow—that Ziba and his folks became the servants of Mephibosheth.

Day 3

Mephibosheth’s Reaction
Well, of course, what is the reaction? Well, he says, “What is your servant,” verse 8, “that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” Ha-ha! You get this? He doesn’t say, “Well, finally somebody woke up! Finally somebody’s begun to think and realize what an important person I am. I may not be able to walk like other people, but I still have a position to fulfill. And I can understand why you would now realize the extent of my potential influence and would call me into your position and do this for me. And it just makes perfect sense.”
No, it’s the very reverse of that. He’s astonished by it. He said, “This doesn’t make any sense at all. Why would you do this? Why would you do this for a dead dog like me?” You say, “Well, that’s very self-deprecating.” No, I think he meant it. Actually, you will recall that David used the very same terminology about himself in relationship to Saul in the earlier part of the story. In other words, he says, “I’m the bottom of the pile here. Why would you do this?”

Let me just jump forward for a second. The reason some of us have never come to trust in Christ is because we’ve never faced the fact that we are by our very nature at the bottom of the pile—that we are lame, that we are sinful, that we are crippled, and that we are diseased. And so the message comes to us along the lines of “God likes really nice people. You’re a very nice person from the Westerville, Ohio, and therefore, you’ve got a very, very even chance of being welcomed into his eternal kingdom.” No! Not for a nanosecond. The reverse is the case. The reaction of this fellow is the right reaction to the covenant love of God: “My God!” “My Lord, what love is this that pays so dearly?”

Interestingly, you will notice that Mephibosheth’s reaction is actually akin to the reaction of David way back in chapter 7: “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and [he] said, ‘Who am I …?’” This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love. That’s what it is. You see, what Mephibosheth expected he didn’t receive, and what he received he didn’t deserve.
No, so what happens? Well, you see their the fulfillment of it: “Mephibosheth,” verse 11, “ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons.” He enjoyed the fullness of the king’s provision—he and his son, a reminder that the line is going to continue.
Remember the promise he made to Saul? “I will make sure that your line continues.” Here we have it: his great-grandson now!
Well, I can imagine that Mephibosheth would have occasion, if he had known the bible as we do, to have said to himself, “He welcomes me to his banqueting table, and his banner over me is love.” Because notice what has happened here: David has found him, he has summoned him, he has treated him kindly, he has provided for his needs, he has given him a seat at his table, and he is treating him as a son. That’s why I say to you that this is David at his very best. We’re going to see David later on at his very worst, in a couple of chapters. This is him at his very best, inasmuch as what he does foreshadows Christ; inasmuch as what we discover is that the kingdom of David is a kingdom of kindness, righteousness, and justice.

How is that worked out? Well, in the big picture, it will involve this. But what about on the day-to-day picture? What about in interpersonal relationships? What does it mean for you, David, to get up in the morning and say, “I’m gonna do the good thing, and I’m gonna do the right thing”? “Well,” he says, “I’ll tell you what I’m gonna have to do: I’m gonna have to see if there is anybody left of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God, that I may do what is good and that I may do what is right.”
Well, of course, what do we know? That the picture, as glorious as it is, is a picture that comes into full frame, into glorious Zenith color, in Jesus. Because hundreds of years—about a century and a half—after these events, the prophets are writing. And the prophets write of a day that is yet to come. You can read this on your own. But Isaiah, in 35:6, he talks about a day that will come when “the eyes of the blind” will “be opened,” when “the lame man” shall “leap like a deer,” when “the tongue of the mute” will “sing for joy.” And six hundred years before Jesus, the people lived, read this, and wondered.

Communion is the reminder to us that the kingdom of God is the kingdom of kindness, in a love that he shows to the diseased, the lame, the deaf, the dying. And then the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. And suddenly the lame leap, the deaf hear, the blind see, the mute sing. And people say, “Then this is he! This is the King. This is the King who out-kings all the kings. This must be the one.” “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the [waves] obey him!” Yes! Because in Jesus all these signs find their fulfillment and declare that the kingdom has come.

When the King Comes Calling
Mephibosheth, I don’t know his circumstances. Maybe they picked him up and moved him around. Maybe he stumbled. Maybe he had crutches. He went around his day, someone brought him his breakfast, and there he was, in the house of Machir, in a place that nobody really knows where it is anymore. He was a sort of no-name nonentity, lost, crippled, living on his own. And somebody showed up at the front door. And they said, “We’re looking for Mephibosheth.”
Someone said, “Well, he’s in here. Why do you need him?”
“Well, the king wants him.”
“Hey, Mephibosheth? King David is calling for you.”
“Well, I don’t know if I want to go.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to go. They’ve sent somebody here to take you.”
And off he goes. And, of course, we know the story.

One day the King went calling at the house of Levi the tax collector. And the religious people said, “Well, this doesn’t seem to make sense at all. I thought if the Messiah came, he would hang around with the nice people. Don’t you know about Levi? Haven’t you heard about his parties? I mean, he’s metaphorically a misfit. He’s lame. He’s bad.” You remember Jesus says, “Yeah, but I’ve come to houses like this. You think I came to call a righteous group? I came to call sinners to repentance.” And one day he went in to eat at the house of man called Zacchaeus, the wee man up the tree. And the same response: “I can’t believe he went to Zacchaeus’s house! Doesn’t he know who Zacchaeus is? If he was really the Messiah, he’d be hanging around with the people that have got their lives organized, who are doing all the right things, who are saying all the right things. But look where he’s gone! Why does he do that?” Well, the same reason. He didn’t come to call righteous, because he displays his kindness to us—the kindness to his enemies.
And when Paul picks up on this—Paul writes about this in a theological frame, he gets it clear as a bell for us: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” For the ungodly! “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare … to die—but God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” You see how religion has it upside down? “Clean yourself up, and maybe you’ll make yourself acceptable to God.” And you read the Bible, and you say, “Well, that couldn’t possibly be the case.” And you’re right. Here, verse 10; this is Romans 5: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
So, the knock came on the door at the house of Machir. Metaphorically, the knock came on the door of the house of Levi. It came, the knock on the door, at the house of Zacchaeus. How about your house? How about your house? Have you heard his knock? “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if [anyone] hear[s] my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and … sup with him.”  We’ll sit together at the table, just like we’re gonna do this evening. That’s what Communion is about. Communion is not some kind of, you know, armband for people who are doing really well. Communion is the reminder to us that the kingdom of God is the kingdom of kindness, in a love that he shows to the diseased, the lame, the deaf, the dying—just as I am.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all [of this] in [you] I find.
[Lord Jesus Christ], I come.[24]

If you’re not astonished by this, you got a real, real issue.

Father, you are the God of covenant love, that you come to us in our frailty and in our need, in our rebellion and in our sinfulness. Thank you that just as the messenger came to the home of Mephibosheth, you send out your messengers. And indeed, when we think about it on that level, we pray that we in turn—those of us who have been set free by your grace and goodness—might become the messengers knocking, as it were, on the doors of others and saying,

“Come along. He has called for you. He summons you. He brings you into his banqueting table, and his banner is love.”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for fulfilling all of this and making it possible for us to understand more and more of these Old Testament passages. And we pray in your name. Amen.
[1] Proverbs 20:28 (ESV).
[2] 2 Samuel 7:18 (paraphrased).
[3] 2 Samuel 7:29 (ESV).
[4] 1 Samuel 20:14–15 (paraphrased).
[5] 1 Samuel 24:20–21 (paraphrased).
[6] Genesis 40:14 (paraphrased).
[7] Genesis 40:23 (ESV).
[8] Luke 2:10–11 (KJV).
[9] Henry Clay Work, “My Grandfather’s Clock” (1876). Lyrics lightly altered.
[10] Terry Gilkyson, “The Bare Necessities” (1967).
[11] John 1:16 (paraphrased).
[12] 1 Samuel 20:5–7 (paraphrased).
[13] See 1 Samuel 24:14.
[14] Graham Kendrick, “Amazing Love (My Lord, What Love Is This?)” (1989).
[15] 2 Samuel 7:18 (ESV).
[16] Song of Solomon 2:4 (paraphrased).
[17] Isaiah 35:5–6 (ESV).
[18] See Mark 1:15.
[19] Matthew 8:27 (KJV).
[20] See Luke 5:27–32.
[21] See Luke 19:1–10.
[22] Romans 5:6–8 (ESV).
[23] Revelation 3:20 (KJV).
[24] Charlotte Elliott, “Just As I Am” (1835).

Book of Romans

In this outline we will uncover the book of Romans. This first outline is a brief break out of the areas Paul is sharing on.

The next Section of outline is and introduction expository of romans to follow along with as you read through Romans.

The final is a brief outline with some questions to use as a break out study guide for small group for discussion.



OUTLINE:

1	Salutation	Rom 1:1-17
2	Sin	Rom 1:18—3:20
3	Salvation	Rom 3:21—5:11
4	Sanctification	Rom 5:12—6:23
5	Struggle	Rom 7
6	Spirit-filled living	Rom 8:1-27
7	Security	Rom 8:28-39
8	Segregation	Rom 9—11
9	Sacrifice & service	Rom 12, 13
10	Separation	Rom 14, 15
11	Salutation	Rom 16

I. Doctrinal, “Faith,” Chapters 1—8
A. Justification of the sinner, Chapters 1:1—5:11

1. Introduction, Rom 1:1-17
a. Paul’s personal greeting, Rom 1:1-7
b. Paul’s personal purpose, Rom 1:8-13
c. Paul’s three “I am’s,” Rom 1:14-17
Key verses 16, 17 — the revelation of the righteousness of God.

2. Revelation of the sin of man, Rom 1:18—3:20
This is “Sinnerama.” Universal fact: Man is a sinner. Ecumenical movement is away from God. Axiom: World is guilty before God — all need righteousness.
a. Revelation of the wrath of God against sin of man, Rom 1:18-32
1) Natural revelation of God (original version), vv. 18-20
2) Subnatural response of man (reversion), vv. 21-23
3) Unnatural retrogression of man (perversion), vv. 4-27
4) Supernatural requital of God (inversion), vv. 28-32
b. Revelation of the sin of good people, Rom 2:1-16
Respectable people need righteousness.
c. Revelation of the sin of Israel under the Law, Rom 2:17—3:8
d. Revelation of the universality of sin, Rom 3:9-20
1) Judge’s verdict of guilty against mankind, vv. 9-12
Man cannot remove guilt.
2) Great Physician’s diagnosis of mankind, vv. 13-18
Man cannot change his nature. Man has an incurable disease.
3) Purpose of the Law, vv. 19, 20
Law reveals sin, not salvation. Last word is “sin” (v. 20).

3. Revelation of the righteousness of God, Rom 3:21—5:11
Righteousness provided.
Righteousness of God defined — not the character of God nor self-righteousness of man.
a. Justification by faith explained, Rom 3:21-31
DEFINITION: Justification is the act of God that declares a sinner righteous by faith on the merit of Christ’s sacrifice. It is the addition of the righteousness of Christ as well as the subtraction of sins.
Propitiation — “mercy seat” (Hebrews 9:5)
Redemption — to pay a price for deliverance
Propitiation is toward God.
Redemption is toward sin.
b. Justification by faith illustrated, Rom 4:1-25
(Demonstration — Abraham and David)
c. Justification by faith — results derived, Rom 5:1-11
Eight benefits:
1) Peace, v. 1
2) Access, v. 2
3) Hope, v. 2
4) Patience — fruit of tribulations, v. 3
5) Love, v. 5
6) Holy Spirit, v. 5
7) Deliverance from the Great Tribulation, v. 9
8) Joy, v. 11
Reconciliation is toward man. Definition: Change from enmity to friendship. Justification by faith is an act of God which is permanent.

B. Sanctification of the saint, Chapters 5:12—8:39

1. Potential sanctification, Rom 5:12-21
Federal headship of Adam and Christ
a. Headship of Adam, vv. 12-14
Death — sin
b. Headship of Christ, vv. 15-17
Life — righteousness
c. Offense of Adam vs. righteousness of Christ, vv. 18-21

Disobedience	vs.	Obedience
Judgment	vs.	Free Gift
Sin	vs.	Grace
Condemnation	vs.	Justification

2. Positional sanctification, Rom 6:1-10
Union with Christ in His death and resurrection is the basis of deliverance from sin.

3. Practical sanctification, Rom 6:11-23
Obedience to God leads to the experience of deliverance from sin.

4. Powerless sanctification, Rom 7:1-25
a. Shackles of a saved soul, vv. 1-14
Spiritual emancipation
b. Struggle of a saved soul, vv. 15-25
Civil war (No good in old nature, no power in new nature)

5. God’s new provision for sanctification, Rom 8:1-39
(Powerful sanctification)
a. New law: Holy Spirit vs. Law, vv. 1-4
b. New struggle: Holy Spirit vs. flesh, vv. 5-13
c. New man, son of God: Holy Spirit and spirit of man, vv. 14-17
d. New creation: old vs. new, bondage vs. liberty, vv. 18-22
e. New body: groaning vs. redeemed body, vv. 23-27
Holy Spirit helps us in our present bodies.
f. New purpose of God, vv. 28-34
God’s purpose guarantees the salvation of sinners.
g. New security of the believer, vv. 35-39
God’s love guarantees the security of the believer.

II. Dispensational, “Hope,” Chapters 9—11

A. God’s past dealings with Israel, Chapter 9
1. Israel defined, vv. 1-5
2. Israel identified, vv. 6-13
3. Choice of Israel in the sovereign purpose of God, vv. 14-24
4. Choice of Gentiles in the scriptural prophecies of God, vv. 25-33

B. God’s present purpose with Israel, Chapter 10
1. Present state of Israel — lost, vv. 1-4
Reason: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
2. Present standing of Israel — same as Gentiles, vv. 5-12
“For there is no difference.”
3. Present salvation for both Jew and Gentile — hear and believe the gospel, vv. 13-21

C. God’s future purpose with Israel, Chapter 11
Remnant regathered as a nation and redeemed.
1. Remnant of Israel finding salvation, vv. 1-6
2. Remainder of Israel blinded, vv. 7-12
3. Reason for setting aside the nation Israel — salvation of the Gentiles, vv. 13-21
4. Restoration of nation Israel — greater blessing, vv. 22-32
5. Reason for restoring the nation Israel, vv. 33-36
Locked in the riches of the wisdom of God.

III. Duty, “Love,” Chapters 12—16

A. Service of “the sons of God,” Chapters 12, 13
1. Relationship to God (“present — yield”), Rom 12:1-2
2. Relationship to gifts of the Spirit, Rom 12:3-8
3. Relationship to other believers, Rom 12:9-16
4. Relationship to unbelievers, Rom 12:17-21
5. Relationship to government, Rom 13:1-7
6. Relationship to neighbors, Rom 13:8-14

B. Separation of “the sons of God,” Chapters 14—16

1. Relationship to weak believers, Rom 14:1—15:3
Three principles of conduct for Christians
a. Conviction, Rom 14:5
b. Conscience, Rom 14:22
c. Consideration, Rom 15:1-3

2. Relationship of Jews and Gentiles as believers, Rom 15:4-13
(Racial relationships)

3. Relationship of Paul to Romans and Gentiles generally, Rom 15:14-33
(The gospel and Gentiles, v. 16)

4. Relationship of Christians to one another demonstrated, Rom 16:1-27
Thirty-five individuals mentioned by name — mutual love and tender affection.

Introduction to Romans
AUTHOR: PAUL, the apostle (Rom 1:1)
PLACE OF WRITING: CORINTH; as evident from the greetings of Gaius, who lived at Corinth (Rom 16:23; 1 Co 1:14), and of Erastus, who had settled down there (Rom 16:23; 2 Ti 4:20). Also, Phoebe, who apparently accompanied the epistle (Rom 16:1-2), was from the church at Cenchrea, a "suburb" of Corinth.
TIME OF WRITING: 57-58 A.D.; while on his third journey (Ac 20:1-3), just prior to his arrival to Jerusalem with the collection for the needy saints (Rom 15:25-26; Ac 20:16; 24:17).
FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH AT ROME: Paul had not visited Rome when he wrote this epistle. In this respect it is different from all others, with the possible exception of the Epistle to the Colossians. No apostle had preceded Paul to Rome; obviously, Simon Peter had not. The Roman church was largely a gentile church, and Peter was not the apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:7). Paul’s method was not to follow another apostle, and it is not likely he would have gone to Rome had another apostle preceded him.
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation. (Romans 15:20)
In a very definite sense, Paul was the founder of the church at Rome. This great metropolis drew men to its streets and marketplaces from all over the empire as if it were a magnet. Many whom Paul had led to Christ in other places made their way to Rome and witnessed there. The church in Rome was the assembly of these folk. This is not mere speculation, as Priscilla and Aquila are examples.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. (Romans 16:3)
Paul had first met them in Corinth and led them to Christ (Acts 18:1-3). Later they returned to Rome.
Paul mentions 35 individuals by name in chapter 16. Of these, 27 were living in Rome at this time. These he must have met elsewhere in the Roman Empire. Paul established the church in Rome by “long distance” and used the “remote control” of an apostle to write and guide its course.
As Christians congregated in this great metropolis, a visible church came into existence. Probably no man established a church in Rome. Converts of Paul and the other apostles from the fringe of the empire went to Rome, and a local church was organized by them.
Certainly, Peter did not establish the church or have anything to do with it, as his sermon on Pentecost and following sermons were directed to Israelites only. Not until the conversion of Cornelius was Peter convinced that Gentiles were included in the body of believers.
Paul knew Rome although he had not been inside her city limits at the time of the writing of Romans. Rome was like a great ship passing in the night, casting up waves that broke on distant shores; her influence was like a radio broadcast, penetrating every corner and crevice of the empire. Paul had visited Roman colonies such as Philippi and Thessalonica and had seen in those places Roman customs, laws, language, styles, and culture on exhibit. He had walked on Roman roads, had met Roman soldiers on the highways and in the marketplaces, and had slept in Roman jails. Paul had gone before Roman magistrates and had enjoyed the benefits of Roman citizenship. You see, Paul knew all about Rome although he was yet to visit there. From the vantage point of the world’s capital he was to preach the global gospel to a lost world — that God loved so much that He gave His son to die, that whosoever believed on Him might not perish, but have eternal life (see John 3:16).
SUBJECT: The righteousness of God
Deissmann, in his study of the Greek papyri found at Oxyrhynchus, makes a distinction between literary and non-literary documents. He places the epistles of Paul in the latter, including the Epistle to the Romans, thereby making them letters rather than epistles. There is a personal note running through all the epistles of Paul, including Romans. Nevertheless, Romans contains the great gospel manifesto for the world. To Paul, the gospel was the great ecumenical movement and Rome was the center of that world for which Christ died. Sir William Ramsay said:
St. Paul had early grasped the importance of the Roman Empire as a vehicle for the dissemination of the Gospel.
Let me state in subdued language that Romans is an eloquent and passionate declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ by a man who made an arduous but productive journey to die for Christ, the One who died for him. Romans is more than cold logic; it is the gospel stated in warm love.

KEY VERSES:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16, 17)
These verses set before us the subject of the epistle. Although each word in the epistle is important, these are significant in their marvelous unfolding of the entire epistle. These words are keys on a mighty organ which, if played, give forth the music of the whole masterpiece. These are the high notes:

(1) gospel	(6) everyone	(11) revealed
(2) Christ	(7) believeth	(12) faith
(3) power	(8) Jew	(13) just
(4) God	(9) Greek (Gentile)	(14) live
(5) salvation	(10) righteousness

These words form the subject matter of the epistle. Perhaps some might want to add:

(1) Holy Spirit	(5) identification	(9) service
(2) sin	(6) sanctification	(10) separation
(3) imputation	(7) security
(4) law	(8) predestination

However, all of these are included in the first list found in the key verses of the book. The righteousness from God is the major theme.

Dr. Griffith Thomas has given us a fitting word:
We must never forget that the term “righteousness” is much wider than justification, though this is, of course, included. Righteousness really covers all that is necessary to reinstate a sinner as right with God, and therefore includes his position, his character, his privileges, and his prospects. It embraces the past, present, and future, and it means “the state of being right.”
On this thesis he gives the following outline of the epistle:
(a) Righteousness needed by sinful men (Rom 1:17-3:20)
(b) Righteousness provided by God (Rom 3:21-26)
(c) Righteousness received through faith (Rom 3:27-4:25)
(d) Righteousness experienced in the soul (Rom 5:1-8:17)
(e) Righteousness guaranteed as permanent blessing (Rom 8:18-39)
(f) Righteousness rejected by the Jewish nation (Rom 9-11)
(g) Righteousness manifested in practical life (Rom 12-16)

DEFINITIONS:
Cunninghame:
Under law God required righteousness from man; under grace He gives righteousness to man. The righteousness of God is that righteousness which God’s righteousness requires Him to require.
Hodge:
That righteousness of which God is the Author; which is of avail before God; which meets and secures His approval.
Brooks:
That righteousness which the Father requires, the Son became, the Holy Spirit convinces of, and faith secures.
Moorehead:
The sum total of all that God commands, demands, approves, and Himself provides.
The righteousness of God is secured by FAITH not WORKS.

BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH AT ROME: Nothing is revealed in the New Testament as to the start of the church in Rome. It is possible that visitors to Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost following the Lord's ascension were among the 3000 saved and later took the gospel with them back home (Ac 2:10). Or it could be that among those dispersed following Stephen's death were some that went to Rome and preached thegospel there (Ac 8:1-4).
The first we read of Christians from Rome is possibly that of Aquila and Priscilla, who along with all Jews were expelled from Rome by Claudius and were found by Paul at Corinth during his second journey (Ac 18:1-2). After travelling with Paul to Ephesus and working with the church there (Ac 18:18-19, 24-26; 1 Co 16:19), we find them back at Rome and hosting a church in their house (Rom 16:3-5).
From the greetings given by Paul in chapter sixteen, it appears that there were several churches in Rome meeting in various homes (Rom 16:5,14-15). The names of individuals would suggest that the Christians were primarily Gentiles, with a smaller number of Jews.
The reputation of the Christians in Rome was widespread; both their faith (Rom 1:8) and obedience (Rom 16:19) were well known. For this reason Paul had long wanted to see them (Rom 15:23), with the goal of sharing in their mutual edification (Rom 1:11-12) and to be assisted on his way to Spain (Rom 15:22-24).

PURPOSE OF WRITING: Paul expresses in this epistle that he had for some time planned to preach the gospel at Rome (Rom 1:13-15) and from there go on to Spain (Rom 15:22-24). Though he still had these intentions (Rom 15:28-29), the spreading cancer of the "Judaizing teachers" which had disrupted churches in Antioch, Corinth and Galatia was likely to make its way to Rome. To prevent this, and to assure that his visit to Rome would be a pleasant one (Rom 15:30-33), Paul writes:

TO SET STRAIGHT THE DESIGN AND NATURE OF THE GOSPEL
In doing so, he demonstrates how the gospel of Christ fulfills what is lacking in both heathenism and Judaism, thereby effectively replacing them as religious systems. Such an epistle would arm the church at Rome against those who would pervert the gospel or suggest that it was inadequate by itself.

THEME: Romans 1:16-17
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"
In these two verses Paul states his confidence in the gospel and the reasons for it. The bulk of his epistle is devoted to explaining why and how the gospel of Christ is God's power to save those who believe.


Brief Outline
(adapted from Dextor Sammons)

INTRODUCTION (Rom 1:1-17)

• JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH (Rom 1:18-11:36)
• 
  
  • SIN - THE "NEED" FOR SALVATION
  • 
    
    1. The Need Of The Gentiles (Rom 1:18-2:16)
    2. The Need Of The Jews (Rom 2:17-3:8)
    3. The Universal Need For Salvation (Rom 3:9-20)
  • JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH - THE "PROVISION" MADE FOR SALVATION
  • 
    
    1. God's Righteousness Through Faith (Rom 3:21-31)
    2. Abraham As An Example (Rom 4:1-25)
  • FREEDOM - THE "RESULT" OF SALVATION
  • 
    
    1. Freedom From Wrath (Rom 5:1-21)
    2. Freedom From Sin (Rom 6:1-23)
    3. Freedom From The Law (Rom 7:1-25)
    4. Freedom From Death (Rom 8:1-39)
  • JEW AND GENTILE - THE "SCOPE" OF SALVATION
  • 
    
    1. God Chooses To Save Believers (Rom 9:1-33)
    2. Israel Chose To Trust In Their Own Righteousness (Rom 10:1-21)
    3. Both Jew And Gentile Can Have Salvation Through Faith (Rom 11:1-36)
• THE TRANSFORMED LIFE (Rom 12:1-15:13)
• 
  
  • IN RELATION TO OVERALL CONDUCT (Rom 12:1-21)
  • IN RELATION TO CIVIL AUTHORITY (Rom 13:1-7)
  • IN RELATION TO FELLOW MAN (Rom 13:8-14)
  • IN RELATION TO WEAK BRETHREN (Rom 14:1-15:13)

CONCLUDING REMARKS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND BENEDICTION (Rom 15:14-16:27)
Review Questions for the Introduction

1. Who wrote the epistle to the Romans?
   • The apostle Paul (Rom 1:1)
2. From where was it written?
   • Corinth
3. What is the approximate date of writing?
   • 57 or 58 A.D.
4. What is the purpose of this epistle?
   • To set straight the design and nature of the gospel
5. Where is the theme of this epistle stated?
   • Romans 1:16-17

God's faithfulness in afflictions

Pastor Kevin Cicchino has offered this study guide for you to work through as you reflect and grow your spiritual walk with God in the area of understanding hardships and suffering and God's sovereignty.

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