References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivings… so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.This is good and pleases God our SaviorEph 5:8-10 “Once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivingsεὐχαριστία (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) thankfulness, the giving of thanks (Remeber Phil 4:6 & Col 4:2)An attitude of gratitude - the blessing and benefits of thankfulness.Thankfulness is something even unbelievers value and practice.Most common prayer entry pointCan you think of a time someone did...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgivingἔντευξις (ent'-yook-sis) noun - ἐντυγχάνω (en-toong-khan'-o) verb Noun 2X - 1 Tim 2:1 & 4:51 Tim 4:1-10 - ἔντευξις = prayer in NLT and ESV“It” is made acceptable byThe word of God andBy intercessionVerb 5X - two negatively, three positivelyActs 25:24 & Rom 11:2The Jews “interceding” aga...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, ThanksgivingPrayer - προσευχή (pros-yoo-khay') noun & προσεύχομαι (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) verb is the most common, generic word for prayer. Consider MSG translation of 1 Tim 2:1 “Pray every way you know how…” In some NT passages δέησις is used synonomously for prayer.Hebrews 5:7 “Jesus offered...

References: Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, ThanksgivingMatthew 7:7-11 - αἰτέω aiteo - askConsider Jesus’ illustrationsRecall Solomon and BartemaeusMark 10:35 - James and John: give us what we want (desire) aiteoJohn 4:9-10 - Jesus asks aiteo first, then tells the woman that if she only knew, she would be asking aiteo. Supplication (deēsis)For one’s...

References: The alarming rise in conflict within churches at current eventsThe Body of Christ - (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:27; Eph 4:12, 5:23; Col 1:24; Heb 13:3)Oneness and Peace in Christ - Eph 2:11-22Enmity - ἔχθρα (ekh'-thrah) vs 15 & 16Carefully joined together - συναρμολογέω (soon-ar-mol-og-eh'-o) (see v 21 in MSG)Ways we fracture the oneness of the Body (see Gal 5:20)Impatience and self-centeredness Jas 4:1-2 - guarding against (Eph 4:1-3) Unresolved issues and impo...

References: John 15:7 - ask whatever you WANT - theloTo will, have in mind, intend, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to take delight inTo bring my thelo to the Lord is a form of prayer.So, just ask in prayer for a job paying 7-8-9 figures, for a Lamborghini, for a vacation home at the beachCompare James 4:1-3With James 1:5-8 John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you…The “ask” form of prayer is called supplication.Amazingly, God knows that our asks won’t always align...

References: 100th Episode - This is a laughing matter.laugh - צָחַק (tsaw-khak'); שָׂחַק (saw-khak')Abraham and Sarah give birth to יִצְחָק (yits-khawk')Psalm 2:1-4 - God laughs at those who plot to get free of GodZechariah and Elizabeth name John (Lk 1:57-66)To me this scene makes me laugh more than any other Bible scene (so Monty Python like) To celebrate a milestone, recalling God’s faithfulness and honoring God’s goodness?Joshua 3-4 - crossing the Jordan and the m...

References: 98 episodes ago - “Remembering to Forget”Revelation 21:1-5Deuteronomy 26:1-11Isaiah 43:14-19On the brink of the 100th episode milestone.Spiritual Blessing - Ephesians 1:3-11“Before He made the world…”πρὸ καταβολῆς - “before the foundation…”“bring everything together…”ἀνακεφαλαιόω (an-ak-ef-al-ah'-ee-om-ahee)to sum up (again), to repeat summarily, to condense into a summarycan be literally translated as "recapitulate". Christ "recapitulates"—or sums up—all things in Hims...

References: The significance of the town gate.That justice may be done, though not in an arbitrary wayRemember from Ruth: Part 1 - Deut 25:7-10Consider the Magna Carta of 1215 & a jury of peersThe family redeemer - rights and responsibilitiesRights - v 4: he wants the landResponsibilities - v 6: he doesn’t want the risk of responsibility - SO“In those days…” (in former times, in the olden times…)The author’s parenthetical explanation of a practice no longer observed.The ...

References: We can arrange, but God brings to fruition. Naomi’s conviction/responsibilityBoaz will be winnowing זָרָה (zaw-raw') … as God winnows the righteous from the unrighteousHow do we fair in God’s winnowing process?Boaz was in good spirits, his heart was merry, he felt great. (see Ecc 3:13)v 9 - “spread your wings over your servant.”Recall last episode and 2:12Ruth 3:11 - “a virtuous woman”think of the “Eshet Chayil”, recited before the Shabbat meal on Friday evenings....

References: Wisdom: Proverbs 7:4 - מוֹדָע - (mo-dah') - kins-man(woman), relativeBoaz - he was prominent, wealthy, powerful: related to Naomi’s deceased husbandRuth works Boaz’s field by “chance?” - וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ - (kaw-raw' mik-reh') - unforeseen meeting or event, accident, happening, chance, fortune - used 10X in OT, 7 in Ecc. ! - WisdomWhen God is involved, there is no such thing as “luck” or chance. (see 1 Sam 6:1-18) Ruth trying to survive meets t...

References: Helpful context for getting into RuthThe time of the Judges - see Judges 2:6-19Judges 10:6 - 12:7 - Jephthah (Ammon & Moab) "Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes" - Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25Ruth is an amazing story of God’s salvation for Israel.From no king (last sentence of Judges) to David, the great king whose Son, Jesus, became the King of kingsThis comes through the salvation of Naomi and Ruth.1:1-5 - taking matters into our...

References: Back from visiting 5 NPs and many other wondersExperienced joy in the discovery, awe, marvel, etc.Isa 55:12 NLT - You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!Ps 16:11b - in your presence there is fullness of joyBut can we give God joy?We can grieve the Holy Spirit.Eph 4:29-32 ESVLuke 15 - the lost sheep and lost coin foundσυγχαίρω - (soong-khah'-ee-ro) to rejoice with, take part in another's j...

References: 2 Th 1:3-12; 1 Th 5:23-28; 2 Th 3:1-18Escape the “pay-back” mentality2 Th 1:6 - ἀνταποδίδωμι (an-tap-od-ee'-do-mee)in a good sense, to repay, requitein a bad sense, penalty and vengeanceLk 14:12-14 - God will reward youRom 12:19 - Dear friends, never take revenge.Heb 10:30 - also said, “The Lord will judge his own people. The tri-unity of our being1 Th 5:23 - ὁλόκληρος (hol'-ok'-lay-ros) complete, entire, wholeJames 1:2-4πνεῦμα - ψυχή - σῶμα (spirit, mind, body)Connecti...

References: Happy 4th of July! 1 Th 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 2 Th 2:1-12“Heaven,” “Hell,” and the fullness of God’s KingdomThe mystery - the “resurrection of the body” and the Kingdom in it’s fullnessRapture theology (Darby) and (pre) (post) (a)millennialism confusionἁρπάζω (har-pad'-zo) caught up (in Latin: raptus)Acts 8:39 - Philip2 Cor 12:2, 4 - PaulRev 12:5 - JesusMatthew 24:37-421 Th 4:17 - clouds and air - see MSG 1 Th 4:13 - grieving with hopeDead or sleeping - falling asleep in a car or ...

References: 1 Th 4:1-12; 5:12-22; 2 Th 3:6-15God’s will - θέλημα - (thel'-ay-mah) will, what one wishes or has determined shall be doneof the purpose of God to bless mankind through ChristConnection to 1 Tim 2:4 of what God wishes to be done by uscommands, preceptsLord’s Prayer - thy will be done on earth…Holy and loving rather than unclean and lazyἁγιασμός (holiness) vs ἀκαθαρσία (uncleanness)Compare the set apartness of holiness with the uncleanness of fruitlessness (see John 15:2)Love...

References: Participation in Christ1 Thess 2:1-13Flattery - κολακεία (kol-ak-i'-ah) only hereSimiles of familial relationshipsLike children (infants)Like a motherLike a father Their faithful response to the Word of Godλόγον τοῦ θεοῦ - Word of Godvs 13 and the three understandings of Word of God1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 - Suffering Persecution1 Thess 2:17-20 - A Good Reportv 18 - ἐγκόπτω (eng-kop'-to) - to cut into, to impede one's course by cutting off his way, hinderv 19 - στέφανος - crow...

References: Historical Setting - Acts 17:1-152nd Mission JourneyPaul and Barnabas go separate waysBarnabas and John MarkPaul and SilasActs 16-17ThessalonicaBerea to Athens1 Thessalonians 1:1-3Greeting and prayer of thanksgivingFaith–hope–love v 3ἔργον (er'-gon) work [of faith]κόπος (kop'-os) labor [of love]ὑπομονή (hoop-om-on-ay') [of hope]1 Thess 1:4-10Celebrating their conversionEncouraging their endurance

References: Acts 2The significance of “heaven” or “the heavens”οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavensActs 2:2, 2:5, 2:19, 2:34The upper story, the lower story, our storyLord’s Prayer - “on earth as it is in heaven”Think throne or rule/reignThe Temple of God - ναός (nah-os') “the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of the god was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure.”1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - the “you” is plural1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - singularThe High Priest in the Tem...