Thanks Be To God -- Thanks & Worship Forever

 

Revelation 4:9-11

And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2169

Thanks: from the Greek word eucharistia (pronounced yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah), which means "thankfulness, giving of thanks, gratitude, thanksgiving; the giving of thanks for God's grace"

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4352

Worship: from the Greek word proskuneó (pronounced pros-koo-neh'-o), which means "to do reverence to; properly, to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior; to worship, ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on one's knees" 

THANKS TO THE ONE SEATED ON THE THRONE

2 Corinthians 9:11, 12

(11) You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.

(12) For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 47:8

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Isaiah 6:1

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Ezekiel 1:26, 27

(26) And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 

(27)  And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

WORSHIP HIM WHO LIVES FOREVER

Matthew 2:1, 2

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

(2) Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

Matthew 4:9, 10

(9) "All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me."

(10) “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”

FOREVER

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 165

Forever: from the Greek word aión, (pronounced ahee-ohn') which means "an age, a cycle (of time), especially of the present age as contrasted with the future age, and of one of a series of ages stretching to infinity. Further study tells us: Example: Christians today live in the newer age (165 /aiṓn) of the covenant – the time-period called the NT. It is characterized by Christ baptizing all believers in the Holy Spirit, i.e. engrafting all believers (OT, NT) into His mystical body (1 Cor 12:12,13,14) with all the marvelous privileges that go with that (Gal 3:23-25; 1 Pet 2:5,9). 

While this word "Forever" is defined differently within the context of verses in which it appears, the basic definition remains the same: eternal, without end, without the confines of time, continual, perpetual, always.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 166

Forever: from the Greek word aiónios, pronounced ahee-o'-nee-os), which means: age-long, and therefore: practically eternal, unending; partaking of the character of that which lasts for an age, as contrasted with that which is brief and fleeting. 

aiṓnios (an adjective, derived from 165 /aiṓn ("an age, having a particular character and quality") – properly, "age-like" ("like-an-age"), i.e. an "age-characteristic" (the quality describing a particular age); (figuratively) the unique quality (reality) of God's life at work in the believer, i.e. as the Lord manifests His self-existent life (as it is in His sinless abode of heaven). " Eternal (166 /aiṓnios) life operates simultaneously outside of time, inside of time, and beyond time – i.e. what gives time its everlasting meaning for the believer through faith, yet is also time-independent. 

does not focus on the future per se, but rather on the quality of the age  it relates to. Believers live in this eternal life right now, as a present tense of having eternal life.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5769

Forever: from the Hebrew word 'olam' (pronounced o-lawm'), which means: antiquity, long duration, futurity; everlasting, forevermore permanently

Psalm 52:9

I will praise (yadah) You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name—for it is good—in the presence of Your saints.

Psalm 136:26

Oh, give thanks (yadah) to the God of heaven! For His mercy (loving devotion) endures forever.

Psalm 146:5, 6

Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keeps truth for ever. 

Dear God,

I worship You and adore You, for You are a holy God. Had You given me only life, I would still praise You. But You have given me not only life, but the provisions of life required to sustain me, cover me and protect me. 

You have given me freedom from the chains of sin by the sacrifice of Your perfect Lamb, Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who was tortured and crucified for my benefit: to wash away my sins and make me clean. He who rose from the dead and walked out of the grave is now my Savior and my Friend. You did that and You did it for me, because I believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord of All, even me.

You have given me Your Holy Spirit, who sanctifies me internally that I might shine like silver and be purified like gold: in the flame until You see Yourself in me. Be glorified, O God, by my thoughts, my words and my actions. 

Help me to truly know You and ever draw closer to You. 

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Isaiah 6 by Todd Agnew

Forever by Michael W. Smith

Today's Word -- Without Ceasing

 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.

Without Ceasing: with no interval in between, incessantly, without remission

Luke 18:1-8 tells us of the persistent widow who constantly brought her appeal for justice to the local judge who finally gave in and granted her what she asked for. 

We can turn to Daniel 6:10 and see that even though the law was now against him, this did not stop him from praying to God as he had always done before. 

(10) Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

When our hearts seem too full to speak the words we cannot say, the Spirit of God speaks for us. Yet, we will keep watch through the night and pray with God as long as we are needed. 

Know this, that until God calls each of us home, we are needed intercessors, praying for one another's needs. And even after we are called home, God will still honor the prayers we prayed before we left this world for our heavenly home. 

Today's Word -- Judgment Begins Here

 If you are in a church where your preacher says it is okay to sin against God and still make it to heaven, you need to flee that church. Where unrighteousness is preached, it is also practiced. God is coming for a holy church, not a good enough church.

1 Peter 4:16-18

{16} But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. {17} For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? {18} And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Hebrews 2:2-4

{2} For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, {3} how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, {4} and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

According to Matthew Henry's Commentary, "When God brings great calamities and sore judgments upon whole nations, he generally begins with his own people." For example, in Isaiah 10:12 the Lord tells Isaiah that He will judge Mount Zion and Jerusalem before He judges the king of Assyria. In Jeremiah 25:29 the Lord tells Jeremiah that He is bringing disaster on the city that bears His name. And again in Ezekiel 9:6 the idolaters in the Lord's sanctuary will be the first slaughtered. 

God is calling each one of us to be holy like He is holy. We are each responsible for receiving the salvation and spiritual cleanliness which God has given the believer through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ (Savior) and His Holy Spirit (Fire of God). Through the blood we are saved when we believe in the name of Jesus Christ.  Through His holy fire we are made pure: unblemished, untarnished, unstained. 

I am responsible for believing God's Word. I am responsible for accepting the salvation He has proffered through His Son Jesus Christ. I am responsible for seeking the baptism of His Holy Spirit and obeying Him. I am responsible for living my life according to the Word of God. I am responsible for repenting daily for sins I (may) have committed against God. For tomorrow is not promised to anyone, even God's people. So I must be always ready to meet Him. It is less stressful to be ready than it is to worry about being ready! 

I am responsible for sharing the gospel with everyone I meet. I am responsible for living a life that glorifies God. And I am responsible for attending a church where the full gospel, the true Word of God, is preached, that I may hear with my ears and my heart the integrity of God's Holy Word. I am responsible for Who I worship and how I worship Him. 

I am responsible for my thoughts, my words, my actions. These must align with the Word of God that He might be glorified in me and through me. 

I am responsible for how I will be judged. Will I be found lacking? I hope not. Will I be ready? I hope so. 

Today's Word -- Almost Persuaded

 

Acts 26:28

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Almost you persuade me to be a Christian." 

ALMOST: in the realm of, the sphere of; the condition in which something operates from the inside; the nature of, the thought of

PERSUADED: have confidence (in), convinced 

King Agrippa, having had conversations with the Jewish people over whom he ruled, knew what the prophets had spoken of concerning the coming Messiah. Paul knew this and reminded him so (verse 26). Paul spoke with such confidence and belief in his voice and manner that this king Almost believed, was Almost Persuaded. While Scripture does not tell us, I'm under the impression that Paul's sermon resonated within King Agrippa and would not let him go. 

It is not our place to know who went to heaven and who did not. It is our place to share Jesus with as many people as we can so they don't miss heaven. I want my family and friends in heaven with me. I want the strangers I meet in heaven with me. I want those who come against me for my faith in heaven with me. I don't want anyone to die without Jesus. I pray that with my last breath, someone would hear Jesus from my lips and make that decision to believe in Him fully. 

It won't be easy to answer this call to salvation. Some, like Festus (vs 24) will call you crazy to your face. They'll insult you, make fun of you (mock), beat you up, kick you, torture some of you and even kill you, believing that they are honoring God by removing you the believer from the face of the earth. Answer the call anyway. The Holy Spirit is tugging on your heartstring right now. 

Don't let yourself be "Almost Persuaded": BE PERSUADED. 

Today's Word -- Sufficient

 2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

SUFFICIENT: adequate for the purpose; enough 

(synonyms for 'sufficient': acceptable, plentiful, ample, proportionate, satisfactory)

YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH by Chris Tomlin

Ephesians 3:16-19

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Romans 8:35-37

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Philippians 1:20

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE by Phil Wickham

GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN by Sovereign Grace Music

Regardless of the trials, the tests, the afflictions we suffer, God's GRACE is SUFFICIENT for us, His children, for the GRACE of CHRIST rests on us, on we who are born again into His Kingdom by the blood of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. His Grace is truly enough, His Strength is our strength, His Peace is our peace. 

As the verse reminds us, in Acts 17:28 "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." 

Today's Word -- Inherent Nature

 Proverbs 2:6 

For the LORD gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 

We are all born with an inherent knowledge of good and evil thanks to Adam and Eve's decision to disobey God. "No" is one of the first words we learn to say after we learn our caregivers names, "Mama", "Dada", or in my son Brian's case, "Dani" (his sister). And we learn when to say 'No': when we want something we can't or shouldn't have and when we want to do something we should or shouldn't do. It's our nature. 

The same logic is applied when we become born-again Christians. We learn what is good and what is evil. We learn to walk in the Spirit. We learn to talk in the Spirit. We learn to read God's Word with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Especially when we have good leaders to lead us and guide us through God's Word; leaders we look up to and find ourselves following after. 

As this verse in Proverbs 2:6 states, wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from God. And it is to God we must turn to in order to receive each one and apply them to our lives as His children. No longer are we under sin's command, now we are under God's command. And His command is love. Our new nature is very different from our old nature. Before, we always said 'No' and justified according to our desires. Now, we say 'Yes' and are justified by grace according to God's desires for us. We live in His love and can only grow and thrive in His love as long as we remain in His love, His Word. 

Wisdom is Applied. 

Knowledge is Gained.

Understanding is Growth.

Our new nature seeks after God in His Word and in prayer with Him; that's how we hear from Him. This new inherent nature is through Christ living in us: we are new creations in Him. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

We are new creations in Christ when we believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross in our place, rose from the dead and walked out of the grave into newness of life and is seated at the right hand of the Father Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Today's Word -- Strive

 Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

Strive here in Luke 13:24 means "to endeavor with strenuous zeal to obtain something (your goal)".

The root word of "strive" is agon, which means struggle against, contend with; from which we get the word 'agonize'. While one definition of agonize is 'to distress/suffer with extreme pain/anguish'.  another definition is 'to put forth great effort of any kind'. It is this word that defines what Christ was going through when He prayed in the garden before His trial and crucifixion (Luke 22:44). And again in 1 Timothy 6:12 when the believer 'fights the good fight of faith'. 

Are we putting forth great effort to enter the narrow gate? Are we endeavoring, exerting, with strenuous zeal (eagerly desiring, enthusiastic diligence) to obtain that which we desire: entering the strait (narrow passage, isthmus) gate?

We must persevere in our daily walk with Christ to be the kind of Christian, Christ-follower, that God wants us to be. That narrow passage, that strait gate, is only wide enough for one person to enter into at a time. While many walk it, making the decision to follow Christ is done on an individual basis. 

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord? A simple question requires a simple response: YES or NO. If you answer YES, then you are already on the holiness road that leads to the strait gate. If you answered NO, then you are walking the broad way that leads to the wide gate which opens into eternal destruction -- Matthew 7:13.

We must Strive, persevere, be determined to trust in the Word of God and follow where He leads us. We cannot let distractions lead astray. Have you ever read Pilgrim's Progress? Great read. 

Being a Christian isn't easy. It's not supposed to be. But every decision to be Christ-like is worth ​the effort when we choose to believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus 

Today's Word -- Foreigner

 

1 PETER 1:17

💚 📖🙏💚

Since you call on a Father who judges each one's work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay here as foreigners.

Our Father

Matthew 6:9

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."

Impartial Judge

Romans 10:12

For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him. 

My Conduction (Behavior)

2 Corinthians 1:12

For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace. 

Reverent Fear

Proverbs 9:10

The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.

Foreigners

1 Peter 2:9-11

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

When we are born into this world, we become citizens of the nation into which we have born. When we are born again, we become foreigners to this world and its way and citizens of  God's kingdom. 

We are odd ducks, we stand out as different; not by anything we have done ourselves, but by the grace of God. We talk different. We live different. We embrace godly characteristics and mores, but eschew worldly wisdom and the world's values. 

Today's Word -- Hope

Romans 8:24

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

Romans 12:12

..constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], .. 

HOPE: an expectation of what is sure

I Know My Redeemer Lives  

Romans 5:3-6

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

Isaiah 33:2

O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm of Your servants every morning [that is, their strength and their defense], Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Here in Isaiah 33:2 Hope is expressed by 'waited expectantly', meaning to also gather together and look eagerly for.  Here this two-word phrase also means 'to bind together' (twist).  

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (this, too, is hope). 

It is impossible to see through a dark glass. But we press in anyway, knowing that we will eventually see what He wants us to see: The Lord Himself face to face. That's Hope. 

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 

Here in Jeremiah 17:7 Hope means confidence, security, secure, and trust.

But in Lamentations 3:24 Hope again means 'to wait expectantly': “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”

My Hope Is In You, Lord and My Life Is In You, Lord are two wonderful songs that go beautifully with this study. 

Today's Word -- Shelter

 

PSALM 61:4

Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

PSALM 91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

PSALM 27:5

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.

Both Psalm 61:4 and Psalm 91:1 describe 'shelter' as a 'covering', while Psalm 27:5 references it to mean 'tabernacle or pavilion'. Only Psalm 27:5 is derived from the root word "cakak" which means 'covering', so we see that God is our Shelter, our covering, our tabernacle, our pavilion. 

The KJV of Psalm 91:1 says God is our 'secret place' and in Psalm 32:7 God is our 'Hiding Place'. All of these verses and many more refer to God as our Shelter. But what is shelter? Is it just four walls and a roof or is it more than that? 

If we only had four walls and a roof, would be sheltered? Where is our fire to keep us warm? Where are our meals to nourish us? From where does the water flow which quenches our thirst? How are we clothed? Are our feet properly shod? All of these things are in our Shelter when we are Sheltered by God. 

Isaiah 33:14-17 tells us that only the righteous can live where the fire of God burns.

Isaiah 55:1-2 tells us to purchase with faith what God has promised His people: He bids the thirsty to come and drink, the hungry to feast on the richest of foods, if (vs 3) they will only listen to Him.

Isaiah 61:3 says He gives us in garments of praise in exchange for garments of despair. Revelation 3:5 tells us we are dressed in white, while Revelation 19:8 is even more specific in definition: fine linen, bright and pure, which are the righteous acts of the saints. We can't apply this type of clothing to ourselves. It must be applied by faith in and obedience under our Shelter. 

Romans 13:14 tells us "put on the Lord Jesus Christ". Do you think this is impossible? Only through faith. Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Ephesians 4:21-32 shows us who we were without the covering of Christ's righteousness, how we should want to behave now that we are covered by Christ's righteousness and how to live a righteous lifestyle by turning our backs on the way we used to live versus the way we ought to live as God's people. 

Ephesians 6:15 is part of the spiritual armor of God that a born-again believer wears: sandaled with the gospel of peace. In other words, always ready to preach the Faithful and True Word of God in Love. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Are you this Sheltered? What's preventing you from opening the door of your heart and letting Jesus Christ in to it? 

Revelation 3:20 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Today's Word - Wisdom

 1 CORINTHIANS 3:19-20

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

The 'wisdom of this world' died in the flood because they did not believe God. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is restrictive to the soul, the mind and the body; it enchains and entices and kills. 

The 'wisdom of this world' denies the power of God and seeks power for itself. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is unkind, unloving and untruthful. It is hard-hearted, hateful and a liar. 

I would much rather be wise in the ways of the Lord than wise according to the substandards of this world, this age. What does it mean to be wise in the Lord?

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 9:10 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Reverent fear acknowledges the awesome greatness of God, The LORD God. This fear is the beginning of being wise. I want to be wise. Don't you?

Today's Word -- Good

 

LUKE 18:19

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone."

The word 'good' has different descriptive meanings in the Bible. In this verse Jesus questions how the rich young ruler referred to Him. With his question (vs 18), the young man recognized Jesus' authority (by calling Him Good Teacher) but failed to recognize Him as Lord. 

Jesus' response is classic. Since only God is good, how did the rich young man know that Jesus is good? I don't think he consciously knew. The question is asked for all generations to know the answer: Only God is Good. We know that God is our heavenly  Father, God is The Son, and God is The Holy Spirit. Only God is Good. 

This word 'good' used here means inherently, intrinsically good. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, this word 'good' means "describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their/our/my life, through faith. And not just any faith either. Faith that is given by God to the born again believer when they/we believe. Empowered faith originates in God. We know this because: Only God is Good. 

Today's Word -- Patience

 2 Corinthians 6:4 

But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses. 

2 Corinthians 4:8, 9

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

Strong's describes this word 'Patience' as (1) a remaining behind (2) a patient enduring (3) endurance (4) steadfastness. 

 5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life. 

And because this patience is God-enable, we are made aware that it truly is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Patience is endurance. Romans 15:4 "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." Hebrews 12:1-3 (1) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. (2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Patience is perseverance. Perseverance is constancy, remaining constant with one goal in mind. 1 Timothy 6:11, 12 "But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses." Luke 8:15 "And that in the good soil, these are those who, having heard the word, keep it in a worthy and good heart and bring forth fruit by perseverance."

Patience is steadfastness. Steadfast is morally fixed, securely positioned, firm in purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "And that in the good soil, these are those who, having heard the word, keep it in a worthy and good heart and bring forth fruit by perseverance." Colossians 1:22, 23 "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence ----- if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul have become a minister."

Patience is also longsuffering. Colossians 3:12, 13 "So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive."

Patience like this only comes from God. We already have it when we become believers in the gospel of salvation through Christ and are filled with His precious Holy Spirit, the Comforter Whom God sends to all believers. Patience is a result, a fruit, of the Holy Spirit living in us, guiding us and revealing to us the meaning of God's Word when we read and study it for ourselves. Get you a Holy Bible, ask God to reveal Himself in His Word and get ready for the race of your life. 

Ephesians 4:1-7 

(1) So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience (divinely regulated patience, longsuffering) , bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love. 

(2)  with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love.]

(3) Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

(4) There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]--

(5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

(6) one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all (who believe).

(7) Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.

 

Today's WORD

 

TONGUE

Psalm 34:13

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

James 1:26

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:10

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."

Psalm 39:1

I said, "I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present."

Psalm 141:3

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

 Evil -- bad; to cause misery, to cause unhappiness; malignant, disagreeable, deadly, unclean

Deceitful -- treachery, deception, dishonesty, false, crafty

When it comes to food and drink, our tongue discerns what is good and what is bad. But it does not have the power to discern whether or not we speak bad words or good words. That decision lies within the power of our thinking and our believing.

The thoughts we think, when thought upon at length, affect the heart, the decision maker of our lives. It is the heart that determines which words roll across our tongues. Therefore, in order to maintain healthy speech, we must maintain a healthy heart. Can't do it on our own, though. We need Jesus. We need the Holy Spirit.

We need Jesus to wash away the sins that are growing in our heart. We need to acknowledge our sins before God and ask Him sincerely to forgive us. We need to repent, to turn away from these sins. We need God to forgive us, to apply the blood of Christ to our hearts as only He can. Then, and only then, do we ask for to be baptized with His Holy Spirit. Do you not know that the Holy Spirit is for every believer?

We need the Holy Spirit to guide us in God's Word to find the attitudes, behaviors, we must grab hold of and apply to our hearts that our hearts would be a reflection of God's Word. Then our tongues will speak of Him and His Truth, His grace, His love, His mercy, HIM. 

Any words not spoken with grace, mercy or lovingkindness will harm another person's heart and affect them adversely. The old saying, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, is not always true. Words hurt. And the wounds these unsavory words cause take longer to heal than many physical wounds do. 

So, Lord, please keep near to me. Guide me, Holy Spirit, through God's Living Word and speak it to my understanding. Help me to retain the knowledge I am learning that I might be a deep, deep well and not an empty cistern. In Jesus' Name, Amen.