To Be Called A Friend Of God Because Of Obedience; Simply Acknowleding God's Authority Over Us

Today's Focus Scripture: John 14:5-21

John 14:5-21

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

Other Scripture Discussed:

John 15:14-15
You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 15:20 - A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.

Definitions:

Obedience: 
Noun
1. Compliance with someone's wishes or orders, or acknowledgment of their authority.
2. Submission to a law or rule.
3. To carry out or fulfill the command, order, or instruction of one in authority
4. A sphere of jurisdiction; especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion

Adjective
1. obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority: an obedient son.

LAGNIAPPE:

8 synonyms for the "Word of God" used in Psalm 119.
1. Law
2. Word
3. Ordinances
4. Commandments
5. Precepts
6. Testimonies
7. Statutes
8. Judgments

1. Law (vs. 1) – Instructional teaching, how to live, instructions for living life
2. Word (vs. 42) – Revelation of God’s will
3. Ordinances (vs. 30) – Judgments – legal pronouncements, the way God runs His universe, rules of divine administration, the way He expects us to yield to that
4. Commandments (vs. 86) – faithful, religious principles, how to live in a religious community with each other, in a community of faith, how to worship, to worship
5. Precepts (vs. 27) – teach moral obligations before God, to care for the poor, social justice, protect the rights of others, how to live morally in an immoral universe
6. Testimonies (vs. 2) – ways in which He reveals Himself, by keeping His testimonies; self revelations, we invest ourselves in seeking Him, we come to know who God is by His testimonies,
7. Statutes (vs. 8) – limitations, walls of orders, civil and religious, these set limitations upon our lives to keep us from getting out of bounds, to stay within the walls of the canyon inside which we live
8. Judgments – see ordinances

Summary - Way – The Way of His word, commandments, etc.  The way of God, the scriptural way to live for God, the bible, the way God teaches us how to live, to think, and how to lead.

"Thy Way is living the Bible Way."  And living the Bible way makes us a Friend to God.

Faith In His Name, The Name Of The One Who Heals, Faith Through Him

Today's Focus Scripture: Acts 3:1-16

Acts 3:1-16
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.
12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
14 But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 but put to death the Prince of life, the One whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

We Are Crowned With The Privilege To Become "CHILDREN OF GOD"

Today's Focus Scripture: John 1:1-15

John 1:1-15

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Witness John the Baptist

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right [power] to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh - Jesus

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”

LAGNIAPPE:

(From verse 12 "right" "power" "privilege")
Strong's G1849 - ἐξουσία  - exousia  

1)      power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases

a)      leave or permission

2)      physical and mental power

a)      the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises

3)      the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)

4)      the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)

a)      universally

1) authority over mankind

b)      specifically

1) the power of judicial decisions

2) of authority to manage domestic affairs

c)       metonymically

1) a thing subject to authority or rule

a)       jurisdiction

2) one who possesses authority

a)       a ruler, a human magistrate

b)       the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

d)      a sign of the husband's authority over his wife

1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself

e)      the sign of regal authority, a crown

Filled With Miraculous Ability And Purpose - To Do His Work Without Growing Weary

Today's Focus Scripture: Colossians 1:19-29


Colossians 1:19-29

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight —
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME:
Col 1:29   His working, ^G1753 which worketh ^G1754 in me mightily.^{G1722 G1411} 

(The "G" numbers are from Strong's Concordance meaning GREEK as opposed to "H" for HEBREW)

G1753
ενέργεια - energeia - en-erg'-i-ah
efficiency (“energy”): - operation, strong, (effectual) working.


G1754
ενεργέω - energeō - en-erg-eh'-o
to be active, efficient: - do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in)

G1722
εν - en - en
A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

G1411
δύναμις - dunamis - doo'-nam-is
force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Convinced And Pursuaded About What We Have Learned - Yet Impostors Come Deceiving And Being Deceived

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:8-17

2 Timothy 3:8-17

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

LAGNIAPPE:

Psalm 119:4-7 (Taken from the NASB, KJV, NKJV, and ESV versions of the bible)

4 You have ordained Your precepts, and
commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast, directed, and established
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be ashamed,
When I have respect and have fixed my eyes upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks and offer praise to You with uprightness of heart,
When I have learned Your righteous judgments.


Definitions of particular words used for "God's Word" i.e., Precepts, Judgments, Commandments, Statutes, Testimonies, Law, Word, Ordinances, and Way

1. Precepts (vs. 4) – teach and learn moral obligations before God, to care for the poor, social justice, protect the rights of others, how to live morally in an immoral universe
2. Statutes (vs. 5) – limitations, walls of orders, civil and religious, these set limitations upon our lives to keep us from getting out of bounds, the walls of the canyon inside which we live
3. Commandments (vs. 6) – faithful, religious principles, how to live in a religious community with each other, in a community of faith, how to worship, to worship
4. Judgments (orinances) (vs. 7)– legal pronouncements, the way God runs His universe, rules of divine administration, the way He expects us to yield to those and to His divine administration

Come To The True Bread Of Life - Never Hunger Or Thirst Again

Today's Focus Scripture: John 6:22-35 (Verses used by Pastor Ben in his sermon beginning the "S.P.O.K.E.S." series teaching - What we believe at Grace Community Church in Southlake, TX.)

John 6:22-35

22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone.
23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 
33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.


Let our prayer be, "Lord, always give us this bread."

LAGNIAPPE:

Psalm 127
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
   They labor in vain who build it;
   Unless the Lord guards the city,
   The watchman keeps awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
   To retire late,
   To eat the bread of painful labors;
   For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
   The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
   So are the children of one’s youth.
5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
   They will not be ashamed
   When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Doing The Truth In Charity, We May Grow Up In Him, Christ

Today's Focus Scripture: Ephesians 4:2-15

Ephesians 4:2-15

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, forbearing one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

8 Therefore it says,
“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,