The LOVE of God - Study Part 1

The Love Relationship

God is passionate about us! He is IN LOVE with us! Many times married people during a counseling session or during a divorce say: "I love him/her I'm just in IN LOVE with him/her..." We get that feeling about God sometimes. We know He loves us. God is love. He can't help but love us. But He can't actually LIKE us right? I mean we're dirty, rotten sinners before getting saved. Even after getting saved we mess up time and again. Many won't say it, many will, there is just this feeling or impression of being distant from God. There is no closeness with him, no intimacy, certainly nothing like the young couple who are "IN LOVE" with each other...But God is IN LOVE with us!

We read the bible with that filter of distance and we see a God who is mad at Adam for falling into sin and cursing him and us through him. We see a God who judges sin in Israel time and again, and judges other nations like Sodom and Gomorrah. But if we start to let the Word speak for itself and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God's heart to us we see that religion, which is primarily a tool of the devil to keep people from God, painted us this mean picture of an angry God. When we didn't see Him as angry we at least saw Him as Holy and to be feared by those who sin. Although this holiness side of God is true and right, and it is to be feared by those who have not received Jesus it is not the side of God that a Christian should focus on. God's wrath was poured out on Jesus. He has paid for our lives, past, present, and future, IN FULL! I can sin 20 minutes from now and I'm already cleansed from it. Sin doesn't remove me from God in any way accept one. When I sin the accuser comes to bring condemnation. If I allow that to enter in than I remove myself from fellowship with my Father in heaven. HE does not remove fellowship, I do. Just like Adam hiding in the Garden and Jesus seeking him out. When I sin I need to run TO God not FROM God. I'm already forgiven, there is nothing for Him to say but "I love you".

The Bible says God is Love.

1 John 4:8 (New King James Version)
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:19 (New King James Version)We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:16 (New King James Version)And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 

The secret to walking in the Love of God is to believe the Love He has for us! Then we can walk out this life with Joy and ease. Let us take a look at who and what the Word says God is and who we are IN HIM!

A Journey into the Center of God's Love

Throughout the Hebrew language we see God uses pattern to establish a point. Not only does God work in patterns, but in the original Hebrew language there were no exclamation points (!) or question marks (?); and no italics or bold font. You had to understand the emphasis by the context. In many ways the Hebrew and Greek languages were more elegant in that way because they required that you pay attention in order to understand. So the use of patterns was not only poetic but a literary tool to create emphasis.

In Hebrew language and writing, in order to make a point, sometimes writers used a method of establishing a pattern and then breaking the pattern. This break in the pattern and repetition would be a sign to pay close attention to the following information. We see this in the prayer of Jabez. The texts reads for pages: So and so begat so and so begat so and so.... Now Jabez...

So the chain is broken to provide information.

1 Chronicles 4:9-109 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

Personally and Passionately Created

The chain of information is broken to provide information, which in and of itself is a style used to create emphasis. In Genesis we see this pattern again. Over and over we see God commanding things to be and then the be. God said, "Let the/there..." over and over. But all of a sudden the pattern breaks... God takes a different tone. Then God said, "Let US create..." God breaks the pattern to get personally involved here.

Genesis 1
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
3Then God said, "Let there be...
6Then God said, "Let there be...
9Then God said, "Let the...
11Then God said, "Let the...
14Then God said, "Let there be...
20Then God said, "Let the...
24Then God said, "Let the...

26Then God said, "Let Us make

Who was this doing the speaking. God the Father? Yes all things originate in Him. Jesus said that he only said what He heard the Father say. (John 5:19) But there is more here than that. Let us take a look at Proverbs 8. In verse one we see that wisdom has been personified and is begins speaking to us in the first person. As Wisdom is talking you can begin to hear the tone of authority rise. We pick up the narrative in verse 22:

Proverbs 822 "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

Taking a quick look at John 1 reveals a parallel comparison. It's almost striking how similar they are in tone and context. I wonder is John was meditating on Proverbs 8 as he was writing his Gospel. John of course reveals that Jesus was the master craftsman, the one through whom all things were made. The OT looks at NT things and reveals them in shadows but the NT gives us perfect knowledge. What Proverbs 8 was trying to say John helped complete. Jesus was our Master Craftsman. 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us:

30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--

Jesus became Wisdom for us! So we can see Proverbs 8 is really Jesus talking to us. HE/Jesus was daily God the Fathers' delight and HIS/Jesus' delight was with US! Mankind was Jesus delight! He was IN LOVE with us! He was building this planet for us! Just as a couple that creates a special room in the house for the child that is about to be born and calls in a nursery, so Jesus was so excited about this man child about to be born that he was building on to the house. Our room was a planet!

Parents want to make everything just right, you can just see Him creating things and wanting it to be just right. How could it take God a whole 6 days to create this planet. This is God! He could have slapped it together in a moment right? Yes! He could have! And judging by the other planets in our solar system it seems like He did just that with those. But not this planet, not the kids room! No everything had to be just right. I could just see him crafting every tree and animal to delight his man child that is about to become.

26Then God said, "Let Us make

God pauses all of His creating. It's time! Delivery time! Father's go NUTS sometimes when time has come to give birth. Mom says "It's time..." and Dad starts going crazy; "do we need to do this or that...do we have that..." This is from excitement. Everything is ready on planet earth, the room is prepared and Jesus hears the Father say: It's time. Jesus breaks all of His pattern. He is no longer interested in commanding things to happen and watching them happen. He has to get personally involved in this one. Genesis two takes a second and closer look at how this happened.

Genesis 2:7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

It was not good enough for our Jesus to simply command that man become and watch it happen. No he came down to this newly reformed planet and gathered the dirt himself and formed the body by hand. All sculptures created by men are just reliving this first of all sculptures. In fact the Jesus still takes a personal interest in each person on the planet and forms them the same way in the mothers womb!

Jeremiah 1:5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:13For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.

Isaiah 44:2Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Jesus was not just personally interested in the creation of the 1st man, He is personally interested in the creation of each individual man and was there creating you!

Delighted!

We see from Proverbs 8 that Jesus doesn't just Love you... as a man Loves a wife but may have lost the IN LOVE feeling... NO! Jesus is IN LOVE with you! He is passionate about you! He is delighted in you! He can't get enough of you! Jesus wants nothing more than spend an eternity with you! No couple on earth has ever been more infatuated with each other than Jesus is with you! And Jesus never looses that feeling! He is enamored with you!

 Proverbs 8 

30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

There is just something about our relationship with Jesus that is special! The Father and The Holy Spirit are both thoroughly involved in our lives. It is nearly impossible to tell where one of the Godhead starts and another stops. They are the three in one. They are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They, together, make up God as we know him. When we say God we are talking about all three at the same time with one word. It's nearly unfathomable. They are not three personalities of one person. They are not three "hats" of one person. Saying they are one is not like saying that I'm a Father, a Son, and a Husband. God is not one person playing three roles. God is three separate and distinct persons and personalities that make up one unit called God. They are so totally one that they are nearly indistinguishable.

But there is something about our relationship with Jesus in particular that is just so special.

Hebrews 2:9-109 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

It was Jesus Himself that created Adam, and creates us. It was Jesus himself that walked in the cool of the Garden to find Adam and talk to him. It was Jesus himself who became our covering and died for us! Jesus is the groom and the Church is His bride! What an intimate comparison! (Ephesians 5:22-23 and Revelations 19:9)

Jesus didn't just come to pay for your sin so you could skip hell and go to heaven and then leave you here to fend for yourself! In John, You can hear how He doesn't want to leave us but He will because it's to our advantage.

John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

But you can also hear in His last words to us how eagerly He desires to have and hold us again!

Revelation 22He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Oh how great and awesome is the Love of Jesus for us! You may have known that Jesus loves you... but have you experienced it?! Read and Re-Read this writting until it washes all over you! Preach it to yourself until you are saturated with how much Jesus is passionately, boldly, and wildly IN LOVE with you!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Work to Believe, not to receive!

COME:

Luke 17:5-10 (New King James Version)5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "

HEAR:
It doesn't take much faith to receive the things of God. Yet we all, at one time or another, ask God for more faith. Closely related to faith is belief. James 1 tells us that if one asks something of God and doubts that he will not receive it, period. Romans 10 tells us that we must confess (to say the same thing as) with our mouth and believe in our heart.

So belief become this paramount issue. We know we are supposed to be healed and prosperous, so why are most of us still lacking after years of knowing this. Is the Word of God false? Is the teaching false and we miss-understood the Word? Or is there something else we have missed that was right in front of us all the time. We have the 10 steps to this and the 30 things to know about that... these are all GREAT materiel. But there is something simple we need in order to make these things function.

Have you ever seen someone else receive something from God and you KNOW that they aren't doing half of the spiritual and natural things you are doing. I remember growing up I had two younger brothers. One was just three years younger than me so we often went places together in those early days. I'm guessing I would have been about 9 and he about 6 at this period in time. I was always the responsible one, I was the eldest. I did everything right (more or less). He was the one who would get into trouble just because he could. He laughed at spankings. He was a very frustrating person to be around, especially for his perfectionist older brother.

We had each been given money to go and get something from the fast food place near our hotel this day. We sat back and considered what we wanted. I ordered what I could afford. He told the lady he wanted X and Y but didn't have money for both. She gave him the other for free. I, who was standing RIGHT THERE got nothing extra. I was so mad. Years latter that story became a parable for how he always got things and got away with things while I had to be perfect to get anything.

Oh how righteous I was... or was I?

Isaiah 64:66 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

Here we see that everything we do is not good enough. Our best works are filled with selfish intentions. Jesus is the only person who ever walked on this earth with any real righteousness. Paul said it well too. He starts by counting all of his special degrees, his classy heritage and pedigree, and he recounts his impressive resume. If anyone ought to have a shot at being right before God it's Saul of Tarsus (who was later re named Paul).

Philippians 3:88 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Paul was also a Christian killer and murderer, before getting saved through a powerful encounter with the risen Jesus himself. This word "rubbish" that Paul uses is the word for "trash" or "dung" or "Poop". All of our "righteous works" or "good works" are poop!

Notice Jesus says in Luke 17:10 that servants don't get rewards for doing their job. They just get to continue to be servants and not killed. We can't take all the good things we do: help an old lady across the street, feed the poor at shelters, go to church, read the bible, pray daily... etc... we can't take those things and hold them before God and say: LOOK I did it!

He thinks about that the same way we look at a 4 year old's drawings. He admires them, he things they are adorable. But their not prize worthy.

So how then do we receive from God? We believe. What do we believe? We believe that we are righteous now, not by our works but by HIS! We are righteous with Jesus' righteousness! Because of that we are pre-qualified for EVERYTHING God has for us. Not one thing we do makes us more qualified. A person who came to Jesus 2 seconds ago is just as qualified to receive from God as the person who came 20 years ago.

Romans 3:2221 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

We ARE righteous before God through Jesus. We cannot earn His blessings. We can only believe His blessings. The secret to receiving ALL God has for us has nothing to do with doing, it has everything to do with believing!

You know what Devin knew that I didn't know back then... He asked! He got more, because he asked for more! Amazing!

It's time to work on Believing!

DO:
Today, I will meditate (ponder, contemplate, think about, talk about, speak out loud, and imagine and dream about) the Word of God and all he says about me. I will "work" not to get, but to believe I already have!

PRAYER:
Spirit of Grace, help me today, to re program my heart to believe!

Mark 9:23
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Matthew 21:21-22
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

See also:
http://www.kcm.org/real-help/article/now-are-we-christ-jesus

http://www.kcm.org/mp3/series

http://www.impactministries.com/tabid/550/Default.aspx



Darrell G. Wolfe

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Humility - The Power of Christian Life

David, a young man at the time, came to find his brothers and give them food. His brothers made fun of him and told him to get out and go home. He saw everyone was scared. So he inquired about what was happening.

David was told that a Giant man was threatening them and challenging them. David asked "What will be given to the man who kills this un-circumcised Philistine?" He goes to the king and get's permission to go. He runs out  at the man who is taunting them and making fun of God.

Goliath says: "I'm going to kill you!"

David says: "No, I'm going to kill you!"

Both of these are bold statements! But what was the source of the boldness? Why did one type of boldness fail and the other succeed?

Goliath made his statement with confidence in his size, strength, and training. David made his statement with confidence in his God!

So this then begs a question? What is your source? What do you trust in to put you in a place of victory. Romans 12:3 says that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but with sober judgment. This doesn't mean that we should put ourselves down or build ourselves up. It means that we should learn what the Word of God says about us and come into agreement with God about what HE says about us.

1 Peter 5:5-7 tells us that God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. It also says that if we humble ourselves to Him that HE will exalt us!

So this idea of humility... what does it mean for us as born again children of God? Humility is a character trait that allows us to walk with God. We throw away our own works and put on His nature and character.

Philippians 2 (New King James Version)1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

We have been made equal with God, sons of the Most High, CO-Heirs with Jesus. What a lofty thing! Yet, it was not by anything WE did, so there is no room for pride. We have this mind, that we are made the righteousness of God, yet we don't esteem ourselves better than others. Why not? Because all have fallen short of the Glory of God yet that very fact means that we all have been made the righteousness of God! Romans 3:21-26.

We are all walking out the Grace that was given to us. We are all walking in the level of understanding we have received from Him. So we help each other up and out of the mire around us. When one of us stumbles into something we don't look down on him, we don't ask him: "Where is your faith man?!" Instead we become moved with the compassion of God for him and love him with God's love. We become dispensers of God's grace and mercy and forgiveness.

This is walking in humility:

1. Acknowledge that we are nothing in our own ability and strength.
2. Acknowledge that are of GREAT WORTH to Him who gave His all for us and MADE us His righteousness! 
3. Acknowledge all our ability comes from and through Him!
4. Then take that and dispense it to others! 

Walking in humility always leads us to become God inside minded first and Others minded second. The "Self- Center" universe fades away. I am not the center of my life any more. Jesus is! When Jesus is the center of my life, the needs of others become paramount in my mind. I'm no longer thinking about what I need, what I want! I am thinking about others! I begin asking more questions in order to get to know people, rather than compromise every conversation with what I'm thinking, what I know, what I want, what I need, what I'm doing... 

The sign of Humility is NOT that I put myself down. Actually putting yourself down is still a self-focused mindset and just another side of the coin of pride. 

The sign of Humility is that I don't think of myself much at all. My words, thoughts, imaginations, and dreams are about Jesus and how he wants to impact others... 

A litmus test is a basic test to determine the quality of something in reference to Acid VS Base (Alkaline). This is a very layman's explanation. Every person who cleans pools for a living knows this test well. You drop a few drops into the pool and they turn a color. This color is compared to an indicator chart which tells you where this water falls on a scale from very Acidic to Very Alkaline. You simple add more acid to make this water turn back to being more Acidic thereby lowering the pH levels. The acidic levels in the water help keep the pool clean from toxins and growth of plant life in the water. Often seeing green water is an indication that the pH levels are not balanced. 

The litmus test of Humility: How often do you think about you?

If YOU are the center of your thoughts, prayers, hopes, dreams, desires... you probably aren't dealing with Humility. Now God is thinking about you ALL THE TIME! He's not thinking about himself, he's thinking about you! So then, being like Him, you ought to be thinking about HIM and the needs of the people he loves so much!

Becoming God-Centered is not hard. Just start to fill your mind with thoughts about Him. The easiest way to do this is to start thanking Him. Thank him for anything you can think of. Start by thanking him for saving you from hell. Thank him for the trees, rocks, birds, sunshine, rain... whatever you see or think about to thank him for. You can do this for a long time without running out of things to thank Him for. As you do this you become saturated with thoughts of Him and thoughts outside of you! Psalms 118 is a good place to start. Also Psalms 23 and 103! 

Thank you Jesus! Darrell G. Wolfe

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What I believe...

I Believe; The Common Denominator - Non Negotiables:

• The Bible is the Word of God - Perfect and Complete; 
• First place and final authority for all matters of life. 

• The is one God, who is three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

• Jesus - The Only son of God, 
• Born of a virgin, by the Holy Spirit. 
• Always existed as God.
• Came to earth as a man, becoming fully God and fully Man. 
• He died, rose again, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father waiting the fullness of time to return to this planet. 
• The way, the truth, and the life; No man comes to the Father accept by Him.
• People are saved, personally, through faith in the name of Jesus. 

• There is a real heaven, and a real hell, and real people go to both places.
• One question determines that: "What did you do with the gift (Jesus) that was offered?"
• Jesus is coming again! The Rapture! There is coming a day when Jesus will come for His Church and usher them to heaven. This event will be the catalyst for a final 7 year period of time that is known as the Tribulation. The Anti Christ will NOT be revealed, and cannot be known, until the church is removed from this planet in a world wide evacuation. 
• I'm not THE expert on these matters, my understanding has changed some regarding some of the dynamics regarding these events. But a Pre-Tribulation rapture, in my mind, is absolute! 
• I am not saying that I could not work with someone, for the sake of the Gospel, that taught a post-trib, mid-trib, no trib, doctrine. But I would find it VERY hard. I find this to be SO core in the understanding of the message about who Jesus is, why He came, and how he's coming again that I simply wouldn't trust ANY doctrine that came from a person who did not believe in a Pre-Trib rapture. What else am I going to have to disagree with in front of a person we are both trying to reach?
• Teachings that go against a Pre-Trib Rapture are doctrines of demons intended to distract from the truth. They are known by their fruit: Distraction, Self Interest, Self Preservation, Fear, Storing up goods and hiding them, etc... I usually find other strange ideas and doctrines creep up from pastors who teach non Pre Trip Rapture doctrines. I just don't trust them. 

I Believe; The Important Numerators - What sets us apart:

• Signs of the Covenant:
• Water Baptism: 
• Water baptism is an important symbolic event.
• Intended as a public declaration, and personal demarcation, saying "I die to myself and live for Jesus". It's an event you can put on a calender, celebrate every year like a birthday, if you wish. 
• It is a result of salvation that has already occurred, NOT a requirement to be saved.
• Trickle, Dip, Dunk, Dive... it's a symbolic event, do whatever you want with methods.
• Acts 10:44-46 tongues were the sign that caused Peter to acknowledge the gentiles he was preaching to had been filled with the Holy Spirit (before being baptized)  

• Communion: Bread and Wine
• Like baptism, this is an important custom, observed by Jesus himself.
• Wine vs Juice vs Water, various kinds of bread, it doesn't matter, the point is what it means. Do what you want with methods. Use what's available.
• Communion is a reminder of our new covenant with God, through Jesus. It represents his Body broken for us, and His blood shed for us. It causes us to pause and remember what He did on the cross and how it's forever changed our lives now, and for eternity to come.

• Baptism of the Holy Spirit
• 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit located in 1 Cor 12 are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit (vs 7). 
• 1 Corinthians 12:6 ...the same God works ALL IN ALL
• This means that all gifts are in all people all the time and the Spirit uses whom ever, when ever.
• Manifestation means: The bible says that when the Holy Spirit shows up to physically alter a service or situation that these are the things that will evidence His arrival. 
• These are HIS gifts to us, not our gifts. That means that no gift mentioned here is unique to any one person or calling. All born again filled with the Spirit of God and therefore can operate in these as He is willing and as the person is willing to cooperate. 
• We are to seek the best gifts, which means we have a role to play as to whether we walk in these gifts or not. (vs31)
• In almost all occasions when the Holy Spirit filled believers they spoke in tongues. Most notably in Acts 2 when the original 120 were filled ALL of them did, and in Acts 10:44-46 tongues were the sign that caused Peter to acknowledge the gentiles he was preaching to had been filled with the Holy Spirit (before being baptized I might add)
• Tongues are not THE sign someone is filled with the Spirit, but there is abundant evidence that tongues are A sign, and the most prominent or notable sign, and that almost without exception all believers experienced this in the New Testament Church. Even Paul, although it doesn't say he spoke the moment he was baptized, says he spoke in tongues more than anybody. (1 Cor 14:18)

• Holy Spirit: Dwelling In VS Filled With.
• All people who accept Jesus have the Holy Spirit on the inside of them. 
• Being Filled with the Holy Spirit, also known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is NOT a one time event. Ephesians 5:17-21 tells us to be filled continually as we sing in the Spirit and give thanks to God. Some scholars have translated this "Be Being Filled..." 
• This is two separate topics but one Spirit. Being born again is when the Spirit comes inside of you and re creates your Spirit. That is an event. Then you can be filled with the Spirit (allow Him to fill you and overflow out of you) as often as you like. Prayer and Praise allow Him to fill you, Like a cup that has water, but then you just fill it up until it spills! 
• Ephesians 5 seems to indicate that this is a good replacement for feeling the need to drink alcohol with excess! 

• Gospel Defined:
• Why did Jesus come?
•  Jesus came that they might have LIFE and life more abundantly! John 10:10
• Abundant Life is the reason Jesus came for you!

• What did Jesus Preach?
• Jesus came preaching "The Good News of the Kingdom of God" Mark 1:14
• The Kingdom of God is God's system of operation on this planet. Jesus continually compared the way fallen mans thinks to the way God thinks. "You say eye for an eye, I say Love your enemy..." Matthew 5:43-44
• When He sent his disciples out he sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and Heal. Luke 9:2

• How did Jesus Minister?
• The Anointing is how He walked in this Kingdom, and it is how we walk in it now. 
• Luke 4 and Isaiah 61 show us that Jesus was "Anointed to do..."
• See my study on The Anointing. 

• What did Jesus restore to us?
• The Blessing of Adam, Noah, Abraham, and then Jesus has been restored to us through the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
• All that The Blessing is has been restored to us and all that The Curse is we have been redeemed from. (Deut 28, Deut 30:19, Galatians 3:13)
• We are born again and Spirit filled.
• Redeemed from the curse of depression, lack, sickness, etc...
• We have IN HIM:
• Joy
• Healing
• Prosperity
• Etc
• Through belief in Jesus we have the restoration of THE BLESSING and we enter the Kingdom of God. This includes being born again and going to heaven some day, but that is the key to the door. We have so much more that Jesus died for! The Good News of Jesus is a WHOLE LIFE deal. He died, went to hell, and rose again so that we could be redeemed of everything that happened to mankind in Genesis 3. Duet 28 breaks down The Blessing of God and the Curse of Satan's kingdom. 
• Jesus is coming again! The Rapture! There is coming a day when Jesus will come for His Church and usher them to heaven. This event will be the catalyst for a final 7 year period of time that is known as the Tribulation. The Anti Christ will NOT be revealed, and cannot be known, until the church is removed from this planet in a world wide evacuation.  

Explanation 

- 

Why write this document about what I believe?:

Most ministries have a page to let you know in a glance: "What we believe". I have decided to put one together as well. It's helpful to see where someone stands and make sure you get where they are coming from.

I would say there are things that are the common denominator between all true believers in Jesus Christ. Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Word of Faith, Calvary Chapel-ers, and all the other groups that call them selves by a name. If we can agree on the basics we can agree to disagree on the rest.

In math there is a thing called "Least Common Denominator". You can take unlike things and add them together if they share something in common. If there is no commonality, you cannot add them together. If Jesus is our common denominator that we can agree to disagree about certain things and still work together toward a common cause. On a small scale that common cause may be to feed the hungry or preform some other good work. Ultimately we can work together to see the lost saved from a devils hell!

So in all walks of life there will be those things that are common denominators, non negotiable things that we must agree on to work together. That is true of faith, life, marriage, business, etc.

Then are things that are the numerators. These are things that set us apart, make us different, and give us our own flavor. These are the things that make us Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Calvary Chapel, Pentecostal, Word of Faith, "Choose a Name Here". Many call them selves "Non Denominational" and then turn around and form a group, call it one name, and the whole set of churches in that group abide by a unifying doctrine.

On one hand separation causes friction between groups, on the other hand each group could learn something from the other. Maybe another group sees things from a perspective you didn't see before? So this is my list of what I believe. Common Denominators and Numerators. These are the things that we MUST agree on to work together in a common cause, and the things that I feel are absolutely true but we don't have to agree on to work in a common cause. 

Let us sharpen each other and iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17

Darrell G. Wolfe

Read more →

What I believe...

I Believe; The Common Denominator - Non Negotiables:

• The Bible is the Word of God - Perfect and Complete; 
• First place and final authority for all matters of life. 

• The is one God, who is three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

• Jesus - The Only son of God, 
• Born of a virgin, by the Holy Spirit. 
• Always existed as God.
• Came to earth as a man, becoming fully God and fully Man. 
• He died, rose again, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father waiting the fullness of time to return to this planet. 
• The way, the truth, and the life; No man comes to the Father accept by Him.
• People are saved, personally, through faith in the name of Jesus. 

• There is a real heaven, and a real hell, and real people go to both places.
• One question determines that: "What did you do with the gift (Jesus) that was offered?"
• Jesus is coming again! The Rapture! There is coming a day when Jesus will come for His Church and usher them to heaven. This event will be the catalyst for a final 7 year period of time that is known as the Tribulation. The Anti Christ will NOT be revealed, and cannot be known, until the church is removed from this planet in a world wide evacuation. 
• I'm not THE expert on these matters, my understanding has changed some regarding some of the dynamics regarding these events. But a Pre-Tribulation rapture, in my mind, is absolute! 
• I am not saying that I could not work with someone, for the sake of the Gospel, that taught a post-trib, mid-trib, no trib, doctrine. But I would find it VERY hard. I find this to be SO core in the understanding of the message about who Jesus is, why He came, and how he's coming again that I simply wouldn't trust ANY doctrine that came from a person who did not believe in a Pre-Trib rapture. What else am I going to have to disagree with in front of a person we are both trying to reach?
• Teachings that go against a Pre-Trib Rapture are doctrines of demons intended to distract from the truth. They are known by their fruit: Distraction, Self Interest, Self Preservation, Fear, Storing up goods and hiding them, etc... I usually find other strange ideas and doctrines creep up from pastors who teach non Pre Trip Rapture doctrines. I just don't trust them. 

I Believe; The Important Numerators - What sets us apart:

• Signs of the Covenant:
• Water Baptism: 
• Water baptism is an important symbolic event.
• Intended as a public declaration, and personal demarcation, saying "I die to myself and live for Jesus". It's an event you can put on a calender, celebrate every year like a birthday, if you wish. 
• It is a result of salvation that has already occurred, NOT a requirement to be saved.
• Trickle, Dip, Dunk, Dive... it's a symbolic event, do whatever you want with methods.
• Acts 10:44-46 tongues were the sign that caused Peter to acknowledge the gentiles he was preaching to had been filled with the Holy Spirit (before being baptized)  

• Communion: Bread and Wine
• Like baptism, this is an important custom, observed by Jesus himself.
• Wine vs Juice vs Water, various kinds of bread, it doesn't matter, the point is what it means. Do what you want with methods. Use what's available.
• Communion is a reminder of our new covenant with God, through Jesus. It represents his Body broken for us, and His blood shed for us. It causes us to pause and remember what He did on the cross and how it's forever changed our lives now, and for eternity to come.

• Baptism of the Holy Spirit
• 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit located in 1 Cor 12 are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit (vs 7). 
• 1 Corinthians 12:6 ...the same God works ALL IN ALL
• This means that all gifts are in all people all the time and the Spirit uses whom ever, when ever.
• Manifestation means: The bible says that when the Holy Spirit shows up to physically alter a service or situation that these are the things that will evidence His arrival. 
• These are HIS gifts to us, not our gifts. That means that no gift mentioned here is unique to any one person or calling. All born again filled with the Spirit of God and therefore can operate in these as He is willing and as the person is willing to cooperate. 
• We are to seek the best gifts, which means we have a role to play as to whether we walk in these gifts or not. (vs31)
• In almost all occasions when the Holy Spirit filled believers they spoke in tongues. Most notably in Acts 2 when the original 120 were filled ALL of them did, and in Acts 10:44-46 tongues were the sign that caused Peter to acknowledge the gentiles he was preaching to had been filled with the Holy Spirit (before being baptized I might add)
• Tongues are not THE sign someone is filled with the Spirit, but there is abundant evidence that tongues are A sign, and the most prominent or notable sign, and that almost without exception all believers experienced this in the New Testament Church. Even Paul, although it doesn't say he spoke the moment he was baptized, says he spoke in tongues more than anybody. (1 Cor 14:18)

• Holy Spirit: Dwelling In VS Filled With.
• All people who accept Jesus have the Holy Spirit on the inside of them. 
• Being Filled with the Holy Spirit, also known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is NOT a one time event. Ephesians 5:17-21 tells us to be filled continually as we sing in the Spirit and give thanks to God. Some scholars have translated this "Be Being Filled..." 
• This is two separate topics but one Spirit. Being born again is when the Spirit comes inside of you and re creates your Spirit. That is an event. Then you can be filled with the Spirit (allow Him to fill you and overflow out of you) as often as you like. Prayer and Praise allow Him to fill you, Like a cup that has water, but then you just fill it up until it spills! 
• Ephesians 5 seems to indicate that this is a good replacement for feeling the need to drink alcohol with excess! 

• Gospel Defined:
• Why did Jesus come?
•  Jesus came that they might have LIFE and life more abundantly! John 10:10
• Abundant Life is the reason Jesus came for you!

• What did Jesus Preach?
• Jesus came preaching "The Good News of the Kingdom of God" Mark 1:14
• The Kingdom of God is God's system of operation on this planet. Jesus continually compared the way fallen mans thinks to the way God thinks. "You say eye for an eye, I say Love your enemy..." Matthew 5:43-44
• When He sent his disciples out he sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and Heal. Luke 9:2

• How did Jesus Minister?
• The Anointing is how He walked in this Kingdom, and it is how we walk in it now. 
• Luke 4 and Isaiah 61 show us that Jesus was "Anointed to do..."
• See my study on The Anointing. 

• What did Jesus restore to us?
• The Blessing of Adam, Noah, Abraham, and then Jesus has been restored to us through the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
• All that The Blessing is has been restored to us and all that The Curse is we have been redeemed from. (Deut 28, Deut 30:19, Galatians 3:13)
• We are born again and Spirit filled.
• Redeemed from the curse of depression, lack, sickness, etc...
• We have IN HIM:
• Joy
• Healing
• Prosperity
• Etc
• Through belief in Jesus we have the restoration of THE BLESSING and we enter the Kingdom of God. This includes being born again and going to heaven some day, but that is the key to the door. We have so much more that Jesus died for! The Good News of Jesus is a WHOLE LIFE deal. He died, went to hell, and rose again so that we could be redeemed of everything that happened to mankind in Genesis 3. Duet 28 breaks down The Blessing of God and the Curse of Satan's kingdom. 
• Jesus is coming again! The Rapture! There is coming a day when Jesus will come for His Church and usher them to heaven. This event will be the catalyst for a final 7 year period of time that is known as the Tribulation. The Anti Christ will NOT be revealed, and cannot be known, until the church is removed from this planet in a world wide evacuation.  

Explanation 

- 

Why write this document about what I believe?:

Most ministries have a page to let you know in a glance: "What we believe". I have decided to put one together as well. It's helpful to see where someone stands and make sure you get where they are coming from.

I would say there are things that are the common denominator between all true believers in Jesus Christ. Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Word of Faith, Calvary Chapel-ers, and all the other groups that call them selves by a name. If we can agree on the basics we can agree to disagree on the rest.

In math there is a thing called "Least Common Denominator". You can take unlike things and add them together if they share something in common. If there is no commonality, you cannot add them together. If Jesus is our common denominator that we can agree to disagree about certain things and still work together toward a common cause. On a small scale that common cause may be to feed the hungry or preform some other good work. Ultimately we can work together to see the lost saved from a devils hell!

So in all walks of life there will be those things that are common denominators, non negotiable things that we must agree on to work together. That is true of faith, life, marriage, business, etc.

Then are things that are the numerators. These are things that set us apart, make us different, and give us our own flavor. These are the things that make us Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Calvary Chapel, Pentecostal, Word of Faith, "Choose a Name Here". Many call them selves "Non Denominational" and then turn around and form a group, call it one name, and the whole set of churches in that group abide by a unifying doctrine.

On one hand separation causes friction between groups, on the other hand each group could learn something from the other. Maybe another group sees things from a perspective you didn't see before? So this is my list of what I believe. Common Denominators and Numerators. These are the things that we MUST agree on to work together in a common cause, and the things that I feel are absolutely true but we don't have to agree on to work in a common cause. 

Let us sharpen each other and iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17

Darrell G. Wolfe

Read more →

Miracles and The Word, believing and seeing are not equal.

COME:
Luke 16 (New King James Version)
31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "

HEAR:
This is an interesting verse that I've read and passed over many times. I find two interesting things about it.

1. Jesus was prophesying his own being raised from the dead and how it won't persuade people who do not respect the Word of God (which is Jesus). Those who did not already respect God and His Word, will simply explain away the Resurrection of Jesus. 
1. They may explain it away by saying it didn't happen. Like the religious people of His day or many secular scholars today.
2. They may say He never really died. 
3. They may use any number of mental gymnastics, but in the end, they will not accept the simple Resurrection.
2. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing; and hearing comes by the Word of God. So seeing someone raise from the dead won't bring faith. People just find another explanation. 

They will either believe the Word or something else. The miracle attracts attention but not belief. Miracles of any kind are the dinner bell of the spirit. Miracles attract peoples attention so that they can come and hear the Word. Once their attention is attracted they will either respond in belief or unbelief. It is the Word that they respond to.

Miracles are important. They meet the needs of people, much better than a food stamp can! They get peoples attention in order to get them to listen. They provide some proof or evidence of God's power to those who need a little something to hang on to while digesting the truth.

But in the end, it is never a miracle that causes someone to believe. It is The Word of God AND their response to it.

DO:
Today I will choose to hear and believe The Word in my life. What does the Word say about me today? If it says I'm healed, then I believe it! If is says I'm rich, then I believe it! If it says I'm more than a conqueror, then I believe it!

PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, work in my hear through your Grace today. Help me saturate my heart with what your word says about me. Then help me take that anointing to others!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Good Success

Empowered to Prosper with Good Success! 

Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1:8 - Interlinear Bible

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success .

'tyig'h.w '$yiPim h,Z;h h'rw{T;h r,pes v.Wm'y -a{l ? b.Wt'K;h -l'k.K tw{f][;l r{m.viT !;[;m.lh'l.y;l'w ~'mw{y w{B ? lyiK.f;T z'a.w '$,k'r.D -t,a ;xyil.c;T z'a -yiK w{B

Two Words Defined

"Prosperous" here is the Hebrew Word: Tsalach, Strongs 6743
Advance/Rush/Prosper/Make Progress/Succeed/Be Profitable

This word Tsalach has the idea of making one prosperous, or bringing and issue to a successful end. It causes one to experience prosperity. It strikes me as the causative force in the verse.


"Success" here is the Hebrew Word: Sakal, Strongs 7919
Prudent/Circumspect/Wisely Understand/Prosper

This word Sakal has the connotation of seeing something clearly and understanding it's many aspects so that it can be handled accurately and bring success or prosperity. It gives the idea that one who has this has taken the time to understand a thing so well that he can wield it accurately. I get the idea in my mind of a master craftsman who has spent so much time with his craft that he knows how to wield the tools just right to bring about perfection in his work. I get the idea here that wisdom brings success.

Taking a closer look

Meditating here means: to ponder, think about, imagine, murmur, speak aloud to ones self, sing about, and otherwise mentally consider the Word of God.

By meditating the Word of God I observe certain things in the Word to do. At first there are basic things like "Love your Enemy". Then I keep meditating and I see principles in the Word that apply to my life. As I ponder and engage those principles I begin to see a measure of success in those. But there is an even deeper thing that must happen. It was not until recently that I realized this.

Jeremy Pearsons, on the BVOV in Feb 2012, said
"The Principle must reveal the Person of Jesus"

Jesus said that He only does what he sees His Father do! (John 5:19)

So then what is it that I observe to do? It's not just basic things, and it's not even just the principles I find here. I must meditate this Word until I See and Hear from God what He would have me do regarding a situation. As I do this makes me prosperous. I don't have to try to strive for prosperity. I don't have to work and toil under the curse of Adam. My job doesn't have to be a tiresome and exhausting experience.

I am not required to be the smartest person or do the best job. It's not my talents and skills that will make me successful. In fact, the talents and skills I have may cause me to rely on them and not on God and hinder my success. So I forget my training, talents, skills and like Paul I count them as dung for the excellency of the Anointing of the Anointed One! (Phill 3:8)

As I meditate the Word day and night and night and day... letting it saturate my thinking, my mind, my thoughts, my imaginations, my in between calls, my walking down the hall, my songs in my head, my dreams and visions and day dreams... as I pray in tongues building myself up on my most holy faith (Jude 1:20)... It will become effortless for me. I will hear and see and then do what I heard and saw. This will force my life to become prosperous.

Not only will prosperity become a super-natural result of my super-natural activity, but I will go beyond prosperous and have good success. This word "Good Success" from the Hebrew Sakal, indicates that I will have the wisdom and understanding, through time and practice in the Word. This understanding will allow me to see more clearly and more quickly into the heart of a matter and bring God's presence and Word and Power onto the scene. It is beyond prosperous and I am now a conduit of prosperity. My life has moved beyond my own success and now I have GOOD success, because I am causing others life to have success.

This kind of success is reflected in 2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

That is ultimately what the Grace of God does in a life. It makes one abundant to every good work. It takes you so far past your life and needs that you don't even consider what you want or need because your so busy helping everyone else. And it is NOT because you are going without your needs met and ignoring it, but because you have so much you are FULL. It's the overflowing cup of Psalms 23:5 and the "Indeed I have ALL and ABOUND..." of Philippians 4:18.

Wisdom for any and every situation. That is what Good Success really means. 

Therefore we must examine the Word for spiritual principles and practical applications. We must examine each situation in life in light of The Word of God. What about UFO's? What about Abortion? What about getting Promoted at Work? All the things that make up this life we live must be examined in light of the Wisdom of the Word of God. In meditating that Word until we see it in light of what God has to say about it, we are able to navigate these things and have Good Success!

Dr James Richards in "Grace the power to Change" Page 56 said:

"Faith brings Grace, but Grace brings change!"

As we meditate the Word of God what do we really encounter? Grace! Grace is the thing that brings all the prosperity and success into focus. Without Grace they would be both impossible and empty. It is by Grace through Faith that the salvation Jesus died to bring us, Spirit, Soul, and Body, comes to us!

BLESSED with Good Success!
Darrell G. Wolfe

Read more →

Good Success

Empowered to Prosper with Good Success! 

Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1:8 - Interlinear Bible

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success .

'tyig'h.w '$yiPim h,Z;h h'rw{T;h r,pes v.Wm'y -a{l ? b.Wt'K;h -l'k.K tw{f][;l r{m.viT !;[;m.lh'l.y;l'w ~'mw{y w{B ? lyiK.f;T z'a.w '$,k'r.D -t,a ;xyil.c;T z'a -yiK w{B

Two Words Defined

"Prosperous" here is the Hebrew Word: Tsalach, Strongs 6743
Advance/Rush/Prosper/Make Progress/Succeed/Be Profitable

This word Tsalach has the idea of making one prosperous, or bringing and issue to a successful end. It causes one to experience prosperity. It strikes me as the causative force in the verse.


"Success" here is the Hebrew Word: Sakal, Strongs 7919
Prudent/Circumspect/Wisely Understand/Prosper

This word Sakal has the connotation of seeing something clearly and understanding it's many aspects so that it can be handled accurately and bring success or prosperity. It gives the idea that one who has this has taken the time to understand a thing so well that he can wield it accurately. I get the idea in my mind of a master craftsman who has spent so much time with his craft that he knows how to wield the tools just right to bring about perfection in his work. I get the idea here that wisdom brings success.

Taking a closer look

Meditating here means: to ponder, think about, imagine, murmur, speak aloud to ones self, sing about, and otherwise mentally consider the Word of God.

By meditating the Word of God I observe certain things in the Word to do. At first there are basic things like "Love your Enemy". Then I keep meditating and I see principles in the Word that apply to my life. As I ponder and engage those principles I begin to see a measure of success in those. But there is an even deeper thing that must happen. It was not until recently that I realized this.

Jeremy Pearsons, on the BVOV in Feb 2012, said
"The Principle must reveal the Person of Jesus"

Jesus said that He only does what he sees His Father do! (John 5:19)

So then what is it that I observe to do? It's not just basic things, and it's not even just the principles I find here. I must meditate this Word until I See and Hear from God what He would have me do regarding a situation. As I do this makes me prosperous. I don't have to try to strive for prosperity. I don't have to work and toil under the curse of Adam. My job doesn't have to be a tiresome and exhausting experience.

I am not required to be the smartest person or do the best job. It's not my talents and skills that will make me successful. In fact, the talents and skills I have may cause me to rely on them and not on God and hinder my success. So I forget my training, talents, skills and like Paul I count them as dung for the excellency of the Anointing of the Anointed One! (Phill 3:8)

As I meditate the Word day and night and night and day... letting it saturate my thinking, my mind, my thoughts, my imaginations, my in between calls, my walking down the hall, my songs in my head, my dreams and visions and day dreams... as I pray in tongues building myself up on my most holy faith (Jude 1:20)... It will become effortless for me. I will hear and see and then do what I heard and saw. This will force my life to become prosperous.

Not only will prosperity become a super-natural result of my super-natural activity, but I will go beyond prosperous and have good success. This word "Good Success" from the Hebrew Sakal, indicates that I will have the wisdom and understanding, through time and practice in the Word. This understanding will allow me to see more clearly and more quickly into the heart of a matter and bring God's presence and Word and Power onto the scene. It is beyond prosperous and I am now a conduit of prosperity. My life has moved beyond my own success and now I have GOOD success, because I am causing others life to have success.

This kind of success is reflected in 2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

That is ultimately what the Grace of God does in a life. It makes one abundant to every good work. It takes you so far past your life and needs that you don't even consider what you want or need because your so busy helping everyone else. And it is NOT because you are going without your needs met and ignoring it, but because you have so much you are FULL. It's the overflowing cup of Psalms 23:5 and the "Indeed I have ALL and ABOUND..." of Philippians 4:18.

Wisdom for any and every situation. That is what Good Success really means. 

Therefore we must examine the Word for spiritual principles and practical applications. We must examine each situation in life in light of The Word of God. What about UFO's? What about Abortion? What about getting Promoted at Work? All the things that make up this life we live must be examined in light of the Wisdom of the Word of God. In meditating that Word until we see it in light of what God has to say about it, we are able to navigate these things and have Good Success!

Dr James Richards in "Grace the power to Change" Page 56 said:

"Faith brings Grace, but Grace brings change!"

As we meditate the Word of God what do we really encounter? Grace! Grace is the thing that brings all the prosperity and success into focus. Without Grace they would be both impossible and empty. It is by Grace through Faith that the salvation Jesus died to bring us, Spirit, Soul, and Body, comes to us!

BLESSED with Good Success!
Darrell G. Wolfe

Read more →

My Worship is my work...

Re Posted from the KOG Site: http://kogconcepts.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/my-worship-is-my-work/

My worship is my work which causes people to see the nature of God. 

ENTER IN TO WORSHIP

Did you know that "Enter Into Worship" is not a phrase in the bible? Not in any translation that I could find. There are many references to entering God's house, God's Temple, the place of worship... We are even told to enter in order to worship. But there doesn't seem to be a biblical precident for entering INTO worship. I found this odd because I've heard and used the phrase SO many times since childhood growing up in churches. Psalm 5:7 NLT  Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple. Jeremiah 7:2 ESV "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD. Ezekiel 46:2 ESV The prince shall enter by the vestibule of the gate from outside, and shall take his stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall offer his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. Psalm 100:4 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! WHAT IS PRAISE? Praise is to speak well of someone/something. If I am given a gift by a person I will thank them. If it is an extravagant gift I may not only thank them but begin telling them what a great person they are because of this gift and I'll tell other people about what a person they are because of this gift. This is the essence of praise. I am praising them. So I am to enter the realms of God with "Thanksgiving" and "Speaking well of Him". This is the attitude with which I enter His presence. WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is mentioned over 105 times in the NKJV on a basic search. Worship, both in  Greek and Hebrew, means to bow down, fall to the knees, kiss the hand, or in other ways pay respect and homage to a superior of some kind. There are, however, several words translated worship. Another word sometimes translated worship is also translated serve or work. Our work and service are part of our worship before God. Thoughts from my friend Al: The thought was based on the scripture, Matt 5:16 (KJV)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works[Worship], and glorify[See the Nature of] your Father [The King]which is in heaven. Your purpose is your WORK and your WORK is your WORSHIP! AVODAH - Worship/Work Also written as Abad. 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avodah http://www.avodah.net/ The Hebrew word for Worship is also the same base/root as Work. See Also: http://ag.org/top/church_workers/wrshp_gen_avodah.cfm

Exodus 3:12 KJV

12 And he said , Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Exodus 3:12 NIV

12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

So...That which we do is our Worship. The Nature of God is Glory. So through my work/worship people are able to see the nature of God, My King, who is in heaven. Worship is the work which brings men to see the nature of God.  Everything I do, everything I am, is a revelation of who God is. In my triumphs I see His Grace. In my defeats I see His Mercy. In nature I see his handiwork. In people I see his heart. If I can get in touch with this I begin to see the heart of Jesus and after Him Paul. Living every breath to see the Kingdom Of God manifested on this earth. 


Darrell G. Wolfe

VERSES TO STUDY:

John 4:24

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

pneu'ma {N-NSN} oJ {T-NSM} qeov?, {N-NSM} kai; {CONJ} tou;? {T-APM} proskunou'nta? {V-PAP-APM} aujto;n {P-ASM} ejn {PREP} pneuvmati {N-DSN} kai; {CONJ} ajlhqeiva/ {N-DSF} dei' {V-PQI-3S}proskunei'n. {V-PAN}

Psalms 95:6 KJV Interlinear. 

6 O come , let us worship and bow down : let us kneel before the LORD our maker .

h'wh.y -yen.pil h'k.r.bin h'['r.kin.w h,w]x;T.vin .Wa{B ? .Wnef{[

Psalm 132:7 NKJV

Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool.

Jeremiah 26:2 NKJV

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.

Matthew 4:8-11 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Ephesians 2:5-15 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  2 Corinthians 9 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Psalm 100:4

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

w{l -.Wdw{h h'Lih.tiB wy't{rec]x h'dw{t.B wy'r'[.v .Wa{B ? w{m.v .Wk]r'B

DEFINITIONS: The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon "Worship":

Strong's Number:   4352    Original Word Word Origin proskunevw from (4314) and a probable derivative of (2965) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand) Transliterated Word TDNT Entry Proskuneo 6:758,948 Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech pros-koo-neh'-o   Verb  Definition to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank to the Jewish high priests to God to Christ to heavenly beings to demons

The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon "Serve/Work/Worship"

Strong's Number:   05647    Original Word Word Origin db[ a primitive root Transliterated Word TDNT Entry `abad TWOT - 1553 Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech aw-bad' Verb  Definition to work, serve (Qal) to labour, work, do work to work for another, serve another by labour to serve as subjects to serve (God) to serve (with Levitical service) (Niphal) to be worked, be tilled (of land) to make oneself a servant (Pual) to be worked (Hiphil) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve to cause to serve as subjects (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve  King James Word Usage - Total: 290 serve 227, do 15, till 9, servant 5, work 5, worshippers 5, service 4, dress 2, labour 2, ear 2, miscellaneous 14

The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon "Worship"

Strong's Number:   07812    Original Word Word Origin hxX a primitive root Transliterated Word TDNT Entry Shachah TWOT - 2360 Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech shaw-khaw' Verb  Definition to bow down (Qal) to bow down (Hiphil) to depress (fig) (Hithpael) to bow down, prostrate oneself 1c before superior in homage 1c before God in worship 1c before false gods 1c before angel  King James Word Usage - Total: 172 worship 99, bow 31, bow down 18, obeisance 9, reverence 5, fall down 3, themselves 2, stoop 1, crouch 1, miscellaneous 3

The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon "Praise" Psalms 100:4

Strong's Number:   08416    Original Word Word Origin hllht from (01984) Transliterated Word TDNT Entry T@hillah TWOT - 500c Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech teh-hil-law'   Noun Feminine  Definition praise, song or hymn of praise praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God) act of general or public praise praise-song (as title) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God) renown, fame, glory of Damascus, God object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)  King James Word Usage - Total: 57 praise 57

praise

PRAISE, n. s as z. [L. pretium.]

1. Commendation bestowed on a person for his personal virtues or worthy actions, on meritorious actions themselves, or on any thing valuable; approbation expressed in words or song. Praise may be expressed by an individual, and in this circumstance differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are the expression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation. When praise is applied to the expression of public approbation, it may be synonymous with renown, or nearly so. A man may deserve the praise of an individual, or of a nation.

There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice.

2. The expression of gratitude for personal favors conferred; a glorifying or extolling.

He hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise to our God. Ps.40.

3. The object, ground or reason of praise.

He is thy praise,and he is thy God. Deut.10.

PRAISE, v.t. [L. tollo, extollo; pretium.]

1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions.

We praise not Hector, though his name we know

Is great in arms; 'tis hard to praise a foe.

2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works.

Praise him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. Ps.148.

3. To express gratitude for personal favors. Ps.138.

4. To do honor to; to display the excellence of.

All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord. Ps.145.

  AVODAH - Worship/Work http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avodah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_labor http://www.avodah.net/
The Hebrew word for Worship is also the same base/root as Work. See Also: http://ag.org/top/church_workers/wrshp_gen_avodah.cfm http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Business_Ethics/Themes_and_Theology/Value_of_Work/Work_as_Calling.shtml http://www.thehighcalling.org/attitude/do-you-feel-broken-and-fragmented

  FURTHER STUDY: Other interesting articles on this subject that bear further reading: The Hebrew word for Worship is also the same base/root as Work. See Also: http://ag.org/top/church_workers/wrshp_gen_avodah.cfm http://www.victorious.org/praise.htm Have you ever noticed when “gifts of the Spirit” operate in a church service? The power and anointing of the Holy Spirit usually becomes evident, subsequent to a time of worship and praise. Some think that worship is a response after the Holy Spirit moves upon them. However, it’s the other way around. God’s presence responds when we move upon Him with worship! Lifting up Jesus Christ through praise and worship invokes the Lord’s presence and power to flow in our midst. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Business_Ethics/Themes_and_Theology/Value_of_Work/Work_as_Calling.shtml The word for work in Hebrew, avodah, is the same used for prayer. Avodah connotes service. (It is also the word for slavery, which is involuntary service.) Work is not only a necessary part of life, it is a form of service to the world, to the rest of humanity, and to God. We are meant to be of service, to be partners with God in the ongoing creation of the world. Yet even as we serve God, we also serve our fellow human beings, as set forth in this story about the Hasidic master Rabbi David of Lelov [Poland, 1746-1813]: http://www.homegrownpraise.com/WhatWorship.htm Some have made the mistake of equating praise with "the outer court" and worship with "the inner court." To place this strong a barrier between the two is artificial.  http://www.bibleabookoftruth.com/WhyChristiansPraiseAndWorshipGod.pdf http://www.khouse.org/articles/2005/557/ True worship, then, is contingent upon our offering ourselves as a living sacrifice and God cleansing our flesh and spirit. In other words, our heart condition matters more in worship than our voice, our good intentions or our actions. Without a cleansed heart, we simply cannot enter His presence or worship. It's interesting to note that today worship music sales have absolutely skyrocketed, but statistics show us that there are more problems now in the Christian body than ever before. Why? If people are buying worship music, why aren't our lives reflecting this? The answer is simple: we are becoming like what we worship! (Psalm 135:18) We are praising God, but not truly worshiping Him. We are singing unto Him, making melody in our heart, but not allowing Him to cleanse our hearts and truly change us into His image. Much of it goes back to the fact that many Christians don't really know what it means to love God. They don't know how to daily surrender and relinquish themselves to Him. Without this knowledge, not only will there be no changed lives, there also will be no worshipers. Worship comes from love. We worship that which we love. In other words, the more we love Him, the more we will be able to worship Him. The following was SO good I had to re post it here for this study! http://ag.org/top/church_workers/wrshp_gen_avodah.cfm

Word Study: (AVODAH) — Work/Worship

BY WILLIAM D. BJORAKER

Avodah is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for worship and work. Have you ever thought about the connection? Is worship work? Is work worship?

The root word means to work or to serve. The cluster of words derived from the root give us insight into the nature of both worship and work.

An oved is a worker. An evid is a slave. Avdut is slavery. Work involves the idea of serving someone. Avodat Elohim is the service or worship of the true God. Avodah zara is literally strange worship (it is also the title of one of the tractates of the Talmud, which discusses the subject of idolatry and corrupt and false worship).

Avodat Elillim is idolatry, the worship of false gods. Indeed, false worship or idolatry is in essence serving the devil and leads to avdut-bondage, slavery to Satan.

Worship of the true God in Messiah Jesus through the Holy Spirit and in truth is hard work. It demands expenditure of energy. Worship is not mere campfire singing. It requires focus and concentration of our faculties. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10*).

Worship requires an inner humbling, a surrender of self-will, a repentance of sin, and trust. It requires cultivating the presence of God. It ascribes to Him the supreme value of who He is and acknowledges His worthiness (worth-ship) in words, deeds, and posture. Worship is hard work.

Work (labor, enterprise, exertion) is always serving. For the worshiper of God, the believer in Jesus, it is serving God. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

One of the great recoveries of the Protestant Reformation was an affirmation of the dignity of all honest occupations and manual labor as vocations (literally, callings). Historically, the Jewish father was considered derelict if he didn’t teach his son a trade. Most rabbis also plied a trade (for example, Rabbi Moshe, the shoemaker or Rabbi Shaul, the tentmaker).

Work is an essential part and expression of our humanness. It is not, as some mistakenly assume, a result of the Fall. Work was part of Adam and Eve’s activity in Eden before they sinned. They were to "work" the Garden "and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). Work is an expression of the creativity inherent in human nature made in the "image of God." After all, God is continually working, as Jesus pointed out: "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (John 5:17).

Only work that is drudgery is a consequence of the Fall. In Messiah we can experience a substantial redemption from drudgery to meaningful, enjoyable work and achievement. Whatever your job, it can be an expression of worship if you do it unto the Lord.

In modern Hebrew, uv-dah means fact. A fact works in or with reality because it is true to reality. Likewise, in modern Hebrew, u-vad means adapted—something worked over to fit reality.

One more point is necessary: "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind [worship].’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ " (Matthew 22:37–39). These commands are always in that order. If you get them turned around, it will destroy you. That’s a fact. It won’t work; it is not true to reality. If you give yourself first to neighbor-love, you will find out it cannot be sustained. You will burn out. Only neighbor-love growing out of primary love for God has staying power. Neighbor-love works when it flows out of a life of worship.

Worship has priority over work, yet true worship is hard work. Work can be a form of worship, and the work of worship has priority over all other work.

"Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Let’s remember, "Night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4).

Let’s worship God and get to work.

*Scripture quotations are from the New International Version.

This word study is adapted from Hebrew Nuggets, a series of Hebrew word studies by William D. Bjoraker.

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William D. Bjoraker is an Assemblies of God home missionary to the Israeli Jewish emigres of greater Los Angeles, Operation Ezekiel.

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