God wants us to use His Word, the Bible scriptures, to examine what and who a friend looks like and how mercy and love for another person looks when they say they are your friend.

When we say we love someone, we are emotionally declaring to someone or something more severe than just words. You see, the word love means something to the average person in a way that makes us feel we belong and matter to someone. The definition of love means we have an intense feeling of deep affection. The Bible tells us throughout the scriptures how God loved the chosen people called the Israelites. They were people and descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s twelve sons, who were known as the tribes of Jacob (Israel). The tribes of Israel were chosen and blessed by God to be the people to introduce the other nations to the One True God. Thus, God loved them and wanted them to be living examples of His love towards them by revealing how He protected, loved, and provided for them. However, this love was not always reciprocated by the Israelites, and they continued to live in a way that showed God that they could not fully love Him as much as He wanted them to.

This made God angry and hurt because of the nature and disregard towards His plan and purpose for them. God’s love never faltered or decreased because He wanted them to know that regardless of how many times, they refused to love him, he would continue to love them. God’s love was strong, and His commitment to His Chosen Ones was real. But God did not always allow their disrespect to go unnoticed; they were exiled, put in captivity, and judged unto death for their constant betrayal of God’s love for them.

The story of Hosea and Gomer provides a great picture of a bad marriage. Hosea is a minor prophet sent to warn the Israelites of their ways and how God felt towards them. The Bible reveals in Hosea 4: 1 That God was angry and disappointed with the Israelites. Still, it was given metaphorically, showing the love of a devoted husband (Hosea) who was married to a promiscuous woman (Gomer) and how Hosea continued to love and support his wife. However, she would continually break his heart and disrespect him.

SCRIPTURE READING: Book of Hosea | Zechariah 1:3| Jeremiah 31:2-4| John 3:16| Romans 1:16 | Romans 10: 9-13|1 Corinthians 15:1-12 | Hosea 14:9

Who is Elisha:  Was the son of a farmer named Shaphat, from the ancient town of Abel-meholah in the fertile Jordan River Valley. He was the Armor Bearer for a Powerful Prophet named Elijah around 861 to 860 BC. Elisha was an overseer of men who worked on his father’s farm. Elisha’s family were farmers who was prosperous. The prophet Elisha’s only request from the Prophet Elijah was for a double portion of His Anointing. The reason for this request reveals the heart of the man whom God chose to be an instrument for His purpose. Elisha continued to be God’s instrument as a mantle and the Holy Spirit of God which was all that he needed to make a difference in the people’s lives during famine and other rough times that they had to face.

INTRODUCTION

Elisha’s journey with the Lord was powerful and revealed the true nature and love of God when others needed to see and feel hope. Elisha witnessed and heard of Elijah being used by the lord in a miraculous way; so much so, that Elisha only asked for a “Double portion of Elijah’s anointing” that God had bestowed on him to be an effective instrument for God in a land that only knew mysticism and divination.

Biblical Reading: 2 Kings 4:38-44| 2 Kings 5| 2 Kings 6:25-33| 2 Kings 7:1-2;16, 17-20 | Psalm 105: 14-15| Galatians 5:22-26| 2 Peter 1:3

Happy upcoming Father’s Day to all of the fathers in the world. We often celebrate Father’s Day in June with different gift items to the loved ones who have stood as positive men in our lives. Gifts often range from a written card from Hallmark to an expensive gift for the father. However, does a written card or expensive gift item validate or quantify who that man or father has been in our lives? What impact has the father made on our lives that actually identifies them as a Dad?

I wanted to say a few words of encouragement to everyone who believes in Jesus. In this discussion, we talk about Peter's letter of encouragement to the saints and how it is important that we continue to encourage one another during these terrible times to remain faithful and strengthen within our belief system. Each of us is accountable to each other to pray and uplift our fellow believers when times are at their hardest.  NO JUDGMENT, JUST PRAYER FOR GOD TO GIVE THE INCREASE.

Now Is the Time to Believe connects us to someone greater than ourselves by explaining how God has always loved us and shown mercy to each generation to learn and build a personal relationship with Him.

Questions regarding faith, hope, liberty, and peace through the trials and experiences of our lives; are unpacked in this unique book

Own Your Copy or download and listen today on Amazon and Download and listen where audiobook platforms are sold.

4.26.2022.  The definition of “Wall” means to enclose, shut off, divide, protect, border; to seal or fill. These are verbs according to the dictionary and are considered action words used with an object. Therefore, if we are a church and a body of believers and the actions of our church show signs of a wall, how does that church follow the Great Commission and the examples of the disciples?

One of the first churches of Jesus Christ was established in a country that worshiped idols, they were partaking in divination and witchcraft, and also taught that Jesus was not the Son of God but a man and prophet. The believers and disciples of this church faced terrible persecution and multiple objections to their new faith in Jesus and his dying for our sins on the cross; also, they were more persecuted for believing that He was resurrected from the dead. The apostle Paul Silas and Timothy were instrumental in leading and teaching these mixed cultures of people in understanding how to separate their character, integrity, and worship from the already established Jewish and pagan rituals in a city called Thessalonica around AD 50.

The Thessalonians of the newly established church were faithful, excited, and loyal in what they believed; they wanted to show non-believers that they were devoted and special due to the spirit that dwelled within them and the hope that the savior who only 27 years ago, would be returning to take them to heaven.  These believers were new to their faith and they needed guidance and strength to withstand the opposition to their faith and the false teachers who tried hard to negatively influence their faith.

They strongly held on to the belief that the dead in Christ will rise and all of the believers in Jesus will be “caught up” in the air before the tribulation. The distinctive characteristics of the Thessalonian Church people were the fact that they showed renewal and change in their mannerisms and character through the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit and they were not afraid to exhibit the Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit. This is a perfect example of the character of what a church and a believer in Christ should represent to the world. Our fruits and Gifts and commitment to Christ should always be the prominent feature of our walk as we live among non-believers and other Christians. There should not be a question about your walk and your belief when they see you. The greatest differentiation that the Thessalonian church had were their individual desire to please God and stand in agreement with the other church members in Christ.

How does that look today in our established churches? Are we united as living witnesses of Jesus? Can someone look at our daily walk and see Jesus or the Hope and faith of salvation in our lives? Are we separated spiritually and mentally from the thoughts and actions of sin and depravity? Finally, can anyone see or witness the power or spirit of the Holy Spirit in your walk? Let’s talk about what that looked like in Paul and the Thessalonian Church.

BACKGROUND:

Thessalonica had been founded in the 4th century BC (315 BC) by Cassander, one of Alexander the Great’s chief army officers. He’d named it after his wife, as a birthday present (there you are, gentlemen – for the wife who has everything!). It soon became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and occupied a strategic position in the ancient world. It still does today. Its modern equivalent, Thessaloniki, is Greece’s second most important city (after Athens). The religion in that country was Divination and mysticism; many of the newborn Christians were persecuted and looking for hope and escape from all of the pain and sorrow.

There is such thing as a positive and negative confession. When we positively confess, we are believing that God has the power to make something happen. However, when we negatively confess, we are believing that something bad will come to pass. This is what the twelve spies sent to survey the promised land did in the Old Testament. One representative from each of the twelve tribes of Israel was sent to the survey (spy) out the land and most of them returned with a negative confession that the land was inhabited by giants and they were fearful of possessing the land.

This land was the land of Canaan where the Canaanites and the Amalekites lived.  God promised them a land where they would live once they were fully delivered from Egypt. However, when the spies returned from the mission, they began to tell the tribes what they saw or perceived to be impossible. From this time, the tribes became fearful and angry at God for “bringing them out to Egypt to be destroyed.”

This angered God because of two actions that were taking place. First, the action of speaking negatively from ten of the twelve spies caused fear and doubt among the people, and second, there were the fearful thoughts and acceptance of failure from the rest of the tribes from what they heard.  God began to chastise them in a way that revealed to them that they were not ready to enter the promised land because of their failure to believe solely in Him for all things. It may have been ok for them to be fearful, but they were terrified and started to forget God’s plan and His power in their lives up to this point. How many times can we say that we were like the twelve tribes and fully doubted God’s plan for us? Even when we’ve known how much greater God was in our circumstances? Were we willing to turn our backs on God or did we do another thing? Did we try to manifest our own will in the situation by declaring and decreeing a positive outcome, did we speak over a situation and look for the manifestation to happen?

These things are all ungodly and should not be something to play with. We must be like the remaining two spies that returned back to the tribes and believed that with God all things are possible. They believed fully without hesitation or feelings of speaking or declaring victory over their circumstances; they believed that the God whom they have trusted and relied on all this time will be with them as they enter and subdue the land.

As believers in Christ, it is important that our hearts and minds are always trusting and believing in God’s plan and will for us. However, this does not mean taking on an occultist mentality about a situation; we must believe that all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Finally, it is up to us to discontinue teaching people to speak over something and declare and decree something. Only God has the power to grant us victory over all things seen or unseen.

DEFINITIONS:

Manifest- readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight

Manifestation- an occult phenomenon specifically: MATERIALIZATION

Speak- to express thoughts, opinions, or feelings orally

Think- to exercise the powers of judgment, conception, or inference

  Numbers 14 | Proverbs 16:3 |Proverbs 18:21 | Proverbs 30:32 | James 1:19 | Ephesians 4:29 | Colossians 1:15-18

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 55 | 2 Samuel 15:1-31 Absalom |

JESUS BETRAYAL: Luke 22:21-22; 47-48 | FORGIVENESS: Matthew 6:14-15 | 1 Peter 2:23

INTRODUCTION

Betrayal from someone you love is such a hard thing to move forward from. The betrayal isn’t so bad to understand, it’s normally the person that betrayed you that hurts you the most. Many of us have experienced betrayal in some form in our lives; however, how did we handle it? Were we able to feel the hurt and be angry and move on; or did it hurt us to the point that it stopped the relationship and separated us from someone we loved permanently? The Bible tells a story of a king and his relationship with an important person in his life; his son’s betrayal. Family betrayal can be the most tested and unforgiven act that a person can forgive. Many of us leave families, disown relatives, or as we say “completely fall out” with that person.

But, does this hurt us or the person (s) that betrayed us. In this lesson of betrayal; this hurt the king more than the son. What would you do if your closest family member betrayed you? What if your closest friend betrayed you?

Would you be able to forgive and forget; for just in your mind forgive and never forget what that person has done to you?

If that is the case, how would God look at our actions of unforgiveness or bitterness?

King David ultimately had to address these issues. Let’s talk about how the king was able to push forward.

DEFINITIONS:

Betray – To lead astray; to deliver to an enemy by treachery; to fail or desert, especially in a time of need; to tell something in violation of confidence.

Enemy- A person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. What makes an enemy is when they reveal these emotions:

· Anger Envy Distrust

· Hatred Jealousy Grudging respect

· Frustration Fear

Prayer – Devout, petition to God or an object of worship. Spiritual communication with a deity

v1 “Give ear to my prayer”

Lament – To mourn aloud to wail to express sorrow, mourning, or regret. To regret strongly

BACKGROUND:

What was Absalom?

Absalom, David's third son, by Maacah, was born in Hebron. At an early age, he moved, along with the transfer of the capital, to Jerusalem, where he spent most of his life. He was a great favorite of his father and of the people. His charming manners, personal beauty, insinuating ways, love of pomp, and royal pretensions captivated the hearts of the people from the beginning. He lived in great style, drove in a magnificent chariot, and had fifty men run before him. (Character of pride and vainglory).

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