TWC Afterthoughts

It will be measured

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Emptiness is not punishment

Exo 1:15

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Exo 1:16

And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

Exo 1:17

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

These women really feared God

They were in Awe of God

Their conscience was seared by the worship of God

These women were midwives in a slave community. That means they were present at:

• Every birth
• Every death
• Every cry in the night
• Every mother's desperation
• Every child's first breath

That kind of work either hardens or hollows you into reverence. 

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THERE ARE THREE PORTRAYALS OF THE DOVE I WANT FOCUS ON FOR A MOMENT. 

HOSEA- SHOWS US THE SILLY DOVE- EASILY CAUGHT IN THE NETS OF ENEMIES AND FOOLISHNESS OF THE WORLD.

PSALMS- SHOWS US A DOVE THAT IS EAGER TO FIND PEACE, RESTORATION, BEUATY, AND REST. AFTER HARDSHIPS THEY BECAME RESILIENT THEIR WINGS WOULD BECOME BEAUTIFUL WITH SILVER AND GOLD SHIMMERS FROM THE SUN REFLECTING OF THEIR WINGS AS THEY FLEW. 

YOU WILL GO THROUGH HARDSHIPS BUT LET THE WORLD SEE YOUR BEUATY AS GOD PULLED YOU OUT OF THE MUCK AND MIRE, KNOCK THE DIRT OFF YOUR FEET AND KEEP MOVING, THE GOSPELS GOTTA GET GOING! 

YOU HAVE THE GOSPEL DOVE- THIS ONE DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN DURING THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

THIS IS DIVINE NATURE- INFUSED AND BAPTIZED WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE GRAVE. The same bird symbolizes both human weakness and divine perfection, showing how God transforms what is foolish and vulnerable into something holy when filled by His Spirit. 

After the great Flood, Noah sends out birds to test whether the waters have gone down enough for life to resume:

First, he sends a raven, which flies back and forth (scavenging on floating carcasses).

Then he sends a dove (a cleaner, more gentle bird). 

On its first trip, it returns with nowhere to land.   

On the second trip, the dove brings back a freshly plucked olive leaf. This is decisive evidence:

The waters have receded enough for plants to grow again.

The leaf was “freshly plucked,” showing new growth, not something that had been floating dead in the water.

A week later, Noah sends the dove out a third time, and it does not return—signaling it’s safe to leave the ark.

WE HAVE RAVENS AND DOVES

RAVENS ARE FOCUSED ON THE DEAD

DOVES ARE FOCUSED ON PEACE

HOWEVER, 

SOME OF THOSE DOVES DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIND IT

SOME OF THOSE DOVES ONLY HAVE A PIECE OF IT

AND SOME OF THOSE DOVES GO MAKE NEW PATHS WITH IT. 

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Hos 7:8

Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples;

Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Hos 7:9

Strangers devour his strength,

and he knows it not;

gray hairs are sprinkled upon him,

and he knows it not.

Hos 7:10

The pride of Israel testifies to his face;

yet they do not return to the LORD their God,

nor seek him, for all this.

Matthew 26:41

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Spirit- our inner, renewed part of the person..   Desire’s to do the best, always has good intentions.   

Flesh- refers to human weakness: physical limitations, sinful tendencies, fatigue, emotions, or the fallen human nature. 

Without reliance upon God, Human Frailty wins out.    This isn’t an excuse for sin, but often why good intention often fail. 

The solution isn’t more willpower, it’s more prayer! Watchful prayer, immediate prayer, sorrowful prayer, prayer with substance, prayer in the Spirit of God’s favor and testimony. A willingness to accept God’s plan’s for your life even if it involves suffering.     So that God can absolve you from the torment of Sin and provide freedom in his salvation.  

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Circumstances do not dictate our faith, our faith dictates our circumstances. 
Are you at your peak with God? Or do you peek at what God is doing and get scared of trying? 

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Thank you to our Elder Wes for an amazing presentation of Isiah 53. 

Isaiah 53 describes God's Suffering Servant — a man who is rejected, unattractive, and full of sorrow.

People thought he was being punished by God for his own sins, but actually:

• He was wounded and crushed for our sins, not his own.
• He took our punishment so we could have peace.
• By his wounds, we are healed.

Like innocent sheep that wandered away, all of us have sinned — and God placed all our guilt on him.

He suffered quietly, was treated unfairly, and died. He was buried in a rich man's grave.

But in the end, God was pleased with his sacrifice. The Servant will see the good results of his suffering, justify many people, and be honored.

This chapter is often called the clearest Old Testament picture of Jesus' suffering and death for us.

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Mat 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Hos 5:5

And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

God knows them, but they do not know him. 

Unbearably proud.   Pride comes from a sense of accomplishment, however it has a dual nature. It can lead to  maladaptive patterns like arrogance and isolation. 

Authentic pride “beta” pride- feelings of accomplishment fulfillment genuine satisfaction 

Hubristic pride “alpha” pride- an antisocial self aggrandizing form tied to inflated sense of superiority.     Narcissism.. this style of pride leads to distorted self views, pushes the individual to over claim unearned success.

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Hosea Chapter 4 and onward the book becomes prophetic and literal.

Allegory is useful for illustration not doctrine.     

Is Jesus literally returning aging yes.

Is hell eternal, yes. 

Many other Biblical  books have a theme of repentance, this one is reaping what you sow. 

The clear expectation is 

Gods justice demands penalty

The courtroom setting.  A subpoena from God to the northern Kingdom of Israel 

Sins of Omission

No Truth 

No Mercy

No knowledge of God. 

Truth must be rooted in more than personal opinion, and mercy means going beyond self-interest.

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Today we take a deep dive on a few topics. Mainly modern diagnostics of "mental health". 

We are triune being, body, soul, and spirit. The common vernacular is to obtain the attention of societies mental health, where we should be focussing on spiritual health. Colossians reminds us to set our minds on things above, not of this earth. 

If you are looking for true healing. Start with your spiritual health. Jesus has the most powerful solutions for your troubles, mental health, and physical needs. 

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CAMOUFLAGE CHRISTIANS 

WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? 

WHY EVEN PUT UP THE FIGHT? 

WHATS THE POINT? 

Most “christians” fight in wars they weren’t drafted to be in

Eph 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wrestle- to vibrate, to lay your opponent down prostrate, and choke them 

GENESIS 32

Jacob wrestled God- not the type of wrestling most are familiar with! 

Avaq- grapple (get dusty) God didn’t struggle with Jacob! 

God didn’t walk in with hype music and pyro 

Jacob ate dust, he was marked, he was changed by the challenge! 

He was overcome by the opposition,  reminded of his rebellion, and mercy manifested. 

THEIR WAS ANOTHER WHO CHALLENGED THE LORD….   GENESIS 3 

upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life

Jacob walked with a Limp all the rest of his days as a loving reminder. IT’S BETTER TO LIMP INTO THE KINGDOM THAN ENTER HELL WITH ALL YOUR MEMBERS 

If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out! 

IF YOUR HAND CAUSES YOU TO STUMBLE, CUT IT OFF! 

WHATEVER THE ENEMY MEANT FOR EVIL, GOD TURNS IT FOR GOOD

BUT SOMETIMES IT’S GOD KNOCKING YOU DOWN,

SOMETIMES IT’S GOD PUTTING YOU IN YOUR PLACE

SOMETIMES!!!!!!   I NEED TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE PRAYERS HE DIDN’T ANWER! 

WE ARE NOT CALLED TO DEFY, BUT TO DENY OURSELVES SO THAT THE GLORY OF THE LORD CARVE OUR PATH

SO THE THE ROCK MAY SPILL ITS WATERS UPON MY THIRSTY SOUL

SO AS A GOOD THING TAKES PLACE, I DON’T MISS THE BLESSING 

BUT IF I AM FILLED WITH WORRY, DOUBT, FEAR, AND ALL THE TACTICS OF THE DEVIL! 

HOW AM I TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF GOD

THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE PURPOSE GOD DELIVERED TO ME

Phl 2:7

but (JESUS) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Mat 26:11

For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

YOU ARE NEVER WASTING TIME WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE IN NEED 

THE HARVEST IS WHITE THE LABORERS ARE FEW… 

3 unavoidable judgments 

Judging yourself.             MAKE SURE YOUR CLEAN BEFORE THE LORD

Judging others        NOT MEANT FOR THE WORLD, BUT OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS

And being judged by God        EVERYONE WILL STAND BEFORE THE LORD AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN THIS LIFE.      THIS IS WHY WE NEED JESUS 

1Co 5:9

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—

1Co 5:10

not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

 1Co 5:11

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the

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