New Covenant Church

11/07/2024

Nov 7th 2024 (Part 3) Developing the Nature of God!)
2Pe 1:5 (KJV) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now step 3 of developing the nature of God...Vs 5 says, add to your faith...Virtue.

Let's examine the definition of the word "Virtue". 1. Add "virtue" (aretēn) PWS: 4234): moral excellence and goodness of character; moral strength and moral courage. And, Strongs's Concordance # 703 defines it as manliness, (valor) i.e. excellence, (intrinsic or atttibuted)-praise, virtue.

It means manliness; being an excellent person in life, a real man or a real woman in life; living life just like one should, in the most excellent way.

***It means always choosing the excellent way.***

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

***Here again is the word “abound”…We ought to walk to pls God, so that we would (be increasing) more and more to please God!

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, (even your sanctification), that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Not in the lust of concupiscence [evil passion], even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:

Because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thes. 4:1-7).

The Christian life is often described as a walk.

Walking is a picture of moving forward and progressing step by step and day by day.

>>>It pictures the utter necessity of pleasing God every step of the day as we walk throughout life.

11/07/2024

I love this quote I found on Glorify: https://share.glorify-app.com/IjSwgKREkOb
Your Daily Worship & Meditation App

If I realize that the greatest Being, with the greatest power, who cares for me with the greatest love, who is empowered by the greatest wisdom who put the greatest desires on my heart, is also the greatest giver – it will naturally breed in me a spirit of contentment.

11/06/2024

“Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

11/05/2024

Nov 5 2024 2 Peter 1:5-7 (KJV) (Things of the Believer's Life, 1:5)
Vs 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

***This is one of the most important passages in all of Scripture for the believer, a passage that must be studied and heeded time and again.***

It covers the things (qualities and virtues) which are to be in the life of the believer. The importance of these things is seen in three facts that are forcefully stressed by Peter.

First, a person is to give all diligence, to add "these things" to his faith and life.

Second, the great power of "these things" stresses their importance. These things work within the life of the believer to meet five desperate needs of man, five things for which the soul of the believer aches and longs.

Third, Peter's heavy stress upon the importance of "these things" is phenomenal.

***Notice 2 Peter 1:12: Peter says that he is going to always preach these things despite the fact that the believer already knows them. But this is not all***

+++Notice 2 Peter 1:13: Peter says that as long as he is living, he is going to stir up the believers by reminding them of these things. But this is not all.+++

•••Notice 2 Peter 1:14-15: Peter says that these things are so important that he is going to see to it that the believers are reminded of them even after his death.•••
I am constantly being kicked off before finishing the study. Goodness this makes the third time...so I posted what I was able to save...I'll try again tomorrow....to finish this study...sorry.

11/04/2024

Nov 4th 2024 (Part 2) Developing the Nature of God!)

Step 2 in developing the seed that God has planted in you… (At the New Birth)
2 Peter 1:1-9 (KJV)
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (Any other scriptures come to mind when reading these?) Gal 5:22&23 (9 fruit of the Spirit)
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Now, let’s look at Step 2 in developing the seed that God has planted in you… (At the New Birth)

Vs 5 is the key…And besides this…giving ALL Diligence…(add to)

Do you know what the definition of Diligence is? Glad you asked…it is make, or making it your occupation.

***You will never develop ( the nature of God) the seed that God has planted in you with an off and on experience, or a spasmodic effort.***

(It takes diligence) making it your primary concern….of utmost importance.

It’s like planting a seed today and going back tomorrow to see if it’s spouted or grown. That’s not the way it works.

A well known Evangelist and bible teacher said this…

>>>God will do nothing outside of Diligence>God Blesses Diligence. It’s a God principal

11/03/2024

Nov 3rd 2024. (I love this study) It is sooooo important to all born again believers. ...It is one of my very favorite studies...it may take me a few days to get it all out here...so pls be patient okay? My study is (Developing the Nature of God) Part 1

2 Peter 1:1-9 (KJV)
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (Any other scriptures come to mind when reading these?) Gal 5:22&23 (9 fruit of the Spirit)
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

God has predestined (All Believers) to be compete in Him. Wow.

*** God wants our lives to be in agreement with the Word of God ***Spirit Soul and Body. =Complete Wholeness.***

>>>We are being shaped, formed, and molded, into His LikenessOr more life than you can USEThat’s the (doxa) or His Glory…that they see or sense in us.>When you and I have become partakers of the divine nature we will have escaped the Corruption that is in the world…thru lust. (Praise the Lord!)

11/02/2024

Nov 2nd 2024 Ephesians 1:3-4 (KJV) {Part 2} (Chosen or not?)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love....

We want to look at vs 4 today. Another treasure that we enjoy as Christians is the fact that we have been, chosen, or elected by the Lord.

This plan of the Lord was made before the foundation of the world. The question is "Chosen or elected for what?" What does Paul mean by the phrase "chosen us in him?"

I cannot see where God does not choose some people to be saved and choose others to be lost. This is not in the Bible at all. Such teaching I believe is unscriptural.

"Election is not mechanical". It involves a God of love and man who is morally responsible." The choice of the Lord never violates human will.

God has given to everyone a will to accept or reject the Lord. If a person dies and goes to Hell, he chose to go by rejecting Christ and also the truth that God has revealed to mankind in creation and in his conscience.

Consider (Romans 1:20) ...."For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"...

***God is not responsible for man's damnation***. (Men and women) are responsible for their eternal destiny (by the choice they make concerning Jesus Christ).

***If we were robots, with no choice at all, what would be the purpose of Christ's ministry and the crucifixion?*** (That does not make any sense at all. Amen)!!!

***Let's put a caption on Vs. 4. God's choice to save man took place before the world was ever created.***

*** The word "chosen" simply speaks of the fact that God made a choice to save the lost. ***

God chose a plan of salvation which He accomplished in Jesus Christ. "PTL"

10/31/2024

Oct 31st 2024 (A great lesson for new and older believers.) Romans 1:16-17 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

***The theme of Romans is "the Righteousness of God" however, the beginning of Romans is "the Unrighteousness of men" ***

Apostle Paul was ashamed of many things...(and w/o doubt) so are we (all of us) especially before giving our life to God.

I have been privileged to know some very dedicated and committed Christians...who have lived exemplary lives...but only one was perfect and without sin...that being Jesus Himself...2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, **who knew no sin;** that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

***While it is true that Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) declares;
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags***
"HOWEVER"
(We who have accepted Jesus as our Savior...positionally we stand justified and righteous before our God.) We have been made (as stated in vs. 21 above) the righteousness of God in Christ. Amen!

While in this present state...(we will no doubt continue to fail God). While we work at overcoming "sins of commission"...many still deal with "sins of omission". and prayerfully none commit "willful sins".

***I still find that many of todays believers try to classify their wrongs...and in doing so indicate that they are not as bad as others who fail God.***
"VSS. 9 & 10 are so IMPORTANT"
Please mediate James 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

(Vs 9) Unfortunately, in my experience respect of persons is still an issue in many if not all congregations. James says, it is a sin.
(Vs 10) This verse convinces me that we yet need to do as our elder suggested when we pray..."that God forgive us of anything we have thought, done, or said" that is contrary to His word.

I will at some point we intend to address the subjects of "Justification and Sanctification." While there are differences of interpretations, I am in hopes we can find common some ground that we as believers can agree upon.

***Please pray for my understanding and rightly dividing of the scriptures in this teaching.*** I feel the weightiness and responsibility of such study. I know some of you do pray for me...and I appreciate any and all who do. Thank you!!

10/30/2024

Oct 30th 2024 ( Romans 1:1-3 (KJV) Many notes have been added to this study.
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh...

There are three vital books in the Bible that the Christian needs to have a good grasp. Those books are:

1. Genesis, which gives us a view of the past and our beginning.
2. Revelation, which gives us a view of the future.
3. Romans, which gives us a view of the present. It explains key doctrines that are dear to Christianity and our responsibilities as Christians now while we live our lives on this earth...

***The book of Romans has been called the Fort Knox of Bible doctrine.***

(It is the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the Christian Faith.)

Paul wrote three epistles which were critical.

1. The book of Ephesians, which explained the mystery of the church.
2. The Thessalonian books which explain the mystery of Christ's coming...
3. But, Romans explains the mystery of Christ's cross.

Great revivals of history are linked to the book of Romans. The theologian Augustine was transformed from pagan to preacher after reading Romans 13:13, 14. (Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.)

***And, 1000 years later a Roman Catholic monk was saved after reading the book of Romans. His name was Martin Luther who realized the truth that we are justified by faith in Christ.***

***In 1738, after hearing the preface to Martin Luther's commentary on Romans in a church service, a doubting and confused missionary, John Wesley, got assurance of his salvation in Christ.***

(Martin Luther (About 10 November 1483[2] – 18 February 1546) was a German professor of theology, priest, author, composer, former Augustinian monk, and is best known as a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation and as the namesake of Lutheranism….

(John Wesley was an English clergyman, theologian, and evangelist, who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day.)

***And it was Romans that turned John Bunyan into a spiritual giant. Romans was instrumental in him writing of Pilgrim's Progress.***

(John Bunyan, (born November 1628, Elstow, Bedfordshire, England—died August 31, 1688, London), celebrated English minister and preacher, author of The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), the book that was the most characteristic expression of the Puritan religious outlook.)

So,I believe it will be excellent for the new believer and give the experienced believer a stronger belief and confidence in his/her relationship to Jesus Christ on the study of the book of Romans.

10/28/2024

Oct 28th 2024 (I am working on this study. But, at 2:40 am I had to stop for rest.) We will begin again later today. I sense this will be good.
John 11:9-11 (KJV)
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

I sense and believe there is multiple (or different levels of meaning) in these scriptures. Actually, I'm prone to see a spiritual level of understanding here. In my studies over the years of ministry, I discovered that there are three levels of interpretation of the scriptures, 1. the Historical, 2. the natural, and 3. the spiritual.

I believe there is a set time (the 12 hours in the day) *** our good years if you will*** for us to complete our work for God...and as long as there is work for us to do for God, His light, (meaning His protection, His Illumination, His Rhema (revealed word) all are in our favor.

For God over sees the affairs our lives. While we are in our calling and place of duty... (fulfilling our work which God has given us to do), we won't stumble or fall, and God will be light (Rhema meaning revealed or illuminated truth to us), but when our work is done, our time is over, and the time of our night is come, God withdraws his light from us...

This is what was said before in, Joh 8:20, No man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come; the twelve hours of His day were not all spent. ***Jesus work was not yet completed. So, nothing or anyone could hinder His mission...***

I believe every person has their twelve hours, their set time, to honor God... and we won't stumble, nor shall we fail, while those hours are being spent; we won't die, or unable to do our work, so long as God hath work for us to do.

But every person has their night too, when we must not expect to impact the world without stumbling.

***This was a bit hard for me to have a complete understanding...and I hope you can get what I am trying to convey to you.*** Thanks.

10/27/2024

Oct 27 2024 (John 4:23-24 (KJV) Part 3 (Worship God)
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

In this study I want to use Hebrew words and their meaning to emphasis ways of worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth.

7 Ways to Express Worship

For some, expressing themselves in worship can be uncomfortable, especially if they are new Christians.

You go to some churches, and the congregation never stands up. They don’t sing, but they just sit and listen to the worship music.

Others may sing but they don’t play instruments. Still others will be waving their hands, shouting and running around as the band plays every kind of instrument. Which way to worship is correct?

Well, the Bible outlines seven different types of worship, and they are all appropriate, with each having its place. Let’s look at each of them:

1. Barak–To kneel, to bless God, to bow down
“He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them…. Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him, may the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.” –Psalm 72:12-15

Barak means to bow down to, or kneel before, the Lord. It communicates that the Lord holds a place of importance and helps us remember just how great He is. Barak is not done out of a begging attitude but rather an expectant attitude, because the Lord is more than willing and able to move on our behalf.

2. Halal–To be clear, to shine, to boast, to show, to rave, to celebrate, to be clamorously foolish
“David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.” –1 Chronicles 16:4

Halal appears more than 110 times in the Old Testament. It translates as to shine, boast, rave about, celebrate or even to be clamorously foolish. Can you imagine a more wondrous noise raving about about all the Lord is and all He has done?

3. Shabach–To shout loudly, to command
“Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” –Psalm 47:1

Shabach means to shout loudly or command. Of course, it isn’t simply about being loud. Its focus is to worship the Lord with one’s whole being.

4. Tehillah–To sing praises, singing out of the spirit spontaneously
“But you are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].” –Psalm 22:3, AMPC

Tehillah means to sing unrehearsed, unplanned praises to the Lord. It can include adding words to an existing song or even singing in the spirit to the Lord.

5, Towdah–Extending hands, acting out of thanksgiving for what has or will be done
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” –Psalm 50:23

Towdah is a type of worship that includes extending your hands or raising them in thanksgiving for something that has been done or will be done.

6. Yadah– Extending the hands vigourously
“After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!’”
–2 Chronicles 20:21

Yadah means to extend your hands vigorously as in complete surrender.

7. Zamar – To touch the strings, to make music with instruments, mostly rejoicing
“Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” –Psalm 150:3-6

Zamar means to touch the strings. It involves rejoicing and making music to the Lord.

I would think that out of the seven ways listed above, you could find a manner of worship that you want to express to God and you would be very biblical in doing so.

This will conclude our three-part study on John 4:23-24...I hope you as a believer will use some or all of these biblical ways to worship God.