James 1:22-25 Being Doers of the Word   Read James 1:19 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Read James 1:20 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Read James 1:21 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. a Read Jeremiah 17:9 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? a Read James 1:22 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Read James 1:23 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror. Read James 1:24 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. Read James 1:25 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. a Read Matthew 28:19 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Read Matthew 7:21 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Read Luke 11:28 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Read Matthew 7:24-27 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Read John 14:15-17 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Read James 2:18 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Let's be Doers of the Word. Look to the Words in RED.

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament Story of Joseph. Joseph is a forfunner, an achitype of Jesus. The symmatry between all 66 books of the 1 book that we call the Bible, is hard to comprehend.  Genesis was written 3500 years ago and 1500 years before Jesus was born. Here we go with the similarities between Joseph and Jesus: Both were servants. Both were beloved sons of their fathers. Both were given authority through clothes or robes. Both ascended to sit at the right hand of the Power. Both are given new robes with Gold Collars. Both of their robes were dipped in blood. Both were rejected by their brothers. Both ended up with everyone bowing down to them. Both had rainbows in their robes or encircled around the throne of Christ. Both were wrongfully convicted. Both were thrown into a dungeon or prison. Both were betrayed by their brothers for pieces of silver. Both had 2 criminals with them. Both had 1 criminal that was freed and 1 that was hung on a pole. Both were delivered up to the Gentiles. Both had a criminal say remember me. Both were sent ahead to prepare a place. Both end up ruling the land. Both of their lives save Jews and Gentiles. Both had 3rd day themes were people are lifted up. Both embrace God's will for their lives even though they go through intense suffering.   Joseph was sent ahead to make sure the promised line of Jesus would continue on.  What an amazing story that points directly to Jesus! Remember Look to the Words in Red

Joseph, a new look at an old story.   Read Genesis 50:18-20 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Read Genesis 37:5-11 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Read Genesis 40:9-15 9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” 12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon Read Genesis 40:16-23 16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” 18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.” 20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— 22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Read Genesis 41:1-7 41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. Read Genesis 41:25-27 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. Read Genesis 41:39-41 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Read Genesis 41:42 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. Read Genesis 41:43 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Read Exodus 15:23 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) Read Genesis 30:22-24 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son." Read Genesis 41:44-45 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. Read Genesis 41:49 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. Read Genesis 41:50-51 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household." Read Philippians 1:20-25 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith. Manasseh = Let it go! Look to the Words In Red

 James 1:19-21   Read James 1:19 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, Read James 1:20 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Read James 1:21 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Read Ephesians 4:23-24 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. We are new creations in Christ. Read 1st Corinthians 15:3 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 1st Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Read Proverbs 1:5 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, Read Matthew 28:7 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. Read Luke 15:22 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Read John 13:27 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly." In his book "Life Together", Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love for God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brothers is learning to listen to them. It is [because of] God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. Read Proverbs 14:29 9 Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Read Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 8The end of a matter is better than it’s beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Read Proverbs 14:17 17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. Read Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Read 1st Peter 2:1-3 2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. (and then) 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. Read 1st John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Look to the Words in Red  

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Read Genesis 3:1-5 3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." The Greek word for deceived is "planao." It means to be led astray, to be seduced away, to lead into error, or to wander away. "Planao" is where we get our English word plane or planet. Just like the ancient Greeks thought the planets just wandered around in space, you can see James connecting that to us wandering away from the path of God. Read 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Read 1st Corinthians 15:33 33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character." The Greek word for perfect is "teleios." Teleios is from the root word telos. It means complete, mature, fully developed, brought to an end, finished or brought to conclusion.  Read Romans 12:2 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Read Genesis 2:7 7 And 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. Read John 1:1-4 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. Read Ephesians 4:23-24 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. We are new creations in Christ. Read Revelation 21:5 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. We are new creations in Christ and should eagerly await His return. Remember Look to the Words In RED. 

Finding Jesus through the OT theme of the 3rd day!   Read Acts 17:2-3 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Read 1st Corinthians 10:3-4 (All the Israelites) 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Read John 5:39 (Jesus said:) 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me. Read 1st Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Altogether there are 40-50 references to a 3rd day from the Old Testament. 40 plus events that have a 3rd day theme in them. It's almost like God was trying to tell us something! These 3rd days are always decisive days. They are days of deliverance or days of resurrection.  Read Exodus 15:22-25 22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed (pointed) him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There's a piece of wood from the life of Jesus that quenches our thirst and there's a 3rd day when the tomb was empty and death was defeated. That 3rd day points clearly to the Messiah and to Jesus! Read Jonah 1:11-17 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. 17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Read Jonah 2:10 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Read Jonah 3:1-5 3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: A new birth for Mr Jonah. A new creation with the same mission, just a new heart. 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Can you see the picture of Jesus here in this amazing story with the 3rd day theme in it! Read Luke 2:41-49 41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" Our Bible weaves an amazing tapestry all the way through and one of the themes is the 3rd day. Let's begin to find Jesus in the Old Testament as we readd through God's word! Look to the Words In RED!  

Jesus casts Demons into a herd of pigs.     Read Mark 5:1-20 5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.         Jesus planted a seed and the healed man obeyed. The Gentile Christian church in the Decapolis flourished. We are commanded to do exactly what this man did. Go and tell everyone that Jesus not only heals the storms in our lifes but he brings us out of the grave, forgiving our sins, and granting us eternal life. This week what decision will we make. Will we beg him to go away when things aren't easy, or will we beg to follow him and tell others of His amazing power to save.  What an amazing story this is and it still applies to us today. Remember to Look to the Words in Red

  12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Read Matthew 5:3-11 Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed are those who are persecuted, blessed are you when people insult you. Read Matthew 5:12 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The Greek word for Blessed is "Makarios." Makarios means fortunate, blessed, or happy. But not happy through circumstances, it's joyful in all circumstances. Makarios is blessed because our lives are in the hands of our maker. The Greek word for trials and temptation is "Peirasmos." Read 1st Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. The Imperishable Crown (The Crown of Victory): Given to believers who run the race to win. To those who press on steadfastly. Read 1st Corinthians 9:24-25 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. The Crown of Rejoicing: Given to those who have witnessed to others and who have built up the church. Read 1st Thessalonians 2:19-20 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy. The Crown of Righteousness: Given to those who eagerly await on the Lord. This one should be all of us. Read 2nd Timothy 4:8 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. The Crown of Glory: Given to pastors, shepherds, elders which God placed in authority in His church. Read 1st Peter 5:1-4 5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. The Crown of Life: Given to those who suffer for His sake. Read Revelation 2:10 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Verses 13-15 are the cycle of temptation that leads to death. Read Genesis 22:1-2 22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you." Read Job 1:9-12 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Read 1st Samuel 17:48-49 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. Read 2nd Samuel 11:2-3 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." When trials come, endure with faith. When temptations come, overcome with obedience. The result of trials and temptations is perseverance and blessings! Eternal blessings in the form of the crown of life. Remember... Look to the words in Red

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Read Acts 2:44-45 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Read Acts 4:34-35 34 For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Read 2nd Corinthians 8:1-2 8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. Read Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The Greek word for humble is "tapeinos." It literally means low lying or not rising far from the groung.  Figuratively it means low socially/financially or low ethically or with humility. Read Matthew 6:24 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Read Deuteronomy 8:18 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Read 3rd John 1:2 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. Read Matthew 19:23-24 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Read Deuteronomy 15:7-8 7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Read Romans 8:17 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. The Greek word for humble is "plousios." From the word plutos. What English word do we get from from Greek word plutos? Pluto. Pluto means "wealth giver." Read James 2:5 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? Read Revelation 3:17 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. The root word for Laodicea is lao. Lao means "ruled by the people." Read 1st Timothy 6:10 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Read James 4:14 4 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Read Psalm 103:15-16 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Read Psalm 90:12 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Linda Poindexter said: “Neither a rich man nor a poor man gets to enjoy their money. One is too busy trying to hold on to it, and the other is too busy trying to get it." Look to the Words in Red

Read John 13:34-35 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Read James 2:18 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. Charles Spurgeon said: “I have looked back to times of trial with a kind of longing, not to have them return, but to feel the strength of God as I have felt it then, to hang upon God’s powerful arm as I hung upon it then, and to see God at work as I saw him then. Read James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Read James 1:6 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Read James 1:7 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Read James 1:8 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Read Proverbs 9:10 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.    John A Morrison said: “knowledge is the ability to take things apart, but            wisdom is the ability to put things back together again.” Ask in the Greek is the word "aiteo." It means to beg, to call for, to crave, to desire, or to require.    Read Matthew 7:7-8 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;      knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the            one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.    Read 1st John 5:14 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God:            that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Read James 4:3 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.    Read Luke 22:41-43 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them,            knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not        my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and                    strengthened him.    Bible commentator Edmond Hiebert says: to be double minded is          to have two-souls. And the man who has 2 souls, one for the earth and one for              heaven, will end up with neither.    Read Mark 9:17-24 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought            you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of                                      speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the            mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out              the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long               shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they                       brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to       the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long         has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or           water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said           Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I       do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”     Look to the Words in Red