Word of Truth

Watering the Garden
WORD OF TRUTH

Jesus, James and Paul used the terminology “word and truth” in the same sentence. Jesus said we are sanctified through truth. Sanctified in the Greek can mean dedicate-consecrate-cleanse-purify-hallow-be holy-free from sin or it could be described as a renewing of the soul.

In the book of Timothy we are told to study so we won’t be ashamed, as we will be able to correctly decipher the truth.

James informs us that we are begotten through the word of truth.

Paul tells us that when we trust, by hearing the word of truth, and believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

Scripture:

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; Thy word is truth. (John 17:16-17)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2nd Timothy 2:15)

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Truth is found in the Word of God, the Bible. The truth from His word renews our soul.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

What to Seek First

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
WHAT TO SEEK FIRST

Jesus said our first priority is to seek truth and everything else will fall into place. We are not to worry so much about food and what we have to wear. His promise is that if we seek his kingdom he will take care of our daily needs. Along with the Psalmist may this be our desire. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalms 27:8)

Scripture:
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:29-31)

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought (troubled by cares) can add one cubit unto his stature? (time of life)

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin? And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:25-32)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Our first priority should be to seek the kingdom of God and he will take care of our daily needs.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Promise to Solomon and the Children of Israel

PROMISE TO SOLOMON AND JEREMIAH

God searches the hearts of man. He says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isa 55:6

He made a promise to King Solomon.

And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of they father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast the off for ever. (1st Chronicles 28:9)

Also in a letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the children of Israel which had been carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. The promise was that if their search for him was sincere he would be found.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

We also find these words in the Psalms.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalms 22:26)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Our Father searches our hearts and knows who is sincere in their desire for truth and will reveal himself to those who are honestly seeking.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Humility in Prayer

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HUMILITY IN PRAYER

Jesus stressed the importance of humility in prayer when he shared with us this parable. We see that the first man in the parable was self-centered and self-righteous. The second man was humble before God.

Scripture:
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Another example regarding humility in prayer is brought forth in the Old Testament book of Psalms.

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:” (Psalms 10:17)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
God will respond to and exalt those who come humbly before him.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Ask, Seek and Knock

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ASK, SEEK and KNOCK

Jesus explains to us that we are to ask and we will receive, to seek for an answer and we will find it. We are then instructed to demonstrate faith by tapping on the door and receiving the answer.

He gives us the example of how much we enjoy giving to our children, pointing out the fact that we wouldn’t consider giving them something dreadful. He continues on to say that our Father would not give us something terrible either in response to our requests. When we consider what pleasure we receive, giving to our children, we can identify more easily with him when he says how much he enjoys, in the same manner, giving to us.

Scripture:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.” (Matthew 7:7-11)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that we need to ask, seek and knock and the answer will be given to us. Also that he doesn’t give us something bad anymore then we would give something bad to our own children.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Praying With Others

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PRAYING WITH OTHERS

Concerning praying with another individual or in a group, the same promises are available as with individuals who pray alone.

His promised presence amoung us when we pray together is a treasure. As with our individual prayers we should not neglect to always keep in mind the, “ifs”.

Scripture:
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If” ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

“If” ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and “bring forth fruit,” and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
When we gather together in his name he is there with us. And, (1) IF we abide in Him and He in us (2) IF we ask according to His will (3) IF we are doing His work by believing and/or bringing in fruit, we may ask anything and He will do it

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Healing Faith

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HEALING FAITH

The significance of faith is confirmed in all three gospels, where we read the account of a lady who had a health issue for twelve years. Jesus informs the woman that her faith brought about her healing. This account can also be found in Mark 5 and Luke 8. Faith is also referred to when Jesus heals the two blind men “according to their faith”.

Scripture:
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. (Matthew 9:20-22)

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:27-29)

As is confirmed in the book of James. The prayer of faith will heal the sick.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick. (James 5:14-15)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that faith can bring about a healing.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

National Repentence

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

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NATIONAL REPENTENCE

What can we do if we see our nation is turning from God and heading down a road to destruction? There are actions that we Christians can take to bring about a healing for our country? The scriptures below describe actions that we can take such as, humble ourselves, pray, seek and do God’s will and turn from wickedness.

Note that 2nd Chronicles reads, “if my people”. Not necessarily all of the people. Our obedience can bring about a healing that even non-believers will benefit from.

Scripture:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2nd Chronicles 7:14)

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. (Jeremiah 7:23)

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. (Jeremiah 18:7-10)

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; (Deuteronomy 4:5-9)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned four facts concerning the healing of a nation. (1) IF we humble ourselves (2) IF we pray (3) IF we seek and obey His will and (4) IF we turn from wickedness, He will forgive and heal our land.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan