Video Messages
OUTLINE FOR SUNDAY, 5-3-26
“SPIRIT STRONG, PT. IV,”
MATT. 22:35-40 (KJV)
Matthew 22:35–40 (KJV)
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Romans 5:5 (KJV)
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
John stresses love as a test of the Christian life, 1 John 2:7–11 (KJV):
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 Jn. 4:9. 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, CF. Deut. 7:7, 8. Deuteronomy 7:7–8 (KJV):
7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5:14; Eph. 2:4; 3:19; 5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (KJV):
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal. 5:22. Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, Jn. 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 Jn. 2:5; 5:3; 2 Jn. 6. John 14:15 (KJV):
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:20–21 (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:23 (KJV)
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 15:10 (KJV)
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
1 John 2:5 (KJV)
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 5:3 (KJV)
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2 John 6 (KJV)
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Selfwill, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God. Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom. 13:8-10; Romans 15:2 (KJV):
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Romans 13:8–10 (KJV)
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
love seeks opportunity to do good to all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith, Gal. 6:10. See further 1 Cor 13 and Col. 3:12-14. Galatians 6:10 (KJV):
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Colossians 3:12–14 (KJV)
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.
1 Corinthians 1:17–31 (KJV)
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
STUMBLINGBLOCK, 1 COR. 1:23, DEFINED
Greek Strong’s Number: 4625
Greek Word: σκάνδαλον
Transliteration: skandalon
Phonetic Pronunciation: skan’-dal-on
Root: probably from a derivative of <G2578>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 7:339,1036
Part of Speech: n n
Vine’s Words: Offence
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
offence 9
stumbling block 3
occasion of stumbling 1
occasion to fall 1
thing that offends 1
[Total Count: 15]
(“scandal”); probably from a derivative of <G2578> (kampto); a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figurative cause of displeasure or sin):- occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.[1]
FOOLISHNESS, 1 COR. 1:23, DEFINED
Greek Strong’s Number: 3472
Greek Word: μωρία
Transliteration: mōria
Phonetic Pronunciation: mo-ree’-ah
Root: from <G3474>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:832,620
Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Fool, Foolish, Foolishly, Foolishness
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
foolishness 5
[Total Count: 5]
from <G3474> (moros); silliness, i.e. absurdity:- foolishness.[2]
[1] James Strong,
“Σκάνδαλον,”
in Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
[2] James Strong, “Μωρία,” in Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
OUTLINE FOR BIBLE STUDY MONDAY, 5-4-26
“THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER,”
JAMES 5:13-15 (KJV)
James 5:13–18 (KJV)
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 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: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
The Greek word for effectual, interestingly enough, I found in several commentaries, is the word “energeo,” which in turn could read, “Prayer, when energized by the power of the Holy Spirit, causes things to happen. It means to be active, efficient:-do (be), effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in). Elijah was a man in the natural just like any other man, yet he stopped the rain for 3 ½ years because of his praying, then prayed again for rain and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. We’ve noted scriptures that reveal prayer at different times, different postures, the different kind of prayers, as well as the formula for answered prayer. I want to examine the scriptures on prayer from a totally different angle yet still encompassing the spirit of “effectual fervent prayer.”
Psalm 51:1–17 (KJV)
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in thy sight:
That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
And be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
And in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;
That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins,
And blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence;
And take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
And uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
And sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips;
And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
Thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
This Psalm has been attributed to king David, and in particular when he sinned with Bathsheba, but the level of intimacy, communion, fellowship, honesty, repentance, relationship, and the heart of David being revealed to his God in prayer highlights the power of prayer in the soul of a man. Throughout scripture we witness the strength of the human spirit in relationship with the Father of spirits. We also witness relational discourse between David, whose heart is troubled because of his sin, and His God who obviously he has as best of a relationship you could have under the Old Testament, but David always comes off to me as close to a man under grace as you can possibly be in the Old Testament times. There’s power in prayer, but not just for getting our needs met, but even more importantly, in having a personal relationship with the God of our salvation.
Luke 18:9–14 (KJV)
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 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. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 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. 14 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.
I wrote a little pamphlet whereas I encourage new converts that more than religion, outward formality, and mechanical worship, Christianity is a personal relationship with God. But I’ve learned a powerful thing since those days and I have come to the conclusion that it is even more important as we mature spiritually and as we become more involved in the work of the ministry, maintaining a personal relationship must be priority. We can’t get so busy in the work of the ministry that we neglect our personal relationship with the Lord.
Isaiah 58:1–11 (KJV)
Cry aloud, spare not,
Lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
And shew my people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily,
And delight to know my ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And forsook not the ordinance of their God:
They ask of me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching to God.
3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?
Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure,
And exact all your labours.
4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate,
And to smite with the fist of wickedness:
Ye shall not fast as ye do this day,
To make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen?
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,
And to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Wilt thou call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
To loose the bands of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
And that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
And thine health shall spring forth speedily:
And thy righteousness shall go before thee;
The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;
Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
The putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
And satisfy the afflicted soul;
Then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
And thy darkness be as the noonday:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually,
And satisfy thy soul in drought,
And make fat thy bones:
And thou shalt be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah 1:1–19 (KJV)
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth:
For the Lord hath spoken,
I have nourished and brought up children,
And they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knoweth his owner,
And the ass his master’s crib:
But Israel doth not know,
My people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity,
A seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
They have forsaken the Lord,
They have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger,
They are gone away backward.
5 Why should ye be stricken any more?
Ye will revolt more and more:
The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it;
But wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores:
They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire:
Your land, strangers devour it in your presence,
And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard,
As a lodge in a garden of cucumbers,
As a besieged city.
9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant,
We should have been as Sodom,
And we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom;
Give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord:
I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts;
And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me,
Who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me;
The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with;
It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth:
They are a trouble unto me;
I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you:
Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear:
Your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well;
Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,
Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
The disciplines of prayer, meditation, and fasting, all are an awesome spiritual arsenal to maintaining and prioritizing our personal relationship with the Lord. It’s for our own spiritual benefit to ensure that we are, in fact, putting God first in our lives. It’s in our prayer closet, like David, we open up our hearts in transparency to Him. It’s also our hiding place, our secret place on the altar of our hearts where fellowship, communion, and intimacy is between us and the God of our salvation. It’s a place where we talk to God and He talks to us in that still small voice. It’s where we’re revived, restored, refocused, encouraged, strengthened, built up, edified, comforted, experiencing that deeper spiritual relationship with God.
Join the CCC family. Call the Calvary Christian Center at 912-261-0725.
