The implanted word is able to save our souls.

Here is our eternal promise in receiving the implanted word in our hearts, the salvation of our souls. Wait a minute, I thought my soul is saved? Well, it is saved in the fact that if we die, our soul ascends with our spirit. But, it is not yet saved (at least mine isn’t yet) into the freedom and wholeness of Jesus Christ in submission and rest in the truth of Jesus Christ. It is not yet fully saved (that’s a better word) in perfect love’s freedom from all fear… even to the point of death. I can see things but can’t hold them with my soul. I can confess through the Father that Jesus is the Christ and then deny I ever knew Him in the insanity of betrayal to a servant girl (Luke 22:55-57). But when the act happens, what saves Peter from his actions of denial is his remembering the word of the Lord, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Luke 22:61).

Our reading scripture aloud and listening to the word of God read, brings the opportunity for the word of God to become implanted in us and for the fruit of salvation to be fully realized and enjoyed in all that the Father has accomplished in the Son and His resurrection. Jesus’ intercession is the word made alive again, remembered in the moment of failure, or recalled in a moment of testing, it becomes the sword of the Spirit and the salvation of our souls.

 

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ACTS

Acts 5 – 11

We are in the largeness of the church’s expansion, with the Holy Spirit so present in power that we begin with a couple’s death because they lied about their offering to the Lord. Appearing to man as having given it all when they kept back a portion for themselves. Keeping back was not their sin, it was their hypocrisy. Chapter 5 is the apex of an expansive powerful demonstration of the resurrected Christ, with persecution, and utter abandonment to teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Chapters 6 and 7 are the church taking center stage in the temple, and then the great persecution that results in Stephen’s calling out the hypocrisy of the Sanhedrin, resulting in his death inside glory. Chapter 8 is about the church being scattered and preaching the word, resulting in Samaria hearing the word. Chapter 9 is Paul’s conversion and Peter raising Dorcas from the dead.

In Chapter 10 God is speaking in visions. Peter is in Caesarea where, three times, he has a vision of eating non-kosher food, though he insists he never would commit such an act. However, he is perfectly positioned by God for Cornelius’ vision and request to come and preach the word to Gentiles.  Peter’s submission to the Lord begins the message of Christ being spread to the rest of the world, resulting in the Gentile baptism by the Holy Spirit, then the elders of the church accepting God’s gift, and eventually what will become the greatest missionary movement with Barnabas and Saul.

 

EPISTLES

Hebrews 7 – 13

Chapters 7 through 10 are the unfolding of the Melchizedek priesthood (that God has sworn to Jesus in an oath) that is better in every way: better blessings, a better hope, a better covenant established on better promises purchased with the better sacrifice of Jesus offered through the eternal Spirit without spot to God. Beginning at verse 19, Chapter 10 brings us into practical applications of faith, and then into Chapter 11, the receiving of faith, and the faith of the Patriarchs who have gone before. In Chapter 12, the Father is chastening us to become partakers of His holiness as Jesus’ voice is shaking heaven and earth. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and grace by which we serve God acceptably with reverence and fear.  Chapter 13 brings us to practical applications of the glorious gospel of the Son of God.

 

James 1

Joy in trials, patience into perfection, knowing we are never tempted by God “for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does He himself tempt anyone” (verse 13b). It’s our lust that leads us off into temptation that brings sin unto death. But there is an answer, it is His word implanted in our hearts which gives us a new script to imitate, a new image (into Christ’s likeness) to become as we behold Him in His word.

 

 

HISTORY

1 Samuel 10 – 17

We begin with Saul being anointed king of Israel by Samuel the prophet, and then introduced to Israel and proclaimed king. Saul saves Jabesh Gilead and wins the hearts of Israel. Samuel addresses Israel as their last judge regarding his conduct and their new relationship with the king they have chosen and desired. If they fear the Lord and obey His voice, the king they have chosen will continue to reign. A sign from heaven is given, and the people realize their sin in asking for a king. Samuel comforts them and promises he will never stop praying for them.

Chapters 13 through 15 are Saul’s attempt at serving the Lord as king. He has a lot going against him, though. He is a man chosen by men and therefore man-fearing. Saul disobeys the Lord three times until finally, the Lord rejects Saul as king and chooses another king after His heart and not the people’s wishes and fears. He finds David in Chapter 16, Samuel anoints David, and David begins his psalmist ministry to King Saul who is being tormented by a distressing spirit. Chapter 17 David kills Goliath while delivering cheese to the army for his father.

 

POETRY

Psalm 138 – 143

All our Psalms this week are penned by King David and bring his hallmark of trust and dedication to the Lord in all things. Psalm 139 is a classic of God’s knowing us and pursuing us from before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Let courage and renewed thirst and hunger for the Lord come as you read these Psalms from the man God found, who was after His heart.

 

PROPHETS

Daniel 4 – 9

We begin with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel’s interpretation, and the Lord’s demonstration of humbling the mightiest man on earth until Nebuchadnezzar comes to know that “Heaven rules.” God then restores Nebuchadnezzar to his kingdom. This all has such relevance for the nations today. Chapter 5 is his son Belshazzar in arrogance at a feast, defiant, until a mysterious hand comes and writes his future on the wall. Daniel again brings interpretation and God fulfills His word. Daniel Chapter 6 is about jealousy and plots, and Daniel holding his place in prayer, being “his custom since early days.” This chapter is rich with promise to the life of a devoted worshipper of God, who has built the habit of prayer into the fabric of his life.

Daniel Chapters 7 and 8 begin Daniel’s visions of the Kingdom and events leading into the last days. They leave Daniel weakened, troubled, faint, sick, and astonished. Visions from heaven can be overwhelming and undoing to the one seeking God’s working in glory. Daniel will recover next week in Chapter 10 when the Lord strengthens him. In Chapter 9, we see Daniel’s prayer for Israel to return to Jerusalem after the 70 years that Jeremiah had prophesied would take place first. This is a masterful prayer of identification and repentance as Daniel acknowledges Israel’s sin as his. This is followed by the archangel Gabriel coming to Daniel with more skill for him to understand and the 70 weeks determined for Israel and Jerusalem.