Friday Evening Session

We began about 7:40 pm (a few minutes late to get us all together) and the worship was wonderful. The highlight of that time was our worshiping with “It is Well.” I thought I would just be transported as we sang about our sin being all gone and His return. The trumpet was a nice addition to the worship ensemble. What a delightful time of worship through song.

The worship continued as we worked with the concept that when we understand the Word of God, it is an “seeing” experience. It is not just a mental grasping of what the Word says, but an experience with it that enables us to receive it in faith. We worked with the Israelites being afraid of the voice of God (Exodus 20) and the Hebrew says they were “seeing the voices.” Then we looked at Habakuk 2:1 where the prophet says he will wait “to see what the Lord will say to me.” Again, an understanding that he will “see” what is said. So we purposely expected to see as we pondered His word.

We reviewed (for most of us) Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Romans. Then we took chapter 4 and began working about 1/2 way through it in the understanding that the Lord gives righteousness to the ungodly. Then Paul added that where there is no law, there is no violation. What an amazing thing. In grace, no speeding tickets because there is no speed limit. This will revolutionize our lives if we can grasp it and walk in it.

We touched on Titus 2:11-12 with a knowing that grace is not permissive, but is instead our teacher of how to live godly and holy lives. That means the favor of God is very different that the common understanding of “anything goes.” That is not a true understanding of the grace and righteousness that we have been given.

Our evening included the beginning of Romans 5 and working with our theme “Much More,” we are beginning to see we are not to be “beggar Christians” with a constant consciousness of sin. (Hebrews 9-10) The challenge is to believe the Word and begin to allow the truth of it to sink into our lives. God has poured His love into our hearts – therefore we are able to receive His love and to love others.

In the morning we are to work in Chapter 5 once again. Lauren is teaching. So any of you on-duty prayer warriors, remember her before the Throne. It will be a delightful time in Him. It has been a good evening to begin our time. One of our folk is an ordained minister of a nearby church and he was very complimentary regarding my translation we are using in our study and about the concepts we are digging into. It was a blessing to talk with him.

Thanks for reading. I know this is a “brief-over” but its purpose is to allow you to share with us just a bit the goodness of the Word.