#Proverbs 28:24

[aressida]

Feminists, I want to express how I feel when I see all of you (as someone who once held feminist views and disliked men a decade ago, but now that I have gained understanding): Enough with the sabotage!

Be the duty of a woman. -> Genesis 2:18

-> Galatians 3:28 -> 1 Timothy 2:9-15 -> 1 Corinthians 11:3 -> Titus 2:3-5 -> 1 Timothy 2:11-12 -> Ephesians 5:22-24 -> Proverbs 31:11–12 -> Genesis 3:16

[yieldfruit]

What does the Bible mean when it tells us to fear not?

The Bible’s commands to “fear not” are plentiful and occur in a variety of contexts. As God’s people, we are not to be fearful. We have no reason to live in fear.

The Bible often says things like, “Do not fear,” “Do not be afraid,” and “Fear not.” Of course, these commands do not contradict the command to “fear God” (1 Peter 2:17). The fear of God keeps us from sin; the fear of man leads to sin, and that is what we are to avoid: “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25, NKJV). Also, the biblical command do not fear does not negate the need for prudence and caution in this world. We are not to be cavalier but prayerful in the face of danger.

The fear that the Bible tells us to avoid is concern mixed with anxiety or dread; it is the feeling of alarm we have when we expect trouble or danger. Followers of Christ are not to live in a state of anxiety. We have higher expectations than simply anticipating trouble. In fact, we have the means to rise above fear: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).

God’s command to “fear not” is applied in several ways in the Bible. For example, the fear of what other people think should never prevent us from obeying the Lord (see 1 Samuel 15:24; John 9:22). We should not fear lacking provision in this world (Luke 12:6–7). We are not to fear the plans of the wicked, even when they rise to power (Psalm 37:1–2, 9–17, 35–38).

When the Bible tells us, “Do not fear,” it means we are not to allow anxiety or fretfulness to rule our lives or take root in our hearts. We are not to be people of panic. We are to be people of faith.

Having been justified by God, we need not fear divine condemnation (Romans 8:1). Having been chosen by God, we need not fear His rejection (Ephesians 1:4–6; Luke 12:32; Jude 1:24). With Christ as our Shepherd, we need not fear the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). With the Maker of heaven and earth watching over us, we need not fear anything (Psalm 121).

Psalm 91 speaks of the one who “dwells in the shelter of the Most High” and who says of God, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (verses 1–2). Those who trust in God can live fearlessly: “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (verses 5–7). There is a direct correlation between faith and the confidence to face the dangers of life: “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (verses 9–10). We rest in God’s promise: “‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble’” (verses 14–15).

Matthew’s account of the resurrection of Christ presents two very different results of that miracle. When the angel descended to the tomb and rolled the stone away, “the guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint” (Matthew 28:4, NLT). The angel let them lie there. But later, the angel spoke to the women who visited the tomb: “Don’t be afraid! . . . I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead” (verses 5–6, NLT). With one group, God takes away their fear; with the other group, He allows fear to overwhelm them. The difference was one of belief versus unbelief.

[bloggin-by-zama]

Practical steps to help you grow in your faith. (via. ChatGPT)

1. Cultivate a Personal Relationship with Jesus

• Daily Prayer: Make time to pray each day. Share your thoughts, fears, and gratitude with Jesus as you would with a trusted friend. Remember to listen as well, seeking His guidance.

• Scripture Reading: Dive into God’s Word regularly. Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to understand Jesus’ life, teachings, and heart for humanity. Reflect on how His words apply to your life.

• Be Honest with Him: Jesus already knows your heart (as seen in John 2:24-25). Don’t hesitate to bring your doubts, struggles, or joys to Him.

2. Strengthen Your Foundation in Faith

• Study the Bible Deeply: Go beyond surface-level reading by studying the context, background, and meaning of passages. Use study guides or commentaries to gain deeper insight.

• Memorize Scripture: Commit key verses to memory. This will help you rely on God’s truth in challenging times. For example:

• Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”

• Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything…”

• Understand Theology: Explore the core beliefs of Christianity to deepen your understanding of God’s character and His plan for humanity.

3. Build a Life of Worship

• Worship Regularly: Worship isn’t just singing—it’s a lifestyle of honoring God in everything you do. Make time to express your love and gratitude to Him through worship, both privately and in a church community.

• Live for His Glory: Seek to glorify God in your daily actions—whether at work, in relationships, or in how you treat others.

4. Be Part of a Community of Faith

• Join a Church: Being part of a local church allows you to grow alongside others, receive support, and learn from experienced believers.

• Participate in Bible Studies or Small Groups: These provide opportunities to discuss scripture, share experiences, and gain accountability.

• Serve Others: Jesus modeled servanthood. Look for ways to serve in your church, community, or even your own home. Acts of service help us reflect God’s love to others.

5. Trust God in Difficult Seasons

• Life isn’t always easy, but faith grows strongest in trials. Surrender your struggles to Jesus, trusting that He will guide you and work all things for your good (Romans 8:28).

• Develop a habit of thanksgiving, even in tough times. Gratitude shifts your perspective and reminds you of God’s faithfulness.

6. Share Your Faith

• Tell others about Jesus—not just through words but also by living a life that reflects His love and grace. Let your actions speak of your relationship with Him.

• Pray for opportunities to share your testimony. Your story can inspire and draw others to Christ.

7. Pursue Continuous Growth

• Read Christian Books: Authors like C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity) or A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God) provide deep insights into faith and spiritual growth.

• Attend Workshops or Seminars: Look for events or conferences in your area focused on deepening your spiritual life.

• Embrace Discipline: Set spiritual goals, like fasting, journaling prayers, or taking quiet retreats to focus on your relationship with God.

8. Rely on the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit helps us grow in faith and gives us the strength to live as followers of Christ. Pray for the Spirit’s guidance and empowerment in your daily life.

• Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us of the fruit the Spirit cultivates in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Reflective Questions to Deepen Your Faith:

1. Do I truly believe Jesus knows my heart and loves me unconditionally?

2. How can I make more room in my daily life for prayer and scripture reading?

3. Am I trusting God fully, or am I holding back in certain areas of my life?

4. How can I serve and encourage others in their faith journey?

Closing Encouragement:

Remember, growing in faith is a lifelong process. Don’t rush it or feel pressured to be “perfect.” God is patient and delights in every step you take toward Him. Trust in His love, seek Him wholeheartedly, and allow Him to transform you from the inside out.

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel

21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angelb of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. 25 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

26 And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perversec before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

34 “I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”

38 “See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

39 So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. — Numbers 22:21-39 | Majority Standard Bible (MSB) The Holy Bible, Majority Standard Bible is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God’s Word has been dedicated to the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 21:19; Exodus 4:24; Exodus 23:20; Numbers 14:40; Numbers 21:13; Numbers 22:40; Joshua 5:13; 1 Samuel 15:24; 2 Chronicles 18:13; Proverbs 12:10; Isaiah 16:12; Matthew 15:19; James 1:19; 2 Peter 2:15-16

Read full chapter

Story of Balaam - Prophet and Talking Donkey in the Bible?

[godhasatenderheart]

how do you know for sure you won't end up in hell?

Hello! I saw your other message assuring me not to worry about responding because of the grieving process. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness—it truly means a lot. May God bless your sweet soul. 🩷

It’s comforting to know that, because of God’s promises in the Bible, there’s assurance that we won’t end up in Hell. Many verses speak of salvation and bring peace. Sometimes, due to severe trauma, trusting in that love and safety can be difficult, but it’s a journey to trust in what God has promised.

When doubt about salvation or God’s promises arises, the best remedy is prayer and spending time in the Word. Trusting God fully and consistently is one of the hardest parts of the Christian walk, and it’s a lifelong journey. If doubt about salvation occurs, please know that it’s a normal part of the walk and can be overcome.

This world is filled with evil, and Satan continuously works to shake that faith. We face attacks, criticism, and feelings of shame and unworthiness. Yet, the Bible reveals God’s character, and when we trust in what He has said, there is assurance of salvation.

I’ll share some Scripture that speaks to our salvation under the cut, so as not to flood anyone’s timeline. I hope this can be helpful, beloved!

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

—Acts 16:30-31 (ESV)

More Scripture of salvation assurance below:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

—1 John 5:13 (ESV)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

—Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

—Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

—John 3:16 (ESV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

—Job 19:25-27 (ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9 (ESV)

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

—Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

—John 5:24 (ESV)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

—John 10:27-28 (ESV)

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

—Romans 5:9-10 (ESV)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

—Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

—Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

—2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

—Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

—Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

—2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

—Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

—Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

—1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

—1 John 3:1-3 (ESV)

[redbecomesher]

GRACE UPON GRACE E:24

When God Says “No” :Trusting Him Through Disappointment

Hi y’all! Today we are going to discuss a hard subject—God saying “No” to our dreams and answers:) God’s ‘no’ isn’t rejection but redirection, protection, or preparation. So, we will discuss 1. Examples From The Bible and 2. What To Remember. Let’s get it to it!

Examples From The Bible

In times of disappointment for the fact that God answered ‘no’ to your dream etc. we should reflect and read His Word to be reminded that we aren’t alone in this situation and we aren’t alone because He is still here! So here’s 3 Bible stories of God saying “no” to His people for a reason:)

• Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh:

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-9

Paul begged God three times to remove a “thorn” in his flesh (some believe it was a physical or emotional suffering), but God said no. Instead, He replied:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Lesson: God’s ‘no’ taught Paul humility and dependence on God’s strength.

• David And The Temple:

1 CHRONICLES 28:2-6

David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but God said no and told him that his son Solomon would do it instead.

“You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.”

Lesson: Even godly desires can be outside of God’s plan for us—but He may still use our preparation for someone else’s purpose.

• Moses Not Entering The Promise Land:

DEUTERONOMY 3:23-27

Moses pleaded with God to let Him enter the Promised Land, but God said no due to his disobedience.

“That is enough… do not speak to me anymore about this matter.”

Lesson: Disobedience has consequences, but even in God’s “no,” Moses was still loved, honoured, and allowed to see the land from afar.

What To Remember

If God says “no,,” it doesn’t mean He’s forgotten you. It means He’s fighting for you in ways you can’t yet see. His “no” is always filled with love, and sometimes the greatest blessings are hidden in what we didn’t get. Keep trusting—He’s working and protecting you<3

I hoped y’all enjoyed these subject and learnt a thing or two to being in your own life right now in a waiting season or season that ended with God saying “no”! Let me know of any questions you have about this subject or any other subject I’ve done before. Pray, read your bibles, and worship God today. Remember God loves you and God bless. Till next time<33🤍

1 PROVERBS 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

ROMANS 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

ISAIAH 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

[gabebrodudeman]

"we worship God from a place, not for a place" this quote (I heard in a devotional this morning) goes hard because I don't worship God in the hopes I can earn a place in heaven, I worship him because he promised me a seat in heaven.

Romans 3:20 NLT

[20] For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Romans 3:23-25 NLT

[23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely (Isaiah 55:1)makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Over and over God tells us the same thing:

"do not be afraid," and "have faith."

Too often in this beautiful weird little app I see too many people getting caught up in the wrong and irrelevant details (Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 11:15).

Luke 10:25-37 NLT

[25] One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” [26] Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” [27] The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself(Proverbs 19:8).’” [28] “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” [29] The man wanted to justify his actions (Genesis 4:9), so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” [30] Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. [31] “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. [32] A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. [33] “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. [34] Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. [35] The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ [36] “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. [37] The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

This. This right here is why Jesus hated the Pharisees so much. Because they couldn't understand this, this important but basic commandment. Compassion (Luke 11:46).

Let me put it this way, a person shouldn't be telling you what you should be doing, but instead Jesus should be speaking to you through that person (Matthew 12:33), this is why Proverbs encourages advice and council but in the same breathe God warns you to be careful of who you take that advice from because people are human and only those who have Christ in them are to be trusted.

[fierysword]

[Sophia] is mother, wife, lover, beloved, virgin, and bride (cf. Job 28; Proverbs 1-9; Sir 24:1-2; Wis 7:21-26). Sometimes it is said that she is now hidden and unapproachable (Job 28:13; Sir 1:20-32); in other texts (Wis 7:24-27; Sir 1:10, 15; 6:20-22) she can be found by those who seek her and who are among the elect.

Wisdom Has Built Her House: Studies on the Figure of Sophia in the Bible by Silvia Schroer

[banana-with-a-bow-tie]

does the Bible say marriage is only one man and one woman? I’ve been seeing some controversy about that on my dash and some saying the scripture was never clear about that.

The Bible could not be more clear about this. Marriage is rooted in the created order. Genesis 2:24

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Jesus affirms that design in Mark 10:6-7 citing God's created order of marriage between a man and woman committing to each other until death is not meant to be broken. God wants this relationship to be completely pure, no third parties involved, not even in the thought life which He considers adultery of the heart (Matt 5:28). Proverbs 5 warns to be faithful to the wife of your youth and not go straying into relationships with adulterous women.

This design of God is good because He is good. Humanity cannot exist without this design. Man and woman getting together is how human beings are born. It doesn't work any other way. Nature makes it obvious, but our sinful opposition to God makes us pursue unnatural desires

Romans 1:24-28

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

God hates unfaithfulness in marriage and the corruption of His design because He created marriage to reflect His own goodness.

Ephesians 5:31-32

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Paul, quoting God's created order in Genesis 2, says that the relationship between a husband and wife shows us what Christ has done for His Church. Christ nourishes and cherishes those who believe in Him and gave up His life for them, and the Church loves and honors Him.

When we say marriage doesn't really matter and can mean whatever we want it to mean we are saying God's love does not endure forever, that we do not need Him to provide for us and we do not need to honor Him. We can be our own gods and find love in our own ways. You cannot have love without God because God is love (1 John 4:16).

Love becomes entirely about me and what I want instead of sacrificing and serving for someone else. That self-centered world is how we create our own destruction.

[talonabraxas]

The Goddess Sophia Talon Abraxas

“Allegory of Divine Wisdom”

In Gnosticism, the “Fall” didn’t occur through Adam and Eve – it happened before the world’s creation, through a mistake made by a heavenly being called Sophia (whose name is Greek for “Wisdom.”

The story of Sophia’s fall (which was part of the Gnostic creation myth) is told slightly differently in the many Gnostic texts that discuss it, but the various versions of the tale all share the basics in common.

Sophia was one of the “aeons” – divine entities who were descended from God the Father and who were roughly equivalent to angels. Of the many aeons, Sophia was the last to arise from God.

Like the other aeons, Sophia was the child of a male-female pair of aeons that had come before her, who had given birth with the Father’s blessing. Sophia and the rest of the aeons formed the “Pleroma” (Greek for “Fullness”), the Gnostic name for Heaven.

Sophia wanted to have a child, too. But she went about it in the wrong way: she conceived without the involvement of her male partner or the approval of the Father. Her child was the “demiurge,” a misshapen, belligerent creature that was utterly unlike the other heavenly beings.

Sophia immediately realized her horrible mistake and cast her child out of the Pleroma. The demiurge, now alone, believed that he was the only being who had ever existed, and created the material world out of his ignorance, foolishness, and malevolence, trapping sparks of divinity within Adam and Eve along the way.

Because of her fall and its dire consequences, Sophia became a flawed being. Her deficiency rendered her unable to remain in the perfect “Fullness” of the Pleroma, so she was placed just outside of the Pleroma, in a realm above that of her malevolent son. In anguish, Sophia repented, and the Father agreed to bring her back to the Pleroma once what had become lacking in her was restored to its natural fullness.

Precedents for Sophia in Jewish Literature

In the genre of Jewish (“Old Testament”) writing known as “wisdom literature,” Wisdom (Hokma in Hebrew was personified, and she gave monologues describing her great deeds and articulating her perspective on the world. Since Hokma, like the Greek Sophia, is a feminine noun, Wisdom was cast as a female figure. In the words of Nicola Denzey Lewis, Wisdom is “God’s active feminine principle, at once a part of God but also separate from God,” as in Proverbs 8, Job 28, and Sirach 24. In this regard, she’s much like the Gnostic aeons, who are also semi-independent extensions of God. They act, whereas God himself simply is.

Here’s an example of one of Wisdom’s monologues, Proverbs 8:22-31:

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth— when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.

The Gnostic depiction of Sophia was surely heavily influenced by this earlier Jewish depiction of Wisdom, both directly and indirectly through the works of thinkers such as Philo of Alexandria, a first-century Jewish intellectual who worked personified Wisdom into a rationalized cosmological system that sought to synthesize and harmonize the Jewish scriptures with the works of Plato, another importance influence on the Gnostics and early Christians more generally.

Sophia and Non-Gnostic Christians

Some texts from the Valentinian school of Gnosticism connect the story of Sophia’s fall to the fate of non-Gnostic Christians – that is, Christians who have the baseline Christian virtue of faith but not the higher mystical insight of gnosis, the root of the word Gnostic.

For these Valentinians, those with gnosis will ascend to the Pleroma after their deaths to partake of its perfect “Fullness.” Christians without gnosis will still be saved, but will have to spend some time in the place where Sophia was put after her fall, so that they, like her, can continue to advance in perfection until they’re worthy of being admitted to the Pleroma. You could say that Sophia’s realm is much like Purgatory in this view.

The existence of Sophia’s celestial waiting room of sorts enabled these Valentinians to have their cake and eat it, too: to preserve the special privilege that they believed gnosis imparted to them, while nevertheless being able to reassure other Christians that they, too, would ultimately be saved. This was surely a socially advantageous view, since it placed the Valentinians within the wider Christian fold rather than apart from it.

[lilgreeneyes71]

I will follow the narrow path that the

Lord Jesus Christ has laid out before me the only path that leads me into eternal life

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

[steveezekiel]

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

5 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, And He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV)

• What God is demanding from you as His son or daughter is acknowledgement.

- God does want you to acknowledge Him; recognize the rights, authority, or status of Him, take notice of Him, and carry Him along, in whatever you wanted to do.

- He does not want you to live independently of Him. He wants to be part of your life, in everything you do—even your day-to-day activities.

- God wants honour, and does not want to be sidetracked in whatever you may want to do (Malachi 1:6).

- The secret of building a strong intimacy with Him is in acknowledging Him.

• Any number of Believers are missing it in this, they always want to do things as they have thought in their minds—without asking God about it.

- Let God be part of whatever you may want to do! Even in the minutest things, things considered insignificant, He still wants to be recognized or acknowledged.

- The prayer prayed on your food when you wanted to eat, which some Believers considered irrelevant, is a way of acknowledging God.

- In other words, you want to thank Him for the food, and asking Him to be part of the eating. Such a simple thing might not matter to man, but to God, It is significant, important, and He appreciate it and want it.

- You acknowledge Him when you wake up, thank Him for the new day; and when you want to go to bed, you also acknowledge Him for how He has helped you for the day.

- Also, acknowledge Him when you go out and when you come in!

- Strangely, some professed Believers would not want to live such a life, they want to believe that whoever live thus is being religious. That they might be accused of spiritualizing what they ought not to.

- Some believers even would not want to do such a thing, because they think other people would laugh at them, that they are too religious.

- You know some Believers would not want to pray on their meal in the gathering of nonbelievers, they are ashamed to do such a thing. But to God, It is an acknowledgement and He does want it.

- Some people might be offended when they see you living such a life. Albeit, it is a consecrated life, and that of commitment, and God does want it.

• When you acknowledged God in all you do, He would be free to meddle in all the affairs of your life.

- You know, there are some whom God does not meddle or intervene in the affairs of their lives, even professed believers or Christians.

- God would not go beyond the chance, the place or room, which you have given Him in your life.

- What you wanted Him to see, He would be interested to see, and what you did not want Him to see, He would also pretend not to have seen it.

HOWEVER, when you had issues on such a thing and you called on Him, He might not answer, because He was not invited all along (Proverbs 1:24-28; Zechariah 7:13).

HE was not part of it from the onset, thus, He would not want to be part of the mess.

- God would only be interested in what you allowed Him to be part, when you started It.

• If you endeavoured to acknowledge Him in all you do, It would deepen and strengthen your relationship and fellowshipping with Him.

- The depth of your fellowship with God is seen in how you acknowledge Him in all you do or want to do.

- You cannot claim you love God when you do not acknowledge Him in all your endeavours.

- Someone who loves God would want Him to know about every affair of his or her life. But ironically, some Believers do not even want God to be involved in certain aspects of their lives.

Several years ago, a young man was telling me about the person he was proposing to marry. He said, he would like me to pray along with them. I answered, I would like to know whether the lady is God's will for him or not. I said I would pray that If they were not meant for each other, God should separate them. He shouted that I should not pray such a prayer.

- Now, in this case, the young man would not want God to be part of that area of his life. He wanted the girl by all means!

"HIS [Samson's] FATHER AND MOTHER ANSWERED, “Surely there is a woman from Israel you can marry. Do you have to marry a woman from the Philistines, who are not circumcised?” BUT SAMSON SAID, “GET THAT WOMAN FOR ME! SHE IS THE ONE I WANT!” (Judges 14:3 New Century Version).

- I have also seen some Believers who would not want you to mention God, when you are on business deal with them. They would tell you, this is a business affair, let God be out of this. Now, If such a person who says God should not be part of the Business deal had issues on that same Business, he would want to call on God to help him fix the problems or issues.

- You cannot use God when you think you needed Him, and dump Him when you think you did not need Him.

- Christianity is not about going to God when you had a need, to help you out, and when it seems you did not have any need, you wanted to go about your life without Him, until another need arises in your life.

- Christianity is about relating and fellowshipping with God. Acknowledging Him in all you wanted to do daily.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

- Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.

- Whatever is not planted in your body that is working against your wellness and good health is cursed and completely uprooted in Jesus' mighty name.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

• Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[solidrockistand]

Praise of God's Law pt 13

97. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. (For I delight in your commands because I love them. Psalms 119:47 NIV)

(PRAISE THE LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! Psalms 112:1ESV)

(PRAISE THE LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; Praise him in his mighty heaven. Psalms 150:1 ESV)

98. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies for they are ever with me. (Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 4:6 ESV)

(And keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and whatever you turn. 1st Kings 2:3 ESV)

(Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law of Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 ESV)

99. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. (I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalms 119:15 NIV)

(My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Psalms 19:148 ESV)

(When I remember you upon my bed, and metate on you in the watches of the night. Psalms 63:3 ESV)

100. I have more understanding than the elders for I obey your precepts. (You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. Deuteronomy 6:17 ESV)

(If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them. Leviticus 26:3 ESV)

(Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:5 ESV)

101. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. (My son does not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths. Proverbs 1:15 ESV)

(Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Proverbs 4:14 ESV)

(Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. Psalms 1:1 ESV)

102. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. (That his heart may not be lifted up above his brother, and that he may not turn aside from the commandments either to the right hand or the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom he and his children in Israe. Deuteronomy 17: 20 ESV)

(Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor the left. Joshua 23:6 ESV)

(Every sickness also and every affliction that us not recorded in the book of this law, the Lord will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. Deuteronomy 28:61 ESV)

103. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (More to be desired are they then gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. Psalms 19:10 ESV)

If you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed, then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. Job 22:24-25 ESV)

(Behold I have prepared my case; I know that I will be in the right. Job 13:18 ESV)

104. I gain understanding from your precepts; therefor I hate every wrong path. (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalms 111:10 ESV)

(Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 4:6 ESV)

(Therefore, keep the words of his covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. Deuteronomy 29:9 ESV)

Psalms 119: 97-104 NIV

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Abundance of Things 

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Psalm 92:8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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1 Timothy 6:17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM SATISFIED WITH GOD

I AM PLEASED WITH MY LIFE

I AM CONTENT

I AM NOT PRIDEFUL

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READ TIME: 8 Minutes & 26 Seconds

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THOUGHTS:

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What is a most unreliable thing in the world is money because one day you can have a pocket full of cash, so much money you don’t know what to do with it , then you have this sudden moment where you don’t know where your money is gone too, I have had moments like this where I didn’t know where my money went to. It goes up and down.

    It is the most unreliable thing in this world, and a lot of people depend on it too much; it's okay to have a decent amount to keep your balance, but then it's some that cant live without it the more they don't have it that’s all they think about, I use to be this way it was nothing in the world that I thought about more than this ,because I knew I needed it. Still, I wanted it on another level, and I had to learn when I gave my life to Christ. As my mother talked to me about this, I realized that money is just money, and to be obsessed over it isn’t good.

 Today's verse tells us that we must teach people not to trust In their money because it's unreliable. Their trust should be ONLY in God, who gives us the necessary enjoyment. Many of us don’t know how to balance needing God and money. We think we can have both, but we can't. We must ask God to take our minds off this and place it on him.

 Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

  It tells us that we can't trust riches because they will fall. No matter how much money you think you have, you can permanently lose it. I have seen people with tons of money who get so dependent on it that God will blow on their money so they will have none. We must be careful about what we put our trust in. Money will always escape us.

 Matthew 19:23 And Jesus told his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

  Jesus even said it would be difficult for rich men to enter heaven because once a person is rich, some of them forget about God because they feel why do I need God when I have all this money in the world? What can God do for me that I can't do for myself? They get so much pride in themselves, and they leave God because they have this illusion that they can do anything

 Proverbs 27:24 For riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?

  We are told again about riches; they don’t last forever. I don’t care what you do; no matter how hard you try to grip it, you can't keep it; you can save it, put it away, or put it into stock. It won't last because money is one thing you can chase and probably won't catch, but the one thing you can do that will last and help you is to pray. Many of us pray to be rich, but God didn’t create us all to be rich, and no, I don’t know why he selected a few to be rich. And rest must suffer, but we have to understand that sometimes God places us in situations, and sometimes we place our sleeves there, but wherever we are, we have a God to hold us, and money can't do that

  Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

  It’s hard to be content with what you have when there’s so much in the world to have. I can sit here and list a ton of things I want, but that doesn’t mean I should get them; sometimes in life, we must be content and say, God, I thank you for what you gave me, and lord help me to be content and not look for more, it’s a rap song by Notorious B.I.G that says more money more problems and that’s what we are facing when we are looking for more money we aren’t leaving it all to God we are collecting the problems but we shouldn’t ,God wants us to not seek for money he wants us to seek him, he want our problems to end not begin but the more we search for money, the more problems we will have.

  Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and

  We can’t serve two masters; we are either going to hate the one or love the other; either we are going to love the chase of money or love God; he’s telling us right here we can’t have them both, but some of us will still try but the word today friends say we can’t. The world will make you turn away from God; the world will make you second guess God because this world loves money over God. This world loves everything else over him, but those who remain faithful will endure until the end.

  Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity

    When we love money, we won’t ever be satisfied; we can try to be, but the world says we won’t because money isn’t going to follow the missing space; we might think it will, but it won’t; we must be careful with what we allow to fulfill us because it’s just going to make it worse. Money isn’t the end of all our problems. God is, and he loves it when he sees fit. He takes away our problems when we are willing to give them up. Are you willing? Do you understand what he’s saying to you today??

 *** Today, we talked about money, how money can bring more problems, and how nothing can fulfill us like Jesus. We might think this world is what we need, but it isn’t; when we look for this world to heal us and the things in it to do it, we will never be at peace. God is the only one who can; I can tell you everything I have in my home right now, but does it bring me peace? It doesn’t, but you know who will God is.

  Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions

  The Holy Spirit confirms that what we have doesn’t make up our life, but Jesus does. I can have everything in this life, but without God, I have nothing; it doesn’t mean anything, the enemy is turning people the opposite way because he knows money and things can change a man, but what we must do is stand firm and allow Jesus’ love to overpower our love for things and money.

If you feel that you have this idea that money is where it is and that you need more, ask God to change you, and he will. However, we must be ready to change. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, we thank you for the things you're doing and what you're going to do. Lord, we praise you for always being there. Lord, continue to show us more of you and continue to help us through our rough days. Lord, we thank you for never leaving us or forsaking us; we ask you to change our hearts, mold us, and shape us into what you want; lord, we are ready to let go of money and to hold on to you. Lord, we need You more than we need riches; save us from our false ideas to a mindset of you in Jesus’ Name, Amen

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REFERENCES

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+ Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

 

+ Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

+ Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

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FURTHER READINGS

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 Proverbs 14

Psalm 94

Ruth 3

Mark 8

Philemon 1

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[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Wisdom from the Holy Spirit

6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.

7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds to our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written, “Things which eye didn’t see, and ear didn’t hear, Which didn’t enter into the heart of man, Whatever things God prepared for those who love him.”

10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit.

12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Ruach HaKodesh teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

14 Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of the God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?” But we have Messiah’s mind. — 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 | Hebrew Names Version (HNV) The Hebrew Names Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Job 15:8; Psalm 24:7; Psalm 146:4; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 28:5; Isaiah 64:4; Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 11:25; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:22; John 14:17; John 15:15; Acts 7:2; Romans 8:15; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 11:25; Romans 11:34; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 2:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 John 2:20

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The Wisdom We Speak