Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me....... Thoughts on This Verse... Death is the ultimate profanity in today's world. We don't like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is that one reality that will not leave us alone. We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we too, will face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Shepherd! He will walk us through, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as Christians, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd, and he has taken the walk ahead of us to insure that our walk through death's valley doesn't end in death, but in glory. 


-Psalm 23:4-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Seek!

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well....... Thoughts on This Verse... Seek! That is the focus word in this verse. This word is a robust word, describing a passionate pursuit of something to make it our own. The Kingdom, and the righteousness of those in this Kingdom, are not our wish, our hope, our dream -- they are to be our passion. We will pursue God's Kingdom at all costs. We will pursue it with passion. This will be our consuming effort until we make it our own, or better yet, find it our home!


-Matthew 6:33-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Confessions

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness....... Thoughts on This Verse... Confessing our sins means that we view our sin the same way that God does -- the same revulsion and disdain for them. This kind of confession opens our hearts to the flood of heaven's grace (see Psalm 51). God shares with us the sweet liberation from sin that Jesus purchased at Calvary; and our sins are not only forgiven, but we are purified. We are no longer sinners and the stain of that sin is removed as well. We are clean, perfect, and without spot because of God's purifying grace (Col. 1:21-22). Now let's live in a way that is reflective of this incredible gift! 



-1 John 1:9 -

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

P.U.S.H

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification....... Thoughts on This Verse... ''Make every effort!'' That's quite a challenge. But notice where that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification. Both sides of this exhortation are two way responsibilities. I must pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself. I must edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen. In other words, we live with other people in God's family. He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family. He reminds us it will require strenuous effort. But, isn't that true in every family relationship? Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. When we share our love willingly, however, we're much more likely to see it coming back to us!


-Romans 14:19-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Preparation

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows....... Thoughts on This Verse... While the enemy of the righteous may flourish for a season, God will lavish his love and show his favor on the righteous. As the apostle Paul reminded his dear friends in Philippi, their prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit guaranteed his deliverance: he would either be delivered from prison and death to serve them, or he would be delivered from prison through death to go be with the Father (Phil. 3:19-23). Either way, God's righteous will get a banquet, a place of honor, and a royal welcome that will vindicate their faithfulness before those who oppose them.


-Psalm 23:5- 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Eat humble pie

 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you....... Thoughts on This Verse... You've probably had a similar experience to this one. Someone asks you how you're doing. At first, they seem interested, but as you begin to share the burdens of your heart, you begin to realize that they aren't really listening and aren't really interested; they're just being polite. Most people have so many burdens they simply don't know what to do with more. Our Father in heaven, however, says''Cast all your anxieties on me. You can share all of them with me, because I genuinely care for you.'' 


-1 Peter 5:6-7-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Blessings vs Violence

Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked....... Thoughts on This Verse... Righteousness brings us great blessings. Violence becomes its own vile reward, bringing to those who use it what they have done to others. So what's our choice? Blessing or violence? Encouragement or a foul mouth? So what's the real choice? Letting God define character and not someone else. 

-Proverbs 10:6-


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

In His timing, He will answer

They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed....... Thoughts on This Verse... This Psalm of despair, referred to by Jesus from the Cross, is also a Psalm of hope and faith. The history of God's faithfulness with his people Israel is an ongoing reminder that we can trust him to deliver us. While in our human reckoning of time God's answer may be slow in coming, his track record in history reminds us that he will answer, deliver, and bless his people in his time. In our worst of nightmares, we can be reminded that God is faithful and is attentive to our cries of despair, lament, grief, agony, and fear.


-Psalm 22:5-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Crazy Love

Luke 15:1-2: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”


Luke 15:11-24: 

The Parable of the Lost Son

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

   ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

   ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

*"My dad is person whom I disgrace the most but I'm going to go back to the one who provided me food, just to survive"
*What would we do if our children are really leading disgraceful lives?
*This is not just a gateway party when parent's are not around
*Normally, fathers who have experience this would just give his son food and shelter without wanting to see his face until he decides what to do with him.
However...
v20: So he got up and went to his father.

   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

*He gets a party.
*Instead of retribution, he gets a celebration
*His father was not only merciful but grace his disgusting son with a party
*He did not know when He was coming back but he ran, hug and kiss his son who wished he was dead.
*All he did was turn up and he got a new identity (sandals, robe, ring, etc)

The key of being a Christian
*To know and experience the powerful love and forgiveness of God
*NOT to be smart and all good
*God is calling us to come home with him
*We feel that we are not good enough for God (explicit or implicitly)
*The good person is the father, not the son
*We care so much about doing good but the fact is we are never going to be good enough because God is ever so good.
*So this allows God to forgive us and show his unconditional love to us
*He just wants to welcome us home when we decide to return
*Are we willing to participate with God to call others home?
*We should just remove our strict religious rules and join the party with Jesus
*He is iching to call all of us home
*Sometimes we do not give chance to our friends because we are in line with God and not others. 
*For that, we are being judgemental
*However, they are the ones we should welcome with open arms.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Irony

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path....... Thoughts on This Verse... So often, those of us who have received the blessings of faith and the guidelines of the Word of God don't fully appreciate them. Can you imagine what it is like to try to define ones worth, clarify ones values, and establish ones sense of purpose without a standard of truth? Imagine what it would be like to be lost without a map and without a compass? Remember what it was like to wake up in an unfamiliar place as a child in the pitch black darkness totally disoriented? We don't have to worry about that now, do we? God's Word -- both Scripture and his Son -- light our dark paths and show us the way home! 


-Psalm 119:105-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Pressure!

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them....... Thoughts on This Verse... Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas had been beaten''with many blows,'' placed in prison, and locked down in stocks. Under such horrible circumstances, they managed to praise God in hymns and pray to their Father in Heaven. Under this kind of pressure, their faith caught the attention of the other prisoners who listened to them. We need to be reminded that over the years of Christian witness, some of the most effective times of evangelism happened because Christians remained faithful and joyous people despite persecution and harassment. Nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use them to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places! 



-Acts 16:25-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Fierce or Loving God?

What are the attributes of God? What is God like?

The Bible, God’s Word, tells us what God is like and what He is not like. Without the authority of the Bible, any attempt to explain God’s attributes would be no better than an opinion, which by itself is often incorrect, especially in understanding God (Job 42:7). To say that it is important for us to try to understand what God is like is a huge understatement. Failure to do so can cause us to set up, chase after, and worship false gods contrary to His will (Exodus 20:3-5).

Only what God has chosen to reveal of Himself can be known. One of God's attributes or qualities is “light,” meaning that He is self-revealing in information of Himself (Isaiah 60:19; James 1:17). The fact that God has revealed knowledge of Himself should not be neglected (Hebrews 4:1). Creation, the Bible, and the Word made flesh (Jesus Christ) will help us to know what God is like.

Let's start by understanding that God is our Creator and that we are a part of His creation (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and are created in His image. Man is above the rest of creation and was given dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). Creation is marred by the fall but still offers a glimpse of God’s works (Genesis 3:17-18;Romans 1:19-20). By considering creation's vastness, complexity, beauty, and order, we can have a sense of the awesomeness of God.

Reading through some of the names of God can be helpful in our search of what God is like. They are as follows:

Elohim - strong One, divine (Genesis 1:1)
Adonai - Lord, indicating a Master-to-servant relationship (Exodus 4:10, 13)
El Elyon - Most High, the strongest One (Genesis 14:20)
El Roi - the strong One who sees (Genesis 16:13)
El Shaddai - Almighty God (Genesis 17:1)
El Olam - Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28)
Yahweh - LORD “I Am,” meaning the eternal self-existent God (Exodus 3:13, 14).

God is eternal, meaning He had no beginning and His existence will never end. He is immortal and infinite (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). God is immutable, meaning He is unchanging; this in turn means that God is absolutely reliable and trustworthy (Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:26, 27). God is incomparable; there is no one like Him in works or being. He is unequaled and perfect (2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25; Matthew 5:48). God is inscrutable, unfathomable, unsearchable, and past finding out as far as understanding Him completely (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 145:3; Romans 11:33, 34).

God is just; He is no respecter of persons in the sense of showing favoritism (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30). God is omnipotent; He is all-powerful and can do anything that pleases Him, but His actions will always be in accord with the rest of His character (Revelation 19:6; Jeremiah 32:17, 27). God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere, but this does not mean that God is everything (Psalm 139:7-13; Jeremiah 23:23). God is omniscient, meaning He knows the past, present, and future, including what we are thinking at any given moment. Since He knows everything, His justice will always be administered fairly (Psalm 139:1-5;Proverbs 5:21).

God is one; not only is there no other, but He is alone in being able to meet the deepest needs and longings of our hearts. God alone is worthy of our worship and devotion (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is righteous, meaning that God cannot and will not pass over wrongdoing. It is because of God’s righteousness and justice that, in order for our sins to be forgiven, Jesus had to experience God's wrath when our sins were placed upon Him (Exodus 9:27; Matthew 27:45-46; Romans 3:21-26).

God is sovereign, meaning He is supreme. All of His creation put together cannot thwart His purposes (Psalm 93:1; 95:3; Jeremiah 23:20). God is spirit, meaning He is invisible (John 1:18; 4:24). God is a Trinity. He is three in one, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. God is truth, He will remain incorruptible and cannot lie (Psalm 117:2; 1 Samuel 15:29).

God is holy, separated from all moral defilement and hostile toward it. God sees all evil and it angers Him. God is referred to as a consuming fire (Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 3:2, 4-5; Hebrews 12:29). God is gracious, and His grace includes His goodness, kindness, mercy, and love. If it were not for God's grace, His holiness would exclude us from His presence. Thankfully, this is not the case, for He desires to know each of us personally (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:19; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16, 17:3).

Since God is an infinite Being, no human can fully answer this God-sized question, but through God’s Word, we can understand much about who God is and what He is like. May we all wholeheartedly continue to seek after Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Fearing God

For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer's fear is reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 is a good description of this: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.’” This reverence and awe is exactly what the fear of God means for Christians. This is the motivating factor for us to surrender to the Creator of the Universe.

Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Until we understand who God is and develop a reverential fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. True wisdom comes only from understanding who God is and that He is holy, just, and righteous. Deuteronomy 10:12, 20-21 records, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” The fear of God is the basis for our walking in His ways, serving Him, and, yes, loving Him.

Some redefine the fear of God for believers to “respecting” Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His judgment on sin—even in the life of a believer.Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. As children, the fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some evil actions. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him.

Believers are not to be scared of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him. We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

God is good, all the time

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him......... Thoughts on This Verse... Out of the ashes of Jerusalem's destruction and the disaster that befell God's people because of their repeated disobedience comes this reminder of truth. Those who wait patiently, who hope fervently, in the LORD will find what their souls most needs!


-Lamentations 3:25-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Come to me

''If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.''...... Thoughts on This Verse... In today's Scripture, which occurs immediately after the dedication of the Temple, God told Solomon that the Temple would be a place his people could come and be assured that their prayers would be heard if they honestly and humbly would seek God. This promise is true still, to this very day, for while God's physical Temple isn't standing, his spiritual one is found in the gathering of his people (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Matt. 18:20). While we know that God hears our individual prayers, what a great blessing and what a powerful promise for God's people today! We know that when we gather with believers and humble ourselves before God and seek his presence he will hear us. Rather than wait for a grandiose, world-wide effort to start, why not get together regularly with others who will join us in this prayer effort? 

-2 Chronicles 7:14-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Success in the Lord

 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed....... Thoughts on This Verse... The real question behind this promise is very simple: How do I define success for my plans? The answer is very simple as well: bringing glory to God for his grace (see Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Committing our works and plans to God means surrendering them to God's will (James 4:13-15), trusting that God will be glorified in them (Col. 3:17), and recognizing that it is not in our power to properly guide our own steps (Prov. 16:9). God longs to bless us and empower us -- not for our own selfish ambition (James 3:16), but for our eternal good (Rom. 8:28) and God's glory. Like Jesus, when we commit our plans and works to the Lord, we are saying,''Not my will, Father, but yours be done!'' 

-Proverbs 16:3-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Stay Strong

''Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.''...... Thoughts on This Verse... While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read Psalm 139 out loud and see that God's promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to''be with them always, even to the close of the age.'' Remember God's promise, reiterated from an Old Testament blessing in Hebrews 13:5,''Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!'' Let's be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn't seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don't have to be afraid. In fact, not even death can separate us from his love (see Romans 8:35-39). 

-Joshua 1:9-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Don't worry, be happy

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...... Thoughts on This Verse... Food and clothing are some of the biggest worries of our human existence. They have been for centuries. God reminds us, however, that no matter how important these may seem to be in our world, life is really much bigger than these things and God wants us to trust that he will supply them when we trust in him. 


-Matthew 6:25-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Help!

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth....... Thoughts on This Verse... Since God could speak into existence the universe, and since God knows our names and the number of the hairs on our head ... surely we know that we can go to him for our help. Let's lift up our eyes and our hearts to El Shaddai, Lord God of the Mountains, and know the Almighty sees our needs, hears our requests, and cares about our hearts. 

-Psalm 121:1-2-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Sinners Welcome, Inquire Within

Mark Broabent

27th March 2011

*We feel that if we can't perform, we will never be accepted
*What stops us from walking to church?
-Fear of being judged and not accepted by the church
Romans 7:7-13: 

The Law and Sin

 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet." But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

*We become clear on what sin after the commandments come
*It seems the law stops us from sinning but it actually provokes sin
*The law is not a bad thing, but the purpose of the law is not to make us good bu to show us that we are sinful and highlight the fact that we need a Saviour
*The law resembles the mirror
*We look into it and see the outline of what Christ is and a true reflection of how utterly sinful we are
*That is how God brings the rebellious to brokenness
*Self-righteous are high up the ladder. So they are being taught the command to look themselves in the mirror.

Broken people get none of the credit
*Christianity is not I do my bit but Christ does His bit
*The Gospel is that Jesus does everything and we do not have to anything
*Even coming to faith does not prove we have done our part
*Ephesians 3:10-12: His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.


*We would never seek and run after God
*2 Corinthians 4

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

*We don't even understand the depth of our sin and the need of a Saviour because we are blinded by Satan
*John 15:16: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.


*He has to chase after us
*When we are being baptized, we are not asking you to proclaim that you are a renewed good Christian but to confess that you are a sinner and celebrate that Jesus died for you. We are never good enough if we are not getting baptized because we know we are not good enough.

Broken people continue to grow spiritually
*After being saved by someone, we may forget the good deed done a few years ago
*If we have done good and our threshold between God and men decreases, we might think we are awesome but that is not the care
*1 Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


*Ephesians 3:8: Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,


*1 Timothy 1:15: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.


*It comes down to the fact that we admit that we are the worst sinner in the whole wide world
*When we are aware of our sin, the threshold is bigger and the grace needed for us being saved increases as well
*We need Jesus more than ever before
*Most of us stop growing because we stop looking at the mirror
*God is good, I am not, but God is gracious. Thus, we should be grateful for what He has done

Broken people love God
*We live in respond to that which will lead us good lives
*Luke 7:36-50: 

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

   “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

   “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

   “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

*Most of the time we don't love God because we do not need Him
*No matter how much we sin, we have done way worse but God forgave us and knock on our heads saying that He is holy thus we should show our gratitude
*Spiritual growth is done by praying, reading the bible but all in all, WE NEED JESUS FIRST.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

UQ2=Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47: 

The Fellowship of the Believers

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

*Doing the word of God is better than memorizing the word

 To have us united..

1. Devotion (v42)
*Being teachable to the heart of God, humility
-Our relationship is base on God
*Godly fellowship and sharing lives
-Gathering together while putting God first in our lives
-Do we mean what we say when we say "I love you"?
*Devoted in seeking God in prayer individually and as a group

2. Signs and wonders in our midst
* We will prepare our faith in God before life groups
*Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom to praise and worship

3. Family
*A life group is a family where we share things in common
*Carrying each other's burden
*One part honors, the other honors, one part suffers, the other part suffers too
*It is a giving community
*Whatever we can afford, we give either in terms of time, resources, even smiles

4. Meeting together (v46)
*Meeting regularly together to encourage each other
*noticed they emphasized "continue" to meet together
*We must have glad and sincere hearts without being hypocritical
*Found favor in all authorities and people
*When we meet together we will find favor in God and men

5. Increase (v47)
*Be in different culture and upbringing, we will come to know the Lord
*Bold and encourage each other in the word of God
*1 John 5:12: Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.


6. Increase the quality of life
*John 3:30: He must become greater; I must become less.”
*Letting God increase and us decrease in control
*Various will be curious who is God when we become less of ourselves

7. History Makers in the house of God
*We will rise up in different industries and suppose to make a positive impact 
*We wait upon God in his own timing and will

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Humility vs Pride

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud....... Thoughts on This Verse... What is your source of significance? This proverb challenges us to view the world upside down to the rest of culture. Humility and association with the lowly and oppressed are valued by God. Abusive power and arrogance are not. God didn't just give us this proverb; he sent us his Son to demonstrate it. Now if we can only learn to live it. Ah! But Jesus does give us the opportunity to demonstrate it when he says,''Follow me!'' (cf. John 13) 


- Proverbs 16:19 -



**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**