Wake Up!

When I think about a great modern church leader, I think of Billy Graham. Even if you're not a believer you probably know who he is. He had a humble heart on fire for the Lord. He dedicated his life to bring people to Christ. As Christians we're called to be and do a lot of things. But sharing the gospel to those in need is definitely on the top of the list. Billy Graham was a great example for our generation. And I actually got to attend one of his crusades. I was in middle school and my church drove up to the city to see him and DC Talk on tour together. I'll never forget that night for a couple reasons. For one thing, I almost didn't make it. On my way to the church to meet up with everyone else, my dad stopped at Wendy's to get me something to eat: a junior bacon cheeseburger. I then proceeded to choke on the bacon while we were driving. My dad pulled over and smacked my back until I could breathe again. I'm not sure if that's the proper way to administer the Heimlich maneuver. But it worked. And I made it to the crusade. I don't think I realized at the time what a special and even historic moment I got to be a part of. I just know how excited I was to be at a concert with my friends. Still, I went down for the alter call at the end. I can't remember what was prayed over me. But I have to wonder if those prayers are still being answered in my life now.

Many years later, well just last year actually, I remember hearing a special news report : Billy Graham had passed away. I have to be honest. My very first thought was, "he was still alive?" My second thought was, "I think we must be getting to the end of the Church age." A couple days later Billy Graham's daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, spoke at his funeral. She said something similar. Here's an excerpt from her memorial message...

"Moses was the great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to slavery, got them to the edge of the Promised Land and God took him to Heaven. God brought Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land to take them home. And my father (Billy Graham) also is a great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to sin and gets us to the edge of Heaven, the edge of the Promised Land and then God has called him home. Could it be that God is going to bring Joshua to lead us into the Promised Land, lead us to Heaven and – you know what the New Testament name for Joshua is? It's Jesus. And I believe this is a shot across the bow from Heaven. And I believe God is saying: 'Wake up church! Wake up world! Jesus is coming!"

I believe it. I can feel it. When God starts to move, when He gets ready to do something -- we can feel it in our spirits can't we? Anne wrote later on in her blog how scared she was the day of her father's funeral. She didn't have anything prepared and didn't know what to say until she stood behind the podium. She believes that what came out of her mouth was a prophetic message from the Holy Spirit. I think so, too. As Christians, we have the Spirit of God living in us. I believe He can reveal things and speak things to us and through us. There have been several awakenings and revivals through the centuries. What I find most exciting is that even before mass media, sometimes revivals would happen at the exact same time in different places. Because God doesn't need TV or Internet to get His message out. He just needs willing hearts attuned to the Word and His Spirit.

So if we really are on the edge of revival -- if we really are in the very last days before Jesus returns, what should we do? When Daniel read the book of Jeremiah and realized the 70 year captivity was almost over, he didn't just sit around and wait. He did something. He prayed. It's a beautiful prayer (Daniel 9:4-19). He praised God and stood on His promises. Daniel acknowledged the sins of Israel and I asked for forgiveness and undeserved mercy. And he even asked the Lord not to delay much longer. Sounds like a prayer we should pray doesn't it? I believe Anne is right, the Church needs revival.

"While a true revival in its essence belongs only to God's people, it always brings with it a blessing for the other sheep who are not yet of the fold. If you drop a stone into a lake the ring widens continually, till the farthest corner of the lake feels the influence. Let the Lord revive a believer and very soon his family, his friends, his neighbors, receive a share of the benefit; for when a Christian is revived, he prays more fervently for sinners. Longing, loving prayer for sinners, is one of the marks of a revival in the renewed heart. Since the blessing is asked for sinners, the blessing comes from him who hears the prayers of his people; and thus the world gains by revival. Soon the revived Christian speaks concerning Jesus and the gospel; he sows good seed, and God's good seed is never lost, for he has said, "It shall not return unto me void." The good seed is sown in the furrows, and in some sinners' hearts God prepares the soil, so that the seed springs up in a glorious harvest. Thus by the zealous conversation of believers another door of mercy opens to men."
-- Charles Spurgeon

If we have to battle real spiritual enemies, if we have to be a bright light to a dark world, if we really are the last generation before Jesus returns -- then the Church needs to be awake, alert, prayerful, and prepared. I contemplate Anne Graham Lotz's words often. They motivate me. Maybe they'll do the same for you. "Wake up, Church!"

Some of my favorite quotes from Billy Graham --

"God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ’I love you."

"God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there."

"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world."

“Knowing we will be with Christ forever far outweighs our burdens today! Keep your eyes on eternity!”

“It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.”

“Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.”

“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

“We say to our children, 'Act like grown-ups,' but Jesus said to the grown-ups, 'Be like children."

"Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys."


“Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.”

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Ephesians 5:14 

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your unfailing love, Lord , and grant us your salvation.
Psalms 85:6‭-‬7

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Acts 3:19 

"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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 

"The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord , you alone know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord ! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’ ”
Ezekiel 37:1‭-‬6 

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
2 Peter 3:9‭-‬18 

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
1 Thessalonians 5:4‭-‬11

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:36 

Does God Hear Us? And Can We Hear Him?

"God is more eager to answer than we are to ask."
-- Smith Wigglesworth

Do you ever wonder if God can really hear you when you pray? I mean, God has so many people to take care of. At times it seems hard to imagine Him hearing and taking care of all of us. But I had an experience several years ago that assured me that He does hear. And I thought I would share it.

My oldest was just a toddler, and I was still working. I loved my job and did not have immediate plans to quit. We were a young family. We had recently bought a house and then had a baby. We just weren't ready financially to have one income. But one day I felt a tug in my heart to stay home with my daughter. I didn't say anything right away. I kept it to myself and prayed about it. About two weeks later my husband said to me, "I think you should stay home." We didn't know how we would have money to pay for everything but we both heard from God. So that was it. I put in my two weeks notice. It was difficult. I loved my daughter and was excited to stay home with her, but I was also giving up something else I loved. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make though. And I was excited to trust God. I believed that He would provide for us even if it seemed impossible. But months went by, and the little money we had saved was gone. Things were tight and difficult.  One day I went to the grocery store to buy food for the week. My daughter and I parked in front of the store, but I didn't get out of the car. I sat in the parking lot and cried. I prayed and talked to God because I knew I didn't have enough money to buy everything I needed. But I composed myself, trusted God, and went into the store. I wasn't very far into my shopping when I looked up and saw a tall woman with blonde hair walking right towards me. She stopped in front of me, grabbed my hand and put a twenty dollar bill inside. She said, "The Lord told me to give this to you," and then walked away. That was all she said and then she was gone. Well, of course I cried. Not even ten minutes earlier I was praying and asking the Lord how I was going to buy groceries. And the God who created the heavens and the earth, the King of Kings, heard my tiny prayer and sent me an answer! It was just twenty dollars. It wasn't enough to drastically change my grocery order. But it was just enough for me to hear God say, "Trust me. I've got you. I can do anything! " Since that day I have never doubted that God hears my prayers, even if He answers in ways I can't understand. Even if it takes longer than ten minutes to see Him move. Most of the time we have to be patient and wait on the Lord.  Sometimes a very long time. But one thing I know for sure -- I'm His precious child and He is mindful of me (and you).

I wanted to share this story to remind us all how special we are to God. We're His family. And if we trust Him, He will take care of us. He wants to. Just like good earthly parents are always glad to help. But sometimes I think He's waiting on us to ask. Just like my parents would have helped me in that moment if I had asked (sometimes they help even when I don't). It's easy to depend on the things in the natural (like parents), but I think God had other plans that day. I think He wanted to use a small act of kindness to reveal His greatness to me. I believe He wants us all to learn to depend on Him. Still, God uses the people in our life (and sometimes even strangers) to bring blessings. Often, we are each other's answers to prayers. And that reminds me of how important our choices are. How important it is to be obedient. I think about that woman in the grocery store often. I don't know her, but I will never forget her. I wasn't her daughter or even her friend. But she heard a voice in her heart. God told her to give me money and she chose to obey. I'm so thankful she did. And now when I get scared to reach out to someone, I think of her. If she could be brave and obedient, then so can I. How encouraging it is to know that God heard my prayer and answered it. But it's also pretty special for that woman -- that God used her to answer my prayer. God loves us enough to listen to our cries, but also enough to use us to bless others. We get to be part of God's plan! The Great I AM chooses to let us be a part of what He does! That's pretty awesome! I think one day in heaven I will know exactly who that woman is. I'll recognize her and give her a hug and finally be able to really thank her. There's nothing better than to be a part of the family of God!

I'll leave you with this excerpt from my Charles Spurgeon devotional. It was from a couple days ago and it's what prompted me to share this story. Be blessed! And be a blessing!


"Perhaps no figure of speech represents God in a more gracious light than when He is spoken of as stooping from His throne and coming down from heaven to attend to the needs and to behold the sorrows of mankind. Though a long distance lies between us and our Creator, yet there are links uniting us to Him. When you weep, do you not think that God does not see your tears? Your sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; your whisper can incline His ear unto you; your prayer can stay His hand; your faith can move His arm. Do not think that God sits on high paying no attention to you. Remember that however poor and needy you are, the Lord thinks about you. Oh, then, repeat the truth that never tires: no God is like the God my soul desires. He, at whose voice heaven trembles, even He, knows how to stoop to me."

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us."
1 John 5:14 

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”
1 Peter 3:12 

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Jeremiah 33:3 

"I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer."
Psalms 17:6

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on Him in truth."
Psalms 145:18 

"What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"
Psalms 8:4

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10

The Greatest Adventure

I think most of us probably like adventure to some degree. I do at least. As kids we played in the woods behind our house,  pretended we were explorers, imagined we were part of something exciting. We reenacted the stories we read and watched. Now I do the same thing with my own kids. They like to look for dinosaur bones and Bigfoot, pretend they're super heroes or pirates looking for treasure. Imagination is a wonderful gift from God. Now that I'm an adult I don't imagine quite as much as I used to, but I still read a lot. Some of my favorite books are The Hobbit and the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series. And my kids are into the Chronicles of Narnia right now. It's fun to read about misfits going on magical journeys and unlikely friends triumphing over evil. We like to pretend and read about these adventures. But the truth is much more real and exciting! I believe God designed us to have purpose and a desire to be a part of something. And it turns out we are part of something very special. And if we find our purpose in Him, we'll be on a journey that ends at the beginning of another one --  an adventure greater than our human minds can imagine!

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Acts. It's the story of how the Church began -- the start of an adventure for those who wish to be a part of it. Roughly two thousand years ago Jesus, the Son of God, came and walked the earth as a man. He died. He rose from the grave and defeated death. And then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. And that's where He is now. But where does that leave us? Not alone. Fifty days after Jesus' resurrection the Holy Spirit was sent to the upper room to indwell the hearts of men and women. The disciples were filled with God's Spirit and instantly changed! Now they were the Body of Christ, and God used all kinds of people along the way to form this mysterious new group. There was Peter the fisherman and Paul the scholar with a not so good past. Mary the mother of Jesus and Cornelius the Roman centurion. Phillip and his four daughters who prophesied. Priscilla and Aquila the married missionaries. Stephen who waited tables and stood up to the Pharisees. Just to name a few. Jews and Gentiles alike. Each one with a certain place and job to do. But the world they were living in was pretty dark and at unrest. The Jews had their laws and the Romans had their idols. And together, some of them had just put to death the Author of Life. I can only imagine the atmosphere after something like that happened. But Jesus had a lot of friends still on earth to defend His name and share His message. The unlikely mix of people were emboldened with power and love from above that could not be quenched.  They offered something that people wanted and needed -- a savior willing to forgive, love, and a promise of eternal life. You would think everyone would be excited about something like that. But the Christians seemed to make a lot of enemies. As this new group called "The Way" grew in size, both the Jews and the Romans grew in anger. But out of their persecution these first Christians became a family. They had to, the world was against them. They called each other brothers and sisters as they went to prison together, stood up for one another, hid each other in their homes, and wrote each other letters of encouragement. They carried each other's burdens. And as darkness rose, the light grew brighter. Their adversity strengthened them. And so here we are today. We're still the Church - still filled with His Holy Spirit - still a bright light! Those very first brothers and sisters of ours succeeded.

And so the adventure continues. It's hard to ignore the fact that the world is growing darker and further away from God. Persecution is rising, even in America. Maybe we're not put in prison yet like the first disciples. But we are still an incredibly misunderstood group of people. As we're often falsely accused, silenced, threatened, or forced to make compromises. But I don't think we need to be frightened. We are on an real life adventure after all. With a very real antagonist. But there's more to this real story that is pretty exciting. We're sons and daughters of God. We're priests and kings. We're a peculiar people. Strangers in a strange land. This is not our real home anymore. We're just passing through a world that's largely unaware that it's our prayers answered by our God keeping our countries, cities, and schools safe. Maybe we've lost some battles. We have enemies waging war on us. But God will win in the end.  And so will we if we're on His side. So just like the first Church, maybe we can allow the adversity to strengthen us. We can stick together and become a family. We are the body of Christ and there is a place for anyone who is willing to follow Him -- whether you have everything together or your life is in pieces. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, or what you've done. You can be forgiven and have a place. We're all misfits. But as we remain in Him, Jesus becomes our life source -- in our weaknesses He becomes our strength.  Maybe you don't know where to start. Well the Word is a great place and it's also our greatest weapon. And never underestimate the power of a simple prayer, a kind word, an act of service, or a gesture of thoughtfulness. We might not be able to see it with our physical eyes, but when we do even the smallest act of faith and love we're piercing the darkness and allowing God to move. I believe He takes what we can give and muliplies it. So let's hold each other up. Take our places. Put on our armor. Pick up our swords. Join God's army. And follow our King and Savior, Jesus, into the greatest adventure!

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19 

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12 

Blessed are those whose strength is in the Lord, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
Psalms 84:5 

Grace and peace from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever!
Revelation 1:5‭-‬6

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be  in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:16‭-‬18 

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:4 

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
John 15:18‭-‬19 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:10‭-‬18 

Thy Word is a Lamp onto My Feet

Those of us who grew up in the 80's and 90's knew that "Thy Word was a Lamp onto our Feet." Thanks to Amy Grant. Even now when I read that scripture I start humming that song. If you're from a Christian home like me, then you also probably knew all the Bible stories and maybe even had some scriptures memorized. You probably had people your whole life tell you to read the Word. Your parents, Sunday school teachers, and pastors all told you to. I did at least. And I listened to them. I tried to sit down and read the Bible. Except every time I did, it went in one ear and out the other. I might as well been reading a foreign language. I didn't understand it. But I was a Christian, how could I not understand the Bible? Was there something wrong with me? Still, I took my Bible with me everywhere -- on vacations, to college, when I moved away from home. Maybe I didn't always read it, or understand it, or practice what it said. Most of the time I didn't even open it. But somehow, I knew I needed it. I felt better when it was with me.

You know that "pit" I mentioned in an earlier post. Well I was at very bottom of it one day, and I was feeling especially bad for myself. I was depressed and scared. I felt hopeless. I felt lost. Through my tears I looked over and saw the Bible sitting on my bed -- the one I took with me everywhere but never read. Well, that Bible at that moment called out to me. It didn't really glow, but it almost seemed to. A voice rose up from the inside of me telling me that the answer to all my problems was in that book. I didn't know how I would get there, but I knew that voice was right. I said "Okay, God. I'm going to read your Word every day until I find some answers." And I did. At first, just like always, none of what I read made sense. But little by little I started to understand -- until one day I realized that I couldn't leave the house in the morning before reading the Bible. I couldn't go to bed at night before reading the Bible. I looked forward to it. I turned down activities with friends to stay home and read it. I was healing. I was happy. I was at home in His Word! Then one day I fell to my knees and sobbed uncontrollably. I understood who I was -- a sinner. But I also understood who Jesus was and what He did for me. He had washed me clean. He had taken that broken mess that I was and gently put me back together. And I felt His love. It was real and tangible. That voice I heard just months ago was Jesus calling me to Himself. And I am so glad I listened.

And so began my love for God's Word. That first mountain top experience lasted a year or so. But life gets busy and things fall by the wayside. Throughout the last couple decades I have had times of neglecting the Word but I've also had times of faithfulness and revelation and closeness to God. I have to admit that although I had read most of the Bible through the years, I had not read all of it. But just this past year I read the whole Bible in it's entirety. Even Leviticus. Even Ezekiel. I learned some new things about God and His Church and myself. The Bible never gets old. It's never irrelevant. But it does always restore the soul. And I don't know if I could live without it.

So, you're here reading my words. But my intention is to point you to His Words. And I shared all this because I want you to know that it's never too late to start reading. You're never too far away to be able to understand. God will meet you where you are and light your path. You're never too broken to be put back together. The best answer is always in the Bible. Even if it takes some time to find it. Whether you've spent you're whole life reading the Word or you've never once opened the pages, God's Word has something for you. His Words are Spirit and they are Life. If God was calling me, then He's calling you too. Go -- see what He has to say.

So what does God's Word say about God's Word?

**Jesus is the Word made flesh.**

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:1‭-‬5 & 14


**The Word is alive.**

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12 


**The Word lights our way.**

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Psalms 119:105 


**The Word is our sword in battle.**

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand... Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
Ephesians 6:13,17 


**Obeying God's Word brings blessings.**

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Luke 11:28 


**God's Word is perfect.**

"As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him."
Psalms 18:30 


**God's Word accomplishes what it's meant to.**

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10‭-‬11 


**God's Word nourishes.**

"Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4 


**God's Word cleanses.**

"...cleanse by the washing with water through the word."
Ephesians 5:26


**God's Word brings life.**

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit  and life."
John 6:63 


**Faith comes from hearing the Word.**

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:17 "


**We must act on the Word we hear.**

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
James 1:22‭-‬24 

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Matthew 7:24 


**Not knowing the Word could bring destruction.**

"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."
Hosea 4:6 


**God's Word sets us free.**

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31‭-‬32 


**God's Word lasts forever.**

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Matthew 24:35