Song of Songs 4 - 2.3.2023

Scripture - What stood out?

Song of Songs 4:16

Awake, north wind,

    and come, south wind!

Blow on my garden,

    that its fragrance may spread everywhere.

Let my beloved come into his garden

    and taste its choice fruits.

Observation - What does it say?

A love poem with multiple meanings and layers. The woman here also represents the bride of Christ.

Understanding - What does it mean?

…Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.

As the church we are also known by another name, the bride of Christ Jesus. And just as husband and wife seek to live a life in love and harmony in the flesh with one another I picture our own relationships with you myJesus seeking to establish similar harmonies. This verse stood out to me on my first read through and on the second read through of our bible verses today I immediately became drawn to Galatians:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

I was assisting with a resume today and I became drawn to all the “corporate fruit” that we urge our potential employers to taste - I’m adaptable, dependable, malleable, but definitely not expendable! How much sweeter is this fruit that the Holy Spirit has for us to offer you Lord! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!

Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?

What a joy it is to read Your word today Lord! For my life application today I pray that my spiritual garden produces any of these spiritual fruits. Please guide me today, Holy Spirit. May my spirit inside me produce Holy Spirit fruit, fragrant and amazing, specifically to offer our Lord Jesus, the bridegroom of His church!! In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.

-kenneth lee

Proverbs 21 - 2.2.23

Scripture‭‭

Proverbs‬ ‭21:2-3, & 27‬ ‭NLT

“People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.”

Observation-What does it say?

Another set of proverbs given by King Solomon. In these particular verses he writes of God knowing our true heart and motives behind our actions.

Understanding-What does it mean?

You can’t fool God.

I remember when I was still new to my faith. Deep down I thought by me tithing, I can buy God’s favor and protection. I thought if I didn’t give back to God, something bad was going to happen to me. Maybe something breaking down with my car, in my home, or a family sickness. In a sense, some of that can be true. But we all know you can’t buy God’s favor. I mean what was I thinking?! Did I really think that I can buy God to be my personal bodyguard?! You see, although God is my protector, it isn’t because I paid Him to do it.

The same goes for a time when I would hear stories of someone like Pastor Rick Warren, (the author of A Purpose Driven Life and Lead Pastor at Saddleback Church), and how generous he was with his money. I would read stories of no matter how much he would give back, God would bless him with so much more money. I thought to myself, “Maybe if I’m generous like that, God will make me rich too?!” Now although Jesus does call us to be generous with others and our giving, I don’t think it was so that we can become filthy rich. For both scenarios that I stated, I had to ask myself, “What are my true motives behind my actions? “Was I doing these things to receive God’s presence? Or was I doing it to receive His presents?” 🤔

God knew my heart at that time. He knew my selfish ambitions behind my actions. It took the Holy Spirit to get a hold of me and remind me why I should be doing the things God tells me to do. Not because I want something in return, but because I love Him. I love Him because He first loved me.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”-‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT

Life Application

Give generously what you can with your time or money, with no strings attached.

Be giving to someone today. No strings attached. No ulterior motives. Remember what God did for us and still continues to do for us. Remember why we do what we do as His children.

-Moses Gaddi

‬‬

Acts 26 - 2.1.23

Scripture

Acts 26:28-29

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Observation-What does it say?

Paul is giving his defense for his newfound hope and faith in Jesus Christ! He is explaining his full testimony, from who he was before Christ, to when God encountered him, to the present time of why he is proclaiming the name of Jesus.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Paul freely shared his testimony.

Why did Paul freely share his testimony? It wasn’t in hopes that he would be free from imprisonment. Neither was it so that he could have a running checklist of how many he brought to Christ through his testimony. In verse 29, he states to King Agrippa that he prays that everyone would become what he has become (except for his chains). He basically reveals that he just wants everyone to experience the same love, hope and grace that he has in his life, because of Jesus!

Life Application

Practice sharing our testimonies.

It’s important for us to practice sharing our testimonies with unbelievers who need to know the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We must also share with those in our church body. As Pastor Levi stated in one of our ministry leader’s threads, testimonies “bring God glory,” “inspire worship,” and “build faith.”

I am looking forward to our Sunday celebration service where we will be sharing our testimonies from our time of prayer and fasting! It will be a great way to practice sharing all the miraculous things the Lord has done in our lives.

Also, please join us tonight for Worship Wednesday at 6:30p! I know that a lot more testimonies will be birthed from our time together tonight, as we seek God through prayer and worship together.

-Michelle Gaddi