May 2022 DSW - The Holy Spirit

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Have you often wondered at the role and character of the Holy Spirit?  It seems that many of us do not quite understand this mysterious third person of the Triune God.  Here are 31 Bible verses that should give you a little more insight.  Write out one verse each day in a notebook or binder each day in May; they are just a verse or two and should only take you a few minutes to copy.  Then reflect on the verse that day and ask God to give you deeper understanding.

Thanks for reading!

Either save to your computer to print out; it is formatted to be a A5/half sheet of paper.  Or copy the verse references into your notebook.

At The Moment of Salvation #3 -- A Weekly Series

  ...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; or with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

At the moment of salvation, every believer in Jesus Christ receives 40 things from God. Of the 40 things, 39 of them are permanent and can never be removed from the believer - even by God himself! The only temporary thing is the Filling of the Holy Spirit which we lose due to our own free will to act against God. We can repeatedly gain the Filling of the Spirit following confession of our known sins to the Father.

3. Regeneration

We are "regenerated" or "born again" through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit creates a human spirit for the new believer. so that the new believer is "born again." John 3:1-12, Titus 3:5, Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:14

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? (John 3:1-12)

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:16)

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

  .....

There is a lot of information in this list (and I haven't taken it all in or deeply studied it yet, either) so don't worry if you don't understand it all.  Just take little bites and keep studying.  I'm going to make a list of them with the Scripture references to go into my personal Bible Reference binder.

If you have questions about becoming a believer, please comment to me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction.  Or, find a Christian you know to ask them about it, or go to a trusted pastor. 

The Forty Things Received at Salvation (egracebiblechurch.org) 

PART ONE Staying Salty: Forty Gifts At The Moment of Salvation #2 (A weekly series) (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)

PART TWO Staying Salty: Forty Gifts At The Moment of Salvation - #1 (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)

Redeemed

 ...knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  1 Peter 1:18-21

Redeemed

Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915)

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed, redeemed,

His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence

with me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long;

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty

the King in whose law I delight;

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,

and giveth me songs in the night.

.....

I remember singing many Fanny Crosby songs out of the hymnal when I was a child growing up in the church and my mom taught me a bit about her.  Fanny was just a few weeks old when a doctor placed hot poultices on her eyes to draw out an infection.  However, this did not work and Fanny became blind.  She didn't start writing hymns until she was forty years old but she made up for lost time, writing around 8,000 poems that were set to music.  These poems are filled with joy and longing for the Lord.  "Redeemed and so happy in Jesus" is not just a line that sounds good in a hymn, it is the story of Crosby's life.  She may have been blinded to the light of this world, but Fanny Crosby had a light shining in her soul.

.....

More on Fanny Crosby:  

Fanny Crosby Biography | Inspirational Christians

Fanny Crosby › Texts | Hymnary.org

Fanny Crosby - Wikipedia

Redeemed † With Lyrics - YouTube

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 21

Galatians 2:20

Forty Gifts At The Moment of Salvation #2 (A weekly series)

At the moment of salvation, every believer in Jesus Christ receives 40 things from God. Of the 40 things, 39 of them are permanent and can never be removed from the believer - even by God himself! The only temporary thing is the Filling of the Holy Spirit which we lose due to our own free will to act against God. We can repeatedly gain the Filling of the Spirit following confession of our known sins to the Father.

.....

2. Justification

As a result of this imputed righteousness, we are "declared righteous" or justified by God the Father. We are vindicated as believers because the justice of God the Father was satisfied by the substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the cross who paid the sin penalty for all of our sins. He was our substitute and was found righteous in this payment. Romans 3:24-30.

And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. (Romans 3:24-30)

.....

I copied this from another website (it is listed below).  But this was too good to not share with you.  I have made a list of them with the Scripture references to go into my personal Bible Reference binder.   

There is a lot of information in this list (and I haven't taken it all in or deeply studied it yet) so don't worry if you don't understand it all.  Just take little bites and keep studying.  

If you have questions about becoming a believer, please comment to me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction.  Or, find a Christian you know to ask them about it, or go to a trusted pastor. 

.....

 The Forty Things Received at Salvation (egracebiblechurch.org)

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 17 - Easter

Luke 24:6-7

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April 18

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

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April 19

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.  Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another.  My heart faints within me!  Job 19: 25-27

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Samuel Medley (1738-1799)

Tune: Duke Street

I know that my Redeemer lives:
what joy the blest assurance gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my everlasting Head!

He lives to bless me with His love;

He lives to plead for me above;

He lives my hungry soul to feed;

He lives to help in time of need.

He lives and grants me daily breath;

He lives and I shall conquer death;

He lives my mansion to prepare;

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name;

He lives, my Savior, still the same;

What joy the blest assurance gives;

I know that my Redeemer lives!

.....

Every now and then there is a verse that simply makes my heart sing.  These particular words jump out of the Old Testament and take on new meaning.  Job had lost his fortune, his family, and much of his health.  He displayed a stunning faith and expresses his only remaining hope: "I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth."  These words are fulfilled in Jesus!

Jesus gave His life to redeem us, to buy us back from our slavery to sin.  His  death was the price for our freedom.  But hallelujah, because of Easter morning, we can say with Job, I know my Redeemer lives!  He lives!  Death could not hold Him, He lives, to finish salvation's work in me!

The writer of this hymn, Samuel Medley, often repeated words and phrases in his songs.  What is repeated here is the most important concept:  "He lives...He lives...He lives."

.....

I Know that My Redeemer Lives-Easter at Concordia Ev Lutheran Church, Chicago, Spring 2020 - YouTube  (Not a great recording, but you'll get the idea of the song especially if you know this melody)

Nicole C Mullen My Redeemer lives{Official Video} - YouTube  This is one of my favorite versions; I sang this in a trio with my sister and the music minister.  We had a fabulous three-part harmony, I must say.

He Lives! (I Serve A Risen Saviour) - YouTube  Another favorite of mine.  I requested this song be played by the organist after I was baptized.  

Samuel Medley | Hymnary.org  More on the life of Samuel Medley

Staying Salty: Word Study - Propitiation (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 16

Romans 8:11

Romans 8 has become one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  If you haven't read it lately, I encourage you to find a quiet spot and immerse yourself in the truth it contains.

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 15

Romans 6:8-9

Death no longer has mastery over Him!  Hallelujah!

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 14

Romans 6:3-4

I have been having the best time creating these little journaling pages from the day's Daily Scripture Writing verses.  I am glad to say that I think I still have some #CraftyMojo in me.  

I have hole punched them to fit into my A5 size Bible planner so I can keep them as visual reminders of the truths around Easter.

Staying Salty: April 2022 Daily Scripture Writing Plan (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)

April 13 Scripture Journaling

 April 13

Romans 5:8-9

Forty Gifts At The Moment of Salvation - #1

  ...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; or with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

I copied this from another website (it is listed below).  But this was too good to not share with you.  I will share one item weekly; so fasten your seatbelts for this long ride.

I've made a list of these forty things--with the Scripture references--to go into my personal Bible Reference binder.  

There is a lot of information in this list (and I haven't taken it all in or deeply studied it yet) so don't worry if you don't understand it all.  Just take little bites and keep studying.  

If you have questions about becoming a believer, please comment to me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction.  Or, find a Christian you know to ask them about it, or go to a trusted pastor. 

.....

At the moment of salvation, every believer in Jesus Christ receives 40 things from God. Of the 40 things, 39 of them are permanent and can never be removed from the believer - even by God himself! The only temporary thing is the Filling of the Holy Spirit which we lose due to our own free will to act against God. We can repeatedly gain the Filling of the Spirit following confession of our known sins to the Father.

1. Imputed Righteousness

Divine righteousness is imputed from God the Father to our souls at the same time we share the righteousness of Christ through Positional Truth. Through this "double Portion" of righteousness, we are made righteous. Romans 4:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21 Romans 3:25-26

What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)

The Forty Things Received at Salvation (egracebiblechurch.org) 

April 12 Scripture Journaling

 April 12

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 9

April 10

April 11

Staying Salty: April 2022 Daily Scripture Writing Plan (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna!  BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel."  
John 12:12-13

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Jeannette Threlfall (1821-1880)

Hosanna, loud hosanna

the little children sang;

through pillared court and temple

the lovely anthem rang;

to Jesus, who had blessed them

close folded to His breast,

the children sang their praises, 

the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed

'mid an exultant crowd,

the victor palm branch waving,

and chanting clear and loud;

the Lord of men and angels

rode on in lowly state,

nor scorned that little children

should on His bidding wait.

"Hosanna in the highest!"

that ancient song we sing,

for Christ is our Redeemer,

the Lord of heaven our King.

O may we ever praise Him

with heart and life and voice,

and in His blissful presence

eternally rejoice!

.....

Jeannette Threlfall had not many reasons to praise God.  She was orphaned young, shuttled between relatives, and was injured in an accident and became an invalid.  Yet she remained cheery and faithful and penned many Christian poems and hymns.

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was a scene of a curious exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders.  A crowd was following Jesus on the donkey waving palm branches and singing, "Hosanna!"  This term, literally meaning "Lord, save us!" was also a cry of praise.

The crowd included a number of children, who were unsurprisingly caught up in the excitement of the day.  The leaders asked Jesus to tell the children to stop this singing.  Surely Jesus wouldn't want innocent children to be guilty of blasphemy?  They asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?"

Oh yes, Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise" (See Matthew 21:6).

Just like these children, Jeannette Threlfall's life was a cry of hosanna! to her victorious Savior.

.....

Hosanna Loud Hosanna (webstream, 11 AM) - YouTube  Oh the organ!

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 I have been writing out a Scripture verse every day for over a year based on a monthly theme I create for myself.  I wanted to stretch my creative muscles so I have been making creative journaling entries, as well.  Not only has that been fun, but I now have a visual reminder of the verse to recall as I get more Scripture into my heart, mind, and life.  

April 7

April 8

Word Study - Propitiation

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  2 Corinthians 5:18

Propitiation

See Atonement

that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners.

In Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Exodus 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth , w
hich means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant ( Exodus 25:21 ; 30:6 ). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation.

In 1 John 2:2 ; 4:10 , Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Compare Hebrews 2:17 , where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the RSV "make propitiation.")

Covering; atoning sacrifice.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the PROPITIATION for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ( 1 John 2:1 Isaiah 2:1-2 )

Theological Implication:

The basal idea in Hebrew terms is that of covering what is offensive, so restoring friendship, or causing to be kindly disposed. The Greek terms lack the physical reference to covering but introduce the idea of friendliness where antagonism would be natural; hence, graciousness. Naturally, therefore, the idea of expiation entered into the concept. It is especially to be noted that all provisions for this friendly relation as between God and offending man find their initiation and provision in God and are under His direction, but involve the active response of man. All heathen and unworthy conceptions are removed from the Christian notion of propitiation by the fact that God Himself proposed, or "set forth," Christ as the "mercy-seat," and that this is the supreme expression of ultimate love. God had all the while been merciful, friendly, "passing over" man's sins with no apparently adequate, or just, ground for doing so. Now in the blood of Christ sin is condemned and expiated, and God is able to establish and maintain His character for righteousness, while He continues and extends His dealing in gracious love with sinners who exercise faith in Jesus. The propitiation originates with God, not to appease Himself, but to justify Himself in His uniform kindness to men deserving harshness. Compare also as to reconciliation, as in Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18.

.....

For Further Study

What is Propitiation? Bible Meaning and Definition (biblestudytools.com)

Propitiation - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway

What Does “Propitiation” Mean? Biblical Meaning & Understanding (christianity.com)

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 April 5

Matthew 28:6

April 2022 Scripture Journaling

 Monday April 4

Zechariah 9:9

At the Lamb's High Feast

 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.  1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

...

At the Lamb's High Feast

Latin Hymn - translated by Rpbert Campbell (1814 - 1868)

At the Lamb's high feast we sing

praise to our victorious King,

who hath washed us in the tide

flowing from His pierced side;

praise we Him, whose love divine

gives His sacred Blood for wine,

gives His Body for the feast,

Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

Where the Paschal Blood is poured,

death's dark angel sheathes his sword;

Israel's hosts trimphant go

through the wave that drowns the foe.

Praise we Christ, whose Blood was shed,

Paschal victim, Paschal bread;

with sincerity and love,

eat we manna from above.

Mighty Victim from the sky,

hell's fierce powers beneath Thee lie;

Thou has conquered in the fight,

Thou hast brought us life and light;

now no more can death appal,

now no more the grave enthrall;

Thou hast opened paradise,

and in Thee Thy saints shall rise.

Paschal triumph, Paschal joy!

sin alone can this destroy;

from sin's power do Thou set free

souls new-born, O Lord, in Thee.

Hymns of glory, songs of praise,

Father, unto Thee we raise;

Risen Lord, all praise to Thee

with the Spirit ever be.

...

Today we'll look at three Passover (or Paschal) feasts found in Scripture.  

The first was celebrated by the Israelites in Egypt.  After the lamb was slain and its blood was put on the doorposts of their houses, the Israelite families feasted while the angel of death passed by their houses.  This is the Passover that continues to be celebrated in Jewish homes today.  

[See Exodus 12:1-13]

In the upper room just prior to His death, Jesus observed the Last Supper with His disciples.  This Passover meal had special meaning because of Jesus, the Lamb of God.  This is the communion, or Eucharist, that all Christian churches continue to celebrate today.  

[See Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14: 12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38]

The wedding supper of the Lamb is the consummation of the Paschal feast.  Jesus, the lamb who was slain, has now been glorified.  The Victim is now the Victor! 

[See Revelation 19:7-10]

This ancient hymn, translated from Latin, weaves the three feasts together into a triumphant climax.

Celebrate!

...

Paschal Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Pronunciation:  PASCHAL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

Piano:  At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Salzburg) - YouTube

Organ: Hymn 174 from The Hymnal 1982: At the Lamb's high feast - YouTube

April 2022 DSW - Scripture Journaling

 Here is the third Scripture journaling project I've done for this month.  It is fun to stretch my creative muscles; it will also be interesting to see any progress in my creativity.  

Isaiah 58:6

April 2022 DSW - Scripture Journaling

 Hello!

I've been wanting to do something crafty with all my Bible Projects.  I decided I would be crafty with this month's Daily Scripture Writing.  I am hoping to do something each day and post it here.  I'll keep these in my A5 Grace binder along with the other writings I've done this month.

April 1:  Job 19:25

I'm looking forward to this--not only the creative aspect but it is my hope that I will be fully immersed in the Scriptures for this Easter month.

Need a copy of these verses?  Find them here:  Staying Salty: April 2022 Daily Scripture Writing Plan (saltedstudy.blogspot.com)