The Amidah – “The Standing Prayer”
Composed around 450BC by the 120 Men of the Great Assembly including Ezra and Nehemiah at the time of the rebuilding of the Temple. It was to be said while standing. Three times a day at the hours of prayer: 9am, 12pm, 3pm.
God of History
Blessed are You, Oh Lord our God and God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the great, mighty and revered God, the Most High God who bestows loving kindnesses, the creator of all things, who remembers the good deeds of the patriarchs and in love will bring a redeemer to their children’s children for His name’s sake. Oh King, helper, Savior and Shield. Blessed are You, Oh Lord, the shield of Abraham.
God of Nature
A Christian Soldier’s Perspective on Afghanistan
WHY WE’RE REALLY HERE
(A Christian Soldier’s Perspective on Afghanistan)
Fighting in Afghanistan is like the sun and sand; it’s always been part of the landscape. The event that drew America in to this continuum of violence took place in 1973, but actually had its genesis in 1958. Then President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, asked the King of Afghanistan to allow the international community to erect a Christian church in Kabul, so Christians would have a place to worship. Twelve years later, in 1970, the King granted that request and allowed construction of the first and to date, only public Christian church in Kabul.
Internationals living and working in Kabul worshiped Christ in that church freely for three years, without persecution. In 1973, under pressure from hard line Mullahs, the King declared that the Christian Church in Kabul must come down, because Afghanistan was an Islamic Republic and allowing “infidels” to practice their religion here was no longer acceptable.
A German business man in the city warned the king if he destroyed the church, his government would be destroyed with it. The king paid no attention and ordered the church razed to the ground. Before the dust from the church settled on the streets of Kabul, that night the King was overthrown in a coup, and his government fell, too, just as the business man had prophesied. This event ushered in a period of war and instability in Afghanistan that continues till now.
Celebrate
The Spoken Word Church celebrates 42 years of ministry July 2024. The church held its first service July 1982. I would like to share a few thoughts on the past 42 years, as we look forward to the years ahead.
As you travel through your lifetime on planet earth, there are only two specific groups of people you come in contact with, believers and unbelievers; those who believe that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead and have received Jesus as their Lord and personal Savior, and those who have not.
We presented Jesus as the great “I AM” of the Old Testament at all four levels; world, national, state and local. We have consistently prayed for people, places, things and events. We have ministered to people in North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and the Islands of the world.
We are in the middle of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will continue to escalate as we approach the Rapture of the Church and the start of the seven year tribulation. Sin has increased in frequency and intensity. The number of believers praying according to God’s Word has grown spectacularly. Holiness is beginning to cover the Body of Christ, evangelism is stronger than ever before, persecution is rapidly becoming commonplace throughout the planet. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is affecting all people in never before seen ways.
The TRUTH About Israel and the “Palestinians”
The TRUTH About Israel and the “Palestinians”.
The Palestinian Authority officially launched its effort to unilaterally declare statehood and seek recognition from the United Nations General Assembly.
The plans were announced in a letter that was submitted to UN chief Ban Ki-moon at a ceremony in Ramallah’s UN offices involving about 100 Palestinian activists.
They capped more than sixty years of professional victimhood by having the letter presented by an elderly Palestinian woman that had reportedly lost a son and had seven other sons serving jail time in Israeli prisons because of terrorist activities.
Faith #3
By Robin Swoverland
In the first two articles we discussed what faith is and where faith comes from. In this article we want to get a little more in-depth in what faith is in order to be able to discuss how to operate in it.
First of all, in quoting from Kenneth E. Hagin’s lessons on faith, we find “…faith is not something we have as much as something we do. …faith is not hoping that we will see the answer in the future; faith is believing that we have the answer now. The eyes of faith see the answer as having already happened.” We found in the last article that faith comes by hearing (and hearing!) the Word of God. The more we “hear” God’s Word on a subject, the more we will begin to believe it. To believe is to actually envision the results you are seeking. You will begin to have a mental image of yourself with the answer! For example, just imagine that a friend that you trust implicitly has informed you that they are bringing you $100.00 to spend on yourself. Because you trust this friend, by the time you actually receive this money, you will have most likely already planned what you will do with it! It may all be spent by the time you actually have it in hand! Well, there is no more trustworthy person than God! If He said it in His Word, you can count on it! The key for us then is to spend whatever time it takes in prayer, the study of the Word, praise and fellowship with Him to develop that kind of trust in Him. If we trust Him, then we will expect Him to do what He says He will do. That’s faith!
In order to be operative, faith must have a goal, a target. That’s where hope comes in. Many people spend their time “a hopin’ and a prayin’” and end up with nothing. Hope is not the action that causes things to change. Hoping for something creates a desire. That desire identifies our target. What we hope for is the target, the goal that we aim our faith at like an arrow! Once we identify our goal or target, then we need to search the Word of God to find out what the Word has to say about that hope. If we find it is something promised in the Word of God, then we find all of the Scriptures that pertain to that subject. Then begins the diligent meditation on that Word so that faith can develop. Joshua 1:8 says:
Faith #2
By Robin Swoverland
Hebrews 11:6 says “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”(KJV)
In this article we want to look at where faith comes from and how to get it. The Bible tells us in Rom 12:3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.(KJV)
Paul is speaking here to the church (the believers) in Rome. In Romans chapter 1 he addresses: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:(KJV). The saints are believers, those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. To those believers He has given the measure of faith. The word measure here is the Greek word metron which Strong’s Concordance defines as a “limited portion” and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon as a “determined extent” or “the required measure”. Every believer has been given the required measure of faith (persuasion, assurance, belief) in order to begin acting on God’s Word. But we need more than just that measure to continue and to become strong in faith and God has provided for us to attain more faith.
God’s Word tells us that the place to get more faith is in His Word. Rom 10:17 says: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.(KJV) Faith (persuasion, assurance, belief) in God’s Word, so that we can act on God’s Word, comes from God’s Word! The Word of God has the power in itself to create and to increase faith. Faith for healing, for instance, will come as we spend time “hearing” God’s Word concerning healing. Faith for financial prosperity will come as we spend time “hearing” God’s Word concerning finances, etc. The word hearing here is from the Greek word, akoe, which means the act of hearing or giving audience to, and comes from the Greek word, akouo, which means to comprehend or understand. That tells me that the more I give audience to, pay attention to, hear (see, read, study, meditate on) God’s Word, the more I will comprehend what He is saying. I will understand the promises and have the assurance that when I do what he tells me to do, He will fulfill the promise. He will cause His Word to come to pass in my life and I will be pleasing to Him! I like that!
Faith #1
By Robin Swoverland
This article on faith is meant to be a basic look at the subject of faith. We have more in-depth teaching on this and many more subjects available at The Spoken Word Church for those wishing to delve deeper into the things of God.
First of all we need to realize that faith is not some strange or unattainable power that only a few people can operate in. We operate in faith all day, every day. The New Webster’s Dictionary lists as the first definition of faith: trust, confidence. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary definition lists: complete trust; and also: firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Most of us have never seen our human brain, but we almost all believe that we have one! We get in our cars and expect that we will be able to drive them somewhere when many of us have no idea at all how they work. We fly in airplanes without ever having studied the laws of thrust and lift. Faith is just simply trust and confidence that something we believe to be true is actually true. And we do this every day!
What we refer to as Bible faith is simply trust and confidence that what the Bible says is true. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word translated faith here is the Greek word pistis, which means: persuasion, assurance, belief. It refers to the conviction of the truth of something. Simply put, it means believing that God meant what He said and said what He meant! Hebrews 11:1 tells us that persuasion and assurance of something gives it substance and stands as evidence of its existence. That works for the positive and for the negative. Worry is just “faith” (persuasion and assurance) in the wrong thing! And many people we know certainly do that a lot!
Zoe
By Robin Swoverland
Zoe (pronounced dzo’ ay) is a small Greek word with a big meaning. Simply put, Zoe means life. Not just life as we think of it (living or being alive), but the word Zoe means eternal life, never-ending life, God’s life. Zoe is life as God has in Himself! The God kind of life!
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word…and the word was God.” John 1:4 says, “In Him (the word, Jesus) was life (Zoe!).” 1 John 5:11-12 says, “…God has given us eternal life (Zoe) and this life (Zoe) is in His Son (Jesus). He that has the Son (Jesus) has life (Zoe), and he that has not the Son of God (Jesus) has not life (Zoe).
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have Zoe, life, God’s life inside of you. The same life that is in God is in you! You can truly say with Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (with His life!).” If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you do not have this life in you. Is there any reason you can’t receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior right now?
36th Anniversary
“…if in any thing you be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you.” (Philippians 3:15)
In this verse, Paul was addressing his favorite local church, the Philippians. This group of people had supported him with prayer, love and finances when no one else would. As Paul’s prison sentence was coming to an end, the only group he desired to see were the Philippians. They were as close to being a perfect congregation as possible. But what exactly is a perfect congregation? It is certainly not one that makes no mistakes or never has disagreements. Neither is it a flock that has every doctrine correct or where everyone agrees on every teaching. So what is a perfect congregation?
A Spirit-filled local church is unique. It is not united because of doctrine. The congregation is comprised of Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Mennonites, Brethren, Lutherans, United Congregationalists, Assembly of God, Church of Christ and more.We are united by the new birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Because we all come from different backgrounds, we often bring our “pet” doctrines with us when we are born again and filled with the Spirit. Regardless of how well a pastor may teach, some doctrinal beliefs will not be corrected until we all stand before the Lord Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ. We will all disagree on certain issues until we get to Heaven. No one has the corner on the market for every doctrine.
If doctrine does not unite a local church, what does? Vision is what unites the local church. When we disagree, we should turn it over to the Lord Jesus, who will one day settle every issue. Until then, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Paul says, “…if in anyting you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal it unto you.” We do not need to strive to make everyone believe as we do on every issue. We should “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
Life is Like Baseball
In the early 1930’s, during the World Series, a player came to bat in the 9th inning with 2 outs. His team trailed by 1 run.
He hit a high fly ball that went deep to the outfield. He ran past 1st base and on to second. About that time, the outfielder retrieved the ball. As the batter rounded 3rd base, the outfielder threw to the cut-off man. The cut-off man turned and threw to home plate. The batter slid safely into home because the tag was late, but to everyone’s amazement, the umpire called him “out”, and the game was lost.
No one could believe it until the umpire explained that the batter was “out” because he had missed 1st base.
In life, “Home” is Heaven, 3rd base is good works, 2nd base is going to church and 1st base is being born again. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” You can not go to church and do good works and get to Heaven safely. Don’t try to slide into Heaven and get called “out” because you missed being born again.