What is your desire?

Who Is Blessed of God?

1. Those who Trust the Lord – (Jer. 17:7; Luke 11:27-28).
2. Those who Fear the Lord – (Ps. 128:1).
3. Those whose Sins are Forgiven – (Ps. 32:2-3; Rom. 4:8).
4. Those who are Not Offended by Christ – (Luke 7:23).
5. Those who Endure Temptation – (James 1:12).

Blessings of fasting
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying,
Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
- Matthew 9:14-15

WATCH YOUR TONGUE


The Word of God compares the tongue to fire. It says that it sets things on fire. That it gets its fire from hell.
In its design, the tongue is quite a piece of handiwork. A unique muscle.. attached on one end.. loose on the other. One end rooted in the physical, the other breaching that mystical gap between the souls of men. One end anchored, the other unchecked and free.. free to bless.. free to curse.
A forest fire can cause great loss of timber because of a small campfire left unattended. So the tongue is a small member of the human body. But it can quickly create major problems.
1. An Evil Tongue (Proverbs 16:27).

Too often in a local church there is a brother or sister who digs up evil and spreads it around the congregation till it burns out of control and destroys lives.
1. Instead of trying to remove evil in a scriptural way,
a) The ungodly use it as choice conversation
b) God calls it gossip!
2. Thoughtless words can burn like fire and often leave lasting scars.
3. The tongue has the ability
a) To destroy reputations,
b) Divide the closest of friends and
c) Create factions in the church.
4. As physical fire destroys wood so the tongue, uncontrolled, destroys the unity and peace of the body of Christ.
The Bible warns that an evil tongue will:
1. Lie. Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.
2. Flatter. Proverbs 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
3. Pour out foolishness. Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
An evil tongue is perverse. Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.
2. The controlled tongue of the child of God: does not backbite, nor do evil, nor take up a reproach against another. (Psalms 15:1)

Remember that the tongue is as a fire and it can kindle great harm. James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
The Bible say that an angry countenance is a way to drive away a backbiting tongue. Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
The mouth of the righteous is used for wisdom and judgment. Psalms 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
We are exhorted to keep our tongue. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
We are exhorted to use our tongue in a soft manner. Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
We are exhorted to use our tongue with wisdom and kindness. Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.
3 Lack of control of a Christian’s tongue: is a sign of failure in living for the Saviour. (James 1:26)

When the brethren do not love each other, they abide in death. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
When we become angry with a brother, we should go to them, not talk about them. Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

The tongue is a test of whether we are living for the Lord. Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.

The tongue is not the way we show love that we have for others, but it can show we do not love them. 1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Ten Converts in Twenty-seven Years - On September 4, 1807, Robert Morrison arrived in Canton as the first Chinese missionary of modern times. He quickly applied himself to learning Mandarin Chinese, hiring Chinese instructors who risked their own lives in teaching him (it being illegal to teach a foreigner to read or write Chinese). He completed his Chinese translation of the New Testament in 1813; the Old Testament in 1819. In September, 1814, seven years after he arrived, he secretly baptized his first convert. When he died in 1834 after 27 years in China, he had only baptized ten Chinese believers. Yet, his work became the foundation for much of what is happening in China today.

The Pianist


An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: “Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free.” The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, “What hymn would you like to hear?” Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source unknown

GOD IS ABSOLUTE! -- Job 42:1-3; Psalm 145:11-13; Ecclesiastes 9:1; Isaiah 44:6; Daniel 2:20,21; Romans 14:11; I Timothy 6:15,16

GOD IS ACCESSIBLE! -- Psalm 145:18,19; Romans 5:2, Ephesians 2:13,18; Ephesians 3:12; Colossians 1:21,22; Hebrews 4:16; James 4:8

GOD IS ALL-KNOWING! -- Job 34:21; Psalm 33:13-15; Psalm 94:9-11; Isaiah 40:13,14,27,28; Isaiah 46:9,10; Matthew 6:8

GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL! -- II Chronicles 20:6; Job 9:4-10; Job 42:2; Psalm 66:6,7; Psalm 89:8,9,13; Isaiah 40:22-26; Mark 14:36

GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT! -- Exodus 3:14; Job 35:5-7; Isaiah 40:18,28-31; Isaiah 44:6; Jeremiah 10:10; John 5:26; Acts 17:24,25

GOD IS AWE-INSPIRING! -- Exodus 15:11; Nehemiah 1:5; Psalm 33:8-12; Psalm 89:6,7; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Jeremiah 10:6,7; Hebrews 12:28,29

GOD IS COMMUNICATIVE! -- Numbers 12:6-8; Psalm 19:1,2; Psalm 105:1-5; Psalm 119:9-11,18; John 9:29-31; John 16:13; Hebrews 1:1,2

GOD IS COMPASSIONATE! -- II Kings 13:23; Psalm 78:38,39; Psalm 103:3-17; Psalm 111:4; Psalm 145:8; Isaiah 65:1-3; Matthew 23:37-39

GOD IS CREATIVE! -- Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 8:1-4; Psalm 19:12; Psalm 121:1,2; Zechariah 12:1; Romans 1:20; II Corinthians 5:17

GOD IS DIRECTIVE! -- Job 42:1,2; Psalm 25:4,5,9; Psalm 32:8,9; Proverbs 3:5,6; Provers 16:2-4,9; Jeremiah 10:23,24; Jeremiah 29:11-13

GOD IS ETERNAL! -- Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 9:7,8; Psalm 41:12,13; Psalm 102:24-28; Lamentations 5:19; Daniel 4:34; Revelation 4:8,9

GOD IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT! -- I Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:3-10; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 23:23; Jeremiah 32:18,19; Jonah 1:3,4; Acts 17:24

GOD IS EXCELLENT! -- Deuteronomy 32:4; II Samuel 22:31; Psalm 8; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 148:13; Isaiah 12:5; Mark 7:37; I Peter 2:9

GOD IS FAITHFUL! -- Numbers 23:19; Lamentations 3:22,23; Romans 3:3,4; I Corinthians 10:13; II Corinthians 1:20; I Thessalonians 5:24; II Timothy 2:13

GOD IS FATHERLY! -- Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 3:19-22; Romans 8:14-29; Matthew 7:11; Hebrews 12:6-9; I John 3:1,2

GOD IS FEARLESS! -- Exodus 15:3-11; Job 42:2; Isaiah 46:10,11; Jeremiah 27:5; Psalm 2:1-5; Daniel 4:35; Nahum 1:3-6

GOD IS FORGIVING! -- Psalm 86:5; Isaiah 1:18; Luke 5:18-24; Luke 23:34; Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 10:17; I John 1:9; I John 2:12

GOD IS FRIENDLY! -- II Chronicles 20:6,7; Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 18:24; John 15:14,15; James 2:22,23; James 4:4-6

GOD IS GENEROUS! -- Psalm 4:7; Psalm 84:11; Luke 6:38; Romans 8:32; II Corinthians 8:7-9; I Timothy 6:17; II Peter 1:3

GOD IS GENTLE! -- Psalm 78:38,39; Psalm 86:15; Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 5:22,23; I Thessalonians 2:7,8; II Timothy 2:24

GOD IS GLORIOUS! -- Psalm 29:2; Psalm 104:31; Isaiah 6:1-5; Matthew 6:13; Luke 2:14; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 21:23

GOD IS GOOD! -- Exodus 33:18,19; Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 33:5; Psalm 34:8; Psalm 107:8,9; Psalm 145:9; Isaiah 63:7; Matthew 7:11

GOD IS GRACIOUS! -- Exodus 33:12-17; Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Job 10:12; Romans 4:4,5; Romans 5:2,6,7; Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16

GOD IS HOLY! -- Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 32:4; I Samuel 2:2; Psalm 30:4; Psalm 145:17; Isaiah 6:1-3; I Peter 1:15,16

GOD IS HUMBLE! -- Psalm 8; Isaiah 53:1-12; Mark 15:16-20; John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:1-8; I Peter 2:21-23

GOD IS IMPARTIAL! -- Deuteronomy 10:17; Job 36:5; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:6,11; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25; I Peter 1:17

GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE! -- Job 11:7-9; Psalm 18:11; Psalm 97:2; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:12-31; Isaiah 55:8,9; I Corinthians 2:16

GOD IS IN CONTROL! -- Psalm 75:6,7; Psalm 135:5,6; Daniel 4:35; John 19:10,11; Acts 17:26; Romans 9:19,20; Revelation 4:11

GOD IS INFINITE! -- I Kings 8:27; II Chronicles 2:6; Job 11:7-9; Psalm 139:3-10; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 55:8,9; Jeremiah 23:23,24

GOD IS INVISIBLE! -- Exodus 33:20; Job 9:11; John 1:18; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:13; I Timothy 1:17; I Timothy 6:16; Hebrews 11:27

GOD IS JEALOUS! -- Exodus 20:5-7; Exodus 34:12-16; Deuteronomy 32:15-18; Joshua 24:19; Isaiah 31:1-3; Nahum 1:1-8

GOD IS JOYOUS! -- Psalm 19:8; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Matthew 25:21; John 15:7-11; John 17:13; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 4:4

GOD IS JUST! -- Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy 32:4; I Samuel 2:3; Nehemiah 9:33; Psalm 7:9-11; Isaiah 33:22; Jeremiah 32:19; I John 1:9

GOD IS LIFE! -- Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19,20; Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32; I Timothy 6:15,16; James 1:17; I John 1:5

GOD IS LIGHT! -- Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19,20; Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32; I Timothy 6:15,16; James 1:17; I John 1:5

GOD IS LONG-SUFFERING! -- Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Isaiah 65:1-3; Joel 2:13; Romans 2:14; II Peter 3:9

GOD IS LOVE! -- John 3:16; John 14:21-23; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4,5; II Thessalonians 2:16; Hebrews 12:6

GOD IS MERCIFUL! -- Exodus 34:6,7; Numbers 14:18-20; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 145:8,9; Lamentations 3:22,23; Micah 7:18,19; Ephesians 2:4-7

GOD IS PATIENT! -- Numbers 14:18; Isaiah 30:18; Joel 2:13; Romans 15:4-6; I Corinthians 13:4,5; Hebrews 10:36; II Peter 3:9

GOD IS PEACEFUL! -- Job 22:21; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; John 16:33; Colossians 3:15

GOD IS PERFECT! -- Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:32; Psalm 19:7; Matthew 5:48; Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:6; James 1:17

GOD IS PERSONAL! -- Psalm 23; Psalm 139:1-12; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 139:17-24; John 10:11-15; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-7

GOD IS PRACTICAL! -- Proverbs 16:3,4; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 14:24-27; John 1:9-13; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11; I Timothy 1:8-11

GOD IS PRESERVATION! -- Deuteronomy 33:12; II Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 3:3; Psalm 31:20-23; Psalm 37:23-28; Pslam 91:1-4; Psalm 97:10

GOD IS PROTECTIVE! -- Psalm 46:1-3; Ezekiel 34:11,12; Acts 17:28; Romans 13:1-7; II Thessalonians 3:3; I Peter 2:13-17; I Peter 3:12,13

GOD IS PROVIDING! -- Genesis 49:24,25; Leviticus 25:20-22; I Samuel 2:7,8; I Chronicles 29:12-14; Psalm 23; Psalm 107; Acts 14:17

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS! -- Ezra 9:15; Job 36:3; Psalm 71:15,19; Psalm 111:3; Jeremiah 9:24; Romans 10:3,4; Revelation 16:5

GOD IS SELF-CONTROLLED! -- Genesis 28:15; Exodus 3:14; Lamentations 3:22,23; Psalm 90:1-4; John 6:38-40; Acts 17:24,25; James 1:17

GOD IS SELF-EXISTENT! -- Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:40; Job 35:6; Isaiah 44:6; Jeremiah 10:10; John 5:26; Acts 17:24,25

GOD IS SPIRIT! -- Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Zechariah 4:6; John 4:24; Romans 8:14-16; I Corinthians 2:10-12; II Corinthians 2:18

GOD IS TIRELESS! -- Deuteronomy 20:3,4; Psalm 23; Psalm 41:2,3; Psalm 121:3,4; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 12:1-6

GOD IS TRINITY! -- Matthew 28:19; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:3-6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; I Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4,5

GOD IS TRUTHFUL! -- Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 32:4; I Samuel 15:29; Psalm 25:10; Psalm 86:15; John 4:24; John 8:26; Titus 1:2

GOD IS UNCHANGING! -- Numbers 23:19; Psalm 119:89-91; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Isaiah 40:28; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17

GOD IS UNDERSTANDING! -- I Kings 8:39; Job 12:13; Psalm 103:14; Psalm 147:5; Provers 3:19,20; Daniel 2:20,21; Hebrews 4:13-16

GOD IS UNIQUE! -- Exodus 15:11; II Samuel 7:20-22; I Kings 8:23; Isaiah 40:18-22; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 44:6-8; Mark 12:32

GOD IS UNITY! -- I Kings 8:60; II Kings 20:28; Isaiah 42:8; Mark 12:29,32; John 17:3; I Timothy 2:5; James 2:19

GOD IS UNRESTRICTED! -- I Chronicles 29:11,12; I Samuel 2:6-8; Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 55:11; Daniel 4:35; Romans 9:202,21; Romans 11:34

GOD IS UNSEARCHABLE! -- Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 5:8,9; Psalm 92:5; Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 55:8,9; Romans 11:33; I Corinthians 2:10,11

GOD IS UNSELFISH! -- Psalm 34:10; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 103; Matthew 11:28; Romans 5:16-18; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:32

GOD IS WISE! -- Psalm 37:1-6; Pslam 92:5-9; Psalm 119:97-100; Proverbs 3:19-26; Isaiah 55:6-9; Jeremiah 51:15-17; Romans 11:33-36

GOD IS WRATHFUL! -- Numbers 14:11; II Kings 22:13; Psalm 7:11; Psalm 78:38; Psalm 103:8,9; John 3:17,18,36; Hebrews 10:28-31

Introduction: There are several profound and great verses in the Bible regarding God’s love for man. One is "…for God is love" (I Jn. 4: 8). Another verse is John 3: 16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 16 is memorized, quoted, and referred to perhaps more than any verse in the entire Bible. Alas, John 3: 16 is also among the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. We shall now explore the verse to ascertain its meaning and why the verse contains such a great statement.
I. Great because of the one who loved
A. GOD so loved! The eternal God, immutable, all knowing, omnipresent, and absolutely holy God who created all that is created – He loved (Deut. 33: 27, Heb. 6: 17, 18, Job 34: 21, Ps. 139, Lev. 11: 44, Gen. 1, 2).
II. Great because of whom he loved
A. "For God so loved THE WORLD," we are told.
a. The "world" (kosmos) is not the world John said to "love not," but mankind (I Jn. 2: 15, here cosmos is used for the baser elements, see verse 16).
b. The greatness of God’s love for man is seen in the fact of the total unworthiness of man to be a recipient of God’s love: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5: 8). Christ died for the ungodly (vs. 6).
III. Great because of how much he loved
A. "For God SO LOVED…," John wrote. There continues to be a debate among some scholars as to whether "so" (oste) means manner or degree. R.C.H. Lenski comments thus on "so," "in this way and to such an astounding degree" (Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel, pg. 259). John later wrote, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…" (I Jn. 3: 1).
IV. The extent of God’s love is seen in "that he gave his only begotten Son…."
A. The love (agapao) of John 3: 16 is unselfish and seeks the well being of the one(s) so loved. Hence, "he gave." The Father loved so much that he gave his "only begotten Son."
B. Jesus was unique (only begotten is from monogenes, which means one of a kind). Such an unselfish act for God to sacrifice ("gave") his one of a kind Son for sinful men!
V. Great because of how many God loved
A. The universality of God’s love is seen in "that WHOSOEVER believeth…." The Pharisaic concept in John’s day limited God’s love to the Jews (Matt. 5: 43 ff.).
B. The Augustinian view would seek to circumvent God’s love to the "elect," those who have been arbitrarily predestined to be saved (called Calvinism today). However, the scriptures teach, "…if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3: 20).
VI. Great because of the negative purpose of the statement. The verse says, "…that whosoever believeth in him SHOULD NOT PERISH…."
A. "Perish" is an antonym for "everlasting life." The negation "should not perish (KJV, me apoletai) is literally translated "may not perish" (Marshall in Nestle’s Interlinear Greek-English New Testament).
a. This lack of permission to perish, however, is conditional (see later).
VII. Great because of the positive purpose of the statement
A. The opposite of perish, as seen, is "HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." There shall only be two classes of individuals, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25: 46). Jesus presents in detail the two classes (Matt. 25: 31-46).
a. "Everlasting life" is indicative of the grandeur and bliss which awaits the saved (2 Cor. 5: 1-9, Rev. 20 – 22). "Everlasting life" is the inheritance which is reserved in heaven for the saved (I Pet. 1: 4, Tit. 1: 2).
VIII. Last of all, John 3: 16 is great because of the condition upon which man can enjoy the benefits of God’s wonderful love
A. The condition is: "…that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish…." Let it be immediately understood, the contemplated "belief" is not a dead, inactive faith (Jas. 2: 14-26). The faith which avails is "faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5: 6, I Jn. 5: 3). "Faith only," as such, never saved anybody (Jas. 2: 19).
a. "Believeth" is translated from pisteuon. The grammar of pisteuon ("believeth") is important: nominative case, singular in number, masculine in gender, participle, and present tense (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, pg. 326). The participle and present tense is describing on going, continuos action. One expanded translation renders it, "…whosoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on)…" (The Amplified New Testament). Marshall accents the participle, "everyone believing in him…" (Interlinear Greek-English New Testament).
b. Those who believe in him (present tense) are those who repent, confess Christ deity, and are baptized for the remission of sin (Acts 2: 38, Rom. 10: 9, 10, Acts 2: 38, see Acts 16: 30-34, please visit "Salvation," accessed from the home page). The Lord adds them to his church (Acts 2: 47, KJV, Gal. 3: 26, 27). These who believe will then add all the virtues (grow) and in so doing, "…if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2 Pet. 1: 5-10). However, one can elect to cease believing (Heb. 3: 12-19).
In conclusion, John 3: 16 contains a great statement. It is difficult to know why all men are not appropriating God’s love to themselves and reaping the rich benefits (Jude 21).

God demands obedience
a. Proverbs 21:3 - righteousness and justice is more acceptable than sacrifices
b. I Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is more important to God.
c. Micah 6:6-8 - All the sacrifices in the world cannot make up for being unjust, unmerciful, and prideful.
d. Hosea 6:6 - Mercy and knowledge is more important than offerings
e. Jeremiah 7:21-26 - God thinks obedience was more important.