Set free

The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ,for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action).

Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets free the prisoners, The Lord opens the eyes of the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright in heart and in right standing with Him).

Isaiah 51:14 Luke 4:18 Luke 13:12 Romans 6:7 Romans 6:18 Psalm 146:7

The only way to see life clearly is to focus on Christ.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Restore

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord shall restore the fortunes of His people, then Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.

O God, restore us and cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

Psalm 13:3 Psalm 14:7 Psalm 71:20 Psalm 119:37 Psalm 80:3

Turn to freedom our captivity and restore our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams in the South (the Negev) [are restored by the torrents]. Psalm 126:4

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Accept

God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?


For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [ the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [ subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

Psalm 19:11 Proverbs 2:1-5 Ecclesiastes 7:13 Romans 8:3 Acts 28:28

You must accept God’s Son today if you want to live in heaven’s sunshine tomorrow.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Filled

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.


God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers

We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Psalm 5:11 Psalm 4:7 Titus 2:11 1 Peter 1:8 1 Thessalonians 3:11 2 Peter 3:13

There is no greater joy than to experience God’s love.

LIFEgroups -together experiencing God

Lead

Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right…

"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response. And God said to him, "Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I'll give you what you've asked for—I'm giving you a wise and mature heart. There's never been one like you before; and there'll be no one after.

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness...make your way plain for me to follow.

Joshua 1:1 1 Kings 3:9 Joshua 1:6 1 Kings 3:10 Psalm 25:5 Psalm 5:8

Life’s best outlook is a prayerful uplook!

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Lifetime

The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.

You've always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all, A lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest. You've always taken me seriously, God, made me welcome among those who know and love you.

Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?— and treat your servants with kindness for a change. Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long. Make up for the bad times with some good times; we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime. Let your servants see what you're best at— the ways you rule and bless your children. And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do.

Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God's works are so great, worth A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial— This God of Grace, this God of Love.

Psalm 19:7 Psalm 30:4 Psalm 61:3 Psalm 90:12 Psalm 111:1

The conversion of an individual is the miracle of a moment; the growth of a saint is the task of a lifetime.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Forward

“I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land—the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father, ’and I wanted you never to turn from me.

But they would not listen to and obey Me or bend their ear [to Me], but followed the counsels and the stubborn promptings of their own evil hearts and minds, and they turned their backs and went in reverse instead of forward.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Jeremiah 3:19 Jeremiah 7:24 Psalm 143:10 Isaiah 58:8 Matthew 11:13 Romans 5:2

The way of obedience is the way of blessing.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Plans

What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark!“ The Lord can’t see us,” they say.“He doesn’t know what’s going on!”

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Isaiah 29:15 Proverbs 19:21 Proverbs 21:5 Proverbs 16:3 Psalm 20:4 Isaiah 25:1

A man’s heart plans His way, but the Lord directs his steps. Prov. 16:9

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Mercy

Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.

O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, Who keeps covenant, loving-kindness, and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times.

O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing mercy and loving-kindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.

"If I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to God, I'd throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts; there's no end to his surprises. He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields. He raises up the down-and-out, gives firm footing to those sinking in grief. He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term. He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies— all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash! Suddenly they're disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can't see to put one foot in front of the other. But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist. And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

1 Kings 8:28 Nehemiah 1:5 Nehemiah 9:28 1 Kings 8:23 Job 5:8 1 Chronicles 16:34

No one is more secure than those who are in God’s hands.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Search

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you'll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle?

Psalm 9:10 Psalm 119:2 Lamentations 3:25 Psalm 40:16 Psalm 89:5

You are one of a kind – designed to glorify God as only you can.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Future

Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly).

Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God— That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.

Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 37:37 Psalm 84:11 Proverbs 23:17 Proverbs 28:16 Proverbs 24:14 Jeremiah 29:11

The future is as bright as the promises of God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Told...me

But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom."

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

He left the next day for open country. But the crowds went looking and, when they found him, clung to him so he couldn't go on. He told them, "Don't you realize that there are yet other villages where I have to tell the Message of God's kingdom, that this is the work God sent me to do?" Meanwhile he continued preaching in the meeting places of Galilee.

And told them, Whoever receives and accepts and welcomes this child in My name and for My sake receives and accepts and welcomes Me; and whoever so receives Me so also receives Him Who sent Me.

John clinched his witness with this: "I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' That's exactly what I saw happen, and I'm telling you, there's no question about it: This is the Son of God."

Matthew 8:22 Matthew 19:23 Matthew 19:21 Luke 4:42 Luke 9:48 John 1:32

Our witness for Christ is the light for a world in darkness.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Stand

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

That is why the Israelites could not stand before their enemies, but fled before them; they are accursed and have become devoted [for destruction]. I will cease to be with you unless you destroy the accursed [devoted] things among you

"Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, " There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst."

So Joshua set out from Gilgal, his whole army with him—all those tough soldiers! God told him, "Don't give them a second thought. I've put them under your thumb—not one of them will stand up to you."

And so God gave Israel the entire land that he had solemnly vowed to give to their ancestors. They took possession of it and made themselves at home in it. And God gave them rest on all sides, as he had also solemnly vowed to their ancestors. Not a single one of their enemies was able to stand up to them—God handed over all their enemies to them.

Joshua 1:5 Joshua 7:10 Joshua 7:12 Joshua 7:13 Joshua 10:7 Joshua 21:43

He who holds the stars in space will not let go of His promises to us.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Confront

But the angel of the Lord told Elijah …“Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel?

"Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices.

Then God said to me, "Son of man, will you confront … with what they've done? Make them face their outrageous obscenities, obscenities ranging from adultery to murder.

[ To Start a Fire ] "I've come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I've come to change everything, turn everything right side up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront!

Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

2 Kings 1:3 Ezekiel 16:2 Ezekiel 23:36 Luke 12:49 Psalm 34:19

Our weakness is a blessing when we lean on God’s strength.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Shall have

You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.

The wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) shall have a sure reward [permanent and satisfying].

Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart as when one marches in procession with a flute to go to the temple on the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.

"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Psalm 81:9 Proverbs 11:18 Isaiah 61:7 Isaiah 30:29 Matthew 18:18 John 6:40

Open your Bible prayerfully, read it carefully, and obey it joyfully.

LIFEgroups - together experiencing God

Enter

Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter.

Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, So I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, To enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, Sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.

And live! Oh, let him live! Deck him out in Sheba gold. Offer prayers unceasing to him, bless him from morning to night. Fields of golden grain in the land, cresting the mountains in wild exuberance, Cornucopias of praise, praises springing from the city like grass from the earth. May he never be forgotten, his fame shine on like sunshine. May all godless people enter his circle of blessing and bless the One who blessed them.

Blessed are you who enter in God's name— from God's house we bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You're my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God—he's so good. His love never quits

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

And here I am, your invited guest— it's incredible! I enter your house; here I am, prostrate in your inner sanctum, Waiting for directions …

Psalm 24:7 Psalm 43:3 Psalm 72:15 Psalm 118:26 Psalm 100:4 Psalm 5:7

Meet God in the morning if you want to walk with Him through the day.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Too Late

[ If People Can't See What God Is Doing ] For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them.

Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the Lord has threatened them with his terrible anger.”

"Bloated by arrogance, big as a house, they're a public disgrace, the lot of them—Israel, Ephraim, Judah— lurching and weaving down their guilty streets. When they decide to get their lives together and go off looking for God once again, they'll find it's too late. I, God, will be long gone. They've played fast and loose with me for too long, filling the country with their bastard offspring. A plague of locusts will devastate their violated land.”

So seek God and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground. For God will send just such a fire, and the firefighters will show up too late

But there's also this, it's not too late— God's personal Message!— "Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!"

Proverbs 29:1 Jeremiah 13:16 Jeremiah 36:7 Hosea 5:5 Amos 5:6 Joel 2:12

The victories of the past give courage for the future.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Surely

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue meall the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

Psalm 10:17 Psalm 37:3 Psalm 5:12 Psalm 2:8 Psalm 23:6 Psalm 21:6

The more you look forward to heaven, the less you’ll desire of earth.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Require

The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.

The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word].

Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek and require the Lord [as their indispensable necessity].

Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

Psalm 34:10 Lamentations 3:25 Jeremiah 29:13 Psalm 105:3 Psalm 40:16 Psalm 27:4

Pray not for a life free from trouble, but for triumph over trouble.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Power

I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

You have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin.

Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Colossians 2:5 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:10 Colossians 2:11 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Mankind’s limited potential highlights God’s limitless power.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

First Fruits

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ..Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming.

In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

[It is] the hard-working farmer [who labors to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits. Think over these things I am saying [understand them and grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything.

1 Corinthians 15:20 James 1:18 Romans 8:23 James 3:17 2 Timothy 2:6

Good deeds are no substitute for the Good News.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God