Friday, December 31, 2010
Old Time Hymn Sing Along
Join us on the Blog for our New Year's Eve "Old Time Hymn Sing Along" with a twist.
The twist is that all the songs will be on the Blog and when you want to count down with the songs just go for it.
This Blog is now going to over 20 countries and has hat over 900 hits.
I praise God for each one of you and we are praying for every one of you and your families.
We ask God to Save souls, Heal bodies, Bless financially and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
With all the date line and time lines all over the place it would be very hard to sing together, so songs will be posted no later than 7:00 pm central time USA.
Enjoy and tell you friends about Jesus.
He does Love you.
Happy New Year
AFWINS
1 John 5
1 John 5 (The Message)
1 John 5
1-3Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we'll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees
4-5Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 6-8Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement.9-10If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God's testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God's own testimony regarding his Son.
11-12This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.
The Reality, Not the Illusion
13-15My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.16-17For instance, if we see a Christian believer sinning (clearly I'm not talking about those who make a practice of sin in a way that is "fatal," leading to eternal death), we ask for God's help and he gladly gives it, gives life to the sinner whose sin is not fatal. There is such a thing as a fatal sin, and I'm not urging you to pray about that. Everything we do wrong is sin, but not all sin is fatal.
18-21We know that none of the God-begotten makes a practice of sin—fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them. We know that we are held firm by God; it's only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One. And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God's Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
1 John 4:17-21
To Love, to Be Loved
17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.19We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Join us on the Blog for our New Year’s Eve “Old Time Hymn Sing Along” with a twist.
The twist is that all the songs will be on the Blog and when you want to count down with the songs just go for it.
This Blog is now going to over 20 countries and has hat over 900 hits.
I praise God for each one of you and we are praying for every one of you and your families.
We ask God to Save souls, Heal bodies, Bless financially and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
With all the date line and time lines all over the place it would be very hard to sing together, so songs will be posted no later than 7:00 pm central time USA.
Enjoy and tell you friends about Jesus.
He does Love you.
Happy New Year
AFWINS
1 John 4:7-16
God Is Love
7-10My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.11-12My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
1 John 4:1-6
1 John 4 (The Message)
1 John 4
Don't Believe Everything You Hear
1 My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. 2-3Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!4-6My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world's language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.
Monday, December 27, 2010
1 John 3:18-24 ~ When We Practice Real Love
When We Practice Real Love
18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.21-24And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
1 John 3:1-17
1 John 3 (The Message)
1 John 3
1 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to. 2-3But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.4-6All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backward.
7-8So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways.
9-10People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.
11For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.
12-13We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
14-15The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.
16-17This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Luke 2:10-12
Luke 2:10-12 (English Standard Version)
10And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all(A) the people. 11For(B) unto you is born this day in(C) the city of David(D) a Savior, who is(E) Christ(F) the Lord. 12And(G) this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby(H) wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
Isaiah 7:14
Luke 1:5-56
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5(M) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a](N) of(O) the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both(P) righteous before God, walking(Q) blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because(R) Elizabeth was barren, and(S) both were advanced in years.8Now(T) while he was serving as priest before God when(U) his division was on duty, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot(V) to enter(W) the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people(X) were praying(Y) outside at the hour of incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of(Z) the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and(AA) fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for(AB) your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and(AC) you shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will(AD) rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be(AE) great before the Lord. And(AF) he must not drink wine or strong(AG) drink, and(AH) he will be(AI) filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and(AJ) he will go before him(AK) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(AL) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and(AM) the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,(AN) to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
18And Zechariah said to the angel,(AO) "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19And the angel answered him, "I am(AP) Gabriel.(AQ) I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold,(AR) you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in(AS) the temple. 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in(AT) the temple. And(AU) he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23And(AV) when his time of(AW) service was ended, he went to his home.
24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me,(AX) to take away my reproach among people."
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month the angel(AY) Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named(AZ) Nazareth, 27(BA) to a virgin betrothed[b] to a man whose name was Joseph,(BB) of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings,(BC) O favored one,(BD) the Lord is with you!"[c] 29But(BE) she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for(BF) you have found favor with God. 31And behold,(BG) you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and(BH) you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of(BI) the Most High. And the Lord God(BJ) will give to him the throne of(BK) his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob(BL) forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"[d]
35And the angel answered her,(BM) "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of(BN) the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called(BO) holy—(BP) the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her(BQ) who was called barren. 37For(BR) nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And(BS) the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into(BT) the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth(BU) was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry,(BV) "Blessed are you among women, and(BW) blessed is(BX) the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of(BY) my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45And(BZ) blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46And Mary said,(CA) "My(CB) soul(CC) magnifies the Lord,
47(CD) and my(CE) spirit rejoices in(CF) God my Savior,
48for(CG) he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations(CH) will call me blessed;
49for(CI) he who is mighty(CJ) has done great things for me,
and(CK) holy is his name.
50And(CL) his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51(CM) He has shown strength with his arm;
(CN) he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52(CO) he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
(CP) and exalted those of humble estate;
53he has filled(CQ) the hungry with good things,
and the rich(CR) he has sent away empty.
54He has(CS) helped(CT) his servant Israel,
(CU) in remembrance of his mercy,
55(CV) as he spoke to our fathers,
(CW) to Abraham and to his offspring forever."
56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-12
Matthew 1-2 (New International Version, ©2010)
Matthew 1
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 2
The Magi Visit the Messiah
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[h] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[i]”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Friday, December 24, 2010
psalm 16
Psalm 16 (New International Version, ©2010)
Psalm 16
A miktam[a] of David. 1 Keep me safe, my God,for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 16:10 Or holy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 (Amplified Bible)
Psalm 32
[A Psalm of David.] A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem.
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.(A)3When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long.
4For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]--then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
6For this [forgiveness] let everyone who is godly pray--pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely when the great waters [of trial] overflow, they shall not reach [the spirit in] him.
7You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
8I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.
10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.
11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Cross references:
Proverb 23
Proverbs 23 (Amplified Bible)
Proverbs 23
1WHEN YOU sit down to eat with a ruler, consider who and what are before you; 2For you will put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to desire.3Be not desirous of his dainties, for it is deceitful food [offered with questionable motives].
4Weary not yourself to be rich; cease from your own [human] wisdom.(A)
5Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when [suddenly] it is gone? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6Eat not the bread of him who has a hard, grudging, and envious eye, neither desire his dainty foods;
7For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].
8The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up, and your complimentary words will be wasted.
9Speak not in the ears of a [self-confident] fool, for he will despise the [godly] Wisdom of your words.(B)
10Remove not the ancient landmark and enter not into the fields of the fatherless,(C)
11For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you.
12Apply your mind to instruction and correction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13Withhold not discipline from the child; for if you strike and punish him with the [reedlike] rod, he will not die.
14You shall whip him with the rod and deliver his life from Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead).
15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad, even mine;
16Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long.
18For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.
19Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way [of the Lord].
20Do not associate with winebibbers; be not among them nor among gluttonous eaters of meat,(D)
21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22Hearken to your father, who begot you, and despise not your mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment and judgment, instruction and understanding.
24The father of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall greatly rejoice, and he who becomes the father of a wise child shall have joy in him.
25Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.
26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe and delight in my ways,
27For a harlot is a deep ditch, and a loose woman is a narrow pit.
28She also lies in wait as a robber or as one waits for prey, and she increases the treacherous among men.
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness and dimness of eyes?
30Those who tarry long at the wine, those who go to seek and try mixed wine.(E)
31Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the wineglass, when it goes down smoothly.
32At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
33[Under the influence of wine] your eyes will behold strange things [and loose women] and your mind will utter things turned the wrong way [untrue, incorrect, and petulant].
34Yes, you will be [as unsteady] as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, and [as open to disaster] as he who lies upon the top of a mast.
35You will say, They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me [as with a hammer], but I did not feel it! When shall I awake? I will crave and seek more wine again [and escape reality].
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
psalm 23
Psalm 23 (Amplified Bible)
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.(A)3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.
4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 23:5 It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His "sheep" with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs--in heavenly fellowship with Him.
Cross references:
Proverbs 22
Proverbs 22 (Amplified Bible)
Proverbs 22
1A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.(A)3A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering].
4The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.(B)
7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath [with which he smites others] will fail.
9He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.(C)
10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease.
11He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech--because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend.
12The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!
14The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
16He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich--both will surely come to want.
17Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;
18For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them.
19So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.
20Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?(D)
22Rob not the poor [being tempted by their helplessness], neither oppress the afflicted at the gate [where the city court is held],(E)
23For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive [the poor or afflicted].(F)
24Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate,
25Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare.
26Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another's debts.
27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.
29Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
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