WEDNESDAY'S WORD - MEEK- Sadell Bradley - 10/25/2023

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD MEEK 10/25/2023 "The whole point of the Kingdom of God is Jesus has come to bear witness to the true truth, which is nonviolent. When God wants to take charge of the world, he doesn't send in the tanks. He sends in the poor and the meek." — N.T. Wright, British Clergyman TONIGHT 7 PM BIBLE STUDY ACTING UP: GOD REMEMBERS @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube     Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. — Matthew 5:5 Right now we might wonder if inheriting the earth is really a blessing, Evil seems to be running rampant. David wrote an entire soliloquy encouraging saints not to fret when we see immoral and corrupt people prospering, "For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:10-11, NKJV) MEEK means quiet, gentle, easily imposed on; submissive. Many preachers and leaders have told us not to misinterpret meekness for weakness—but that definition seems to imply a lamblike, forbearing, and longsuffering quality. In Matthew 11, Jesus' cousin John the Baptist is in prison, about to get his head chopped off by king Herod and his wife Herodias. John had condemned the couple's marriage because Herodias was the divorced wife of the king's brother Herod Phillip, which violated Mosaic Law. The prophet was also immensely popular. The king feared him and wanted no rivals. John had preached to all that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus could have intervened, but didn't. John told his disciples to ask Him, "Are you the One, or should we look for another." (vs. 3) Jesus replied, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (vs. 4b-6) Jesus had receipts, as they say... but He didn't address his cousin's peril, or seek vengeance on his foes. He refused to use His power to save John. It wasn't God's will. MEEKNESS is a fruit of the Holy Spirit within the Believer. To be meek is a sign of strength. It is power with reserve. It is having the ability to retaliate...but choosing not to. That's why meekness is confused with weakness. Jesus could have saved John with a single word. He also could have called 12 legions of angels to save Himself from arrest, beating, and crucifixion. (Matt. 26:53) Jesus chose to restrain Himself from what He could do, because going to the Cross served Heaven and mankind's interests eternally. There are times when we don't need to intervene, fight back, or say a word. Meekness is the answer...and it is definitely not weakness. Sometimes it takes more strength to do nothing than to do something. Jesus said,  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONSEQUENCES - SADELL BRADLEY - 10/18/2023

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CONSEQUENCES 10/18/2023 "Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things." — Bruce Barton, American Writer TONIGHT 7 PM BIBLE STUDY ACTING UP: A STREET CALLED STRAIGHT @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube For eleven days, we've watched the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. The news has been filled with images that have left us aghast, saddened, and horrified—particularly at the loss, injury, and capture of civilians—60% of whom, according to CNN, are women and children. This is not a post about politics or even religion. I considered writing about the military term 'collateral damage'— any death, injury, or other damage inflicted that is an incidental result of an activity. The people caught in the crossfire, evacuating their homes and jobs, and being held hostage are collateral damage. So are members of the military who've been called for duty, and everyone's loved ones around the world. The students engaging in conflict with one another on college campuses across the US, and politicians everywhere attempting to find a diplomatic solution that prevents the ignition of a global conflict—are all wrestling with the aftermath of other's choices. Consider the news correspondents, whose job it is to go into war-plagued cities so we can get a glimpse of the atrocities being committed. In a certain way, we are all being held captive hoping the war will end. I wonder if the people who make decisions in rooms unaffected by missiles and guns take into account the consequences for those in the heat of the battle. Movies and video games that simulate militaristic campaigns look real, but no one is truly injured. Folks are playing games with people's lives and the consequences are dire. CONSEQUENCES are not the actions but their results or effects. We've all heard of the domino effect or chain reactions. To "bear the consequences" means to accept responsibility for the negative results of one's actions. "Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences." —Norman Cousins Paul's instruction to his protege Timothy is timely, relevant, and crucial, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4) This is definitely a time for prayer. We can, even thousands of miles away, engage in at least one action whose consequences are positive.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ADVERSITY - Sadell Bradley - 10/11/2-23

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ADVERSITY 10/11/2023 "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. — Napoleon Hill TONIGHT 7 PM BIBLE STUDY ACTING UP: ENCOUNTERS IN THE DESERT @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube   "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." - William Arthur Ward Netflix just released a documentary on the career of Futbol legend David Beckham. I don't know a lot about professional soccer, having attended one MLS game at FC Cincinnati. Beckham also holds celebrity status as a mogul and fashion icon with his wife Victoria aka "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls. They seem from the outside to be the perfect couple—so famous, rich, and beautiful, as to garner all kinds of media attention, fortune, and the adoration of fans worldwide. The backstory revealed that Beckham and his wife had lived through and overcome a great deal of adversity. The main ingredient was—their family remained together. Webster defines ADVERSITY as a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. Though many have come to envy the lives of this dynamic duo...the documentary unveiled childhood challenges, infidelity, stalking paparazzi, moves from country to country on a moment's notice, and one futbol mistake that caused Beckham to be hated and vilified by all of England—including death threats. It was likely the Beckhams would not have survived much less thrived...but somehow they have overcome, and are now two of the most impactful personalities in their nation's history. "You'll never find a better sparring partner than adversity."—Golda Meir, Israeli Leader "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." (Prov. 24:10) In the Gospels, we are reminded that the same people who laid down their palms and cloaks before Jesus crying "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (John 12:13) just FIVE DAYS later yelled "Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:13-14). "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Prov. 17:17) But Jesus' closest disciples were nowhere to be found in His darkest hour. English critic John Churton Collins wrote, "In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends." May God grace you to prosper, and triumph in adversity and have true friends by your side.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - HYPERBOLE - Sadell Bradley - 10/04/2023

WEDNESDAY'S WORD HYPERBOLE 10/4/2023 "Truthful hyperbole’ is a contradiction in terms. It’s a way of saying, ‘It’s a lie, but who cares?’” — Tony Schwartz - American Journalist TONIGHT 7 PM BIBLE STUDY ACTING UP: STICKS AND STONES @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube     While waiting on hold the other day, I said to myself, "This is taking FOREVER!" and was immediately checked..."How long is "forever, Sadell?" Well, at least another hour..."Why don't you say that then?" Because it's more dramatic to say forever, LOL! Our culture is filled with HYPERBOLE—exaggerated statements and claims not meant to be taken literally. Newscasters, politicians, sports figures, and preachers are prone to represent things as larger, smaller, better, or worse than they really are. Hyperbolic statements abound in our homes, and on our jobs. "They NEVER stop talking." "The boss gave us a TON of work!" and my personal favorite..."This is the 50 millionth time this has happened!" I don't know how I gravitated toward that number, but I wish I were talking about dollars. Have you ever used hyperbole to get your point across? What are the long term effects of the use of colorful, yet untrue commentary and embellishments? Hyperbole does something to our emotional state. Exasperation and unnecessary stress can accompany taking things further than they were ever intended to go. "This is AMAZING!" "That is the WORST!" These declarations are often followed by emotions that further aggrandize or catastrophize—yet we seem unaware of what this cultural norm is doing to us. Dr. Marty Nemko writes, "most people know we don't mean such terms literally, but when we cavalierly toss them around, we're more likely to be viewed, if only unconsciously, as hype-mongers or having low standards. A person will likely think us a fool if we call someone "awesome" when we think they're just good. Also, when we call the good "amazing," we deny the truly excellent their right to a superlative. If we call our competent supervisee "awesome," how do we describe the truly excellent one— GOD?" Jesus used hyperbolic speech in Luke 14:26 when He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even their own life — such a person cannot be my disciple." This 'hatred' is not about detesting yourself or your family; it's about no one holding priority over the LORD in worship. In Matthew 7:1-5 when Christ teaches us not to judge one another, He says do not try take the speck out of the eye of another while there's a beam in yours. The use of hyperbolic speech is used to make a moral point. However, in speaking to others, the Bible emphasizes being truthful. Proverbs 12:22 NLT says, "The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth." Modern hyperbolic exaggeration hinders honest, forthright, and unadorned speech, How would your life change if you cut out hyperbole?