Eleutheria Ministries: Truths From God's Word

Webster’s 1828 dictionary says gratitude is an emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness.  God desires relationship and intimacy with us.  One way we can share intimacy with him is through thanksgiving.  When someone does something for me, no matter how great or small, I say, “Thank you” and try to return in kind.  That is how I was raised.  We show gratitude when others bless us. In our culture today, you can often tell which young adults, teens and children were/are being raised by Christian parents, by their level of gratitude.  Sadly, we have a generation of children who were/are being raised to think more of themselves than of others.  This breaks my heart because I know it breaks God’s heart.  Not only do many fail to be grateful for what God has done, many fail to acknowledge his existence at all, passing Christianity/the Word off as a myth or man-ma...

Today we will begin looking at Psalm 23:4b as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:4b, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  The rod and staff are symbols of the shepherd’s office.  With them he comforts the sheep.  His word and Spirit shall comfort them-his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Lev. 27:3), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. i. Today we will focus on the shepherd’s rod.   The Rod (The Word- Jesus) The shepherd’s rod served four purposes: protection, discipline, guidance, and counting. First, the shepherd’s rod was used protection. Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:3-4, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violen...

Today we will be looking at Psalm 23:4a as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:4a, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (ESV) In Psalm 23:4, David might be talking about the moments before a believer leaves this life and is promoted to Heaven, or he may be talking about the “death grip” of fear that the enemy tries to attach to every believer as we walk through this life.   Looking at Psalm 23:4 from the vantage point of a saint headed to his/her heavenly reward,  Charles Spurgeon describes it well, "Yea, though I walk," as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stand s...

As we continue our study on intimacy with Christ, we will look again at Psalm 23:3b.  Psalm 23:3b, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (MEV) In Christ we walk in paths of righteousness by knowing the Word, abiding in Christ, and renewing my mind. Last week we covered knowing the Word and abiding in Christ.   Today we will wrap up this lesson by discussing renewing our minds.   Finally, by renewing my mind. Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) Webster 1828 dictionary defines renew as: To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair.  We live in a fallen world surrounded by sin and depravity.  As Christians it is extremely important that we daily renew our minds in the Word.  The adage “One bad apple sp...

Today we will continue our study on intimacy with Christ as we journey through Psalm 23.  Psalm 23:3b, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (MEV) In Christ we walk in paths of righteousness by knowing the Word, abiding in Christ, and renewing my mind. In this lesson we will cover the knowing the Word and abiding in Christ.  Next week we will discuss renewing our minds.   First, by knowing the Word.  John 1:1, In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (AMPC) Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14).  To be able to walk in paths of righteousness, we must know the Word.  We know Christ through his written word.  We must read it, meditate on it, apply it to our daily lives. As we learn to know the Word at deeper levels the path is illuminated before us.  It is easier to stay on the right path when we know the markers and understand the boundaries....

Today we will continue our study on intimacy with Christ as we journey through Psalm 23.  Psalm 23:3a, He restores my soul. Webster 1828 dictionary defines restore as: To bring back or recover from lapse, degeneracy, declension, or ruin to its former state. He restoreth my soul,.... Either when backslidden, and brings it back again when led or driven away, and heals its backslidings; or rather, when fainting, swooning, and ready to die away, he fetches it back again, relieves, refreshes, and comforts with the discoveries of his love, with the promises of his word, and with the consolations of his Spirit, and such like reviving cordials. i. Jesus is the restorer of all things. He promises to restore what was lost (stollen, misplaced, or relinquished by our own will).  What things might we have lost? Following is a list of potentially lost things: a. Health b. Wealth c. Peace d. Joy e. Freedom f. Vision/hope First, in Christ we find restoration of health (healing). J...

Today we will continue our journey through Psalm 23 as we study intimacy with Christ. Psalm 23:2b, He leadeth me beside still waters. The still waters—are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. i The psalm puts the rest and refreshment first, as being the most marked characteristic of God’s dealings. ii The Good Shepherd ensures that , we his flock receive rest and refreshment as we spend time with him.  He leads us to quiet waters.  Quiet and gentle waters, running in small and shallow channels, which are opposed to great rivers, which both affright the sheep with their great noise, and expose them to be carried away by their swift and violent streams, while they are drinking at them. iii By leading us to quiet waters our Good Shepherd is lead us to a place of refreshing and rest. The phrase "quiet waters" refers to calm and...