We have to be careful on swearing to our God carelessly. Don’t make promises you can’t keep and don’t swear on God our Father.

Matthew 5:33– Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

James 5:12 – But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Numbers 30:2 – If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Deuteronomy 23:21– When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

Hebrews 6:13 – For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Hebrews 6:17 – Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Hebrews 7:28 – For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Hebrews 3:18 – And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Psalms 15:4 – In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

Hebrews 6:16 – For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Matthew 23:18-And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty

Jephthah and his vow

Judges 11:30-35 King James Version

³⁰ And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

³¹ Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

³² So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lorddelivered them into his hands.

³³ And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

³⁴ And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

³⁵ And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.

Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

I read a article about a experiment with rats that was done at Harvard back in the 1950’s here is a bit of it.

During a brutal study at Harvard in the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.

On average they’d give up and sink after 15 minutes.

But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes – and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try – how long do you think they lasted?

Remember – they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago…

How long do you think?

Another 15 minutes?

10 minutes?

5 minutes?

No!

60 hours!

That’s not an error.

That’s right! 60 hours of swimming.

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.

What can we learn from this? If we have hope it helps us to endure in a life of trials by placing our hope in Christ.

Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Romans 5:2– By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalms 39:7 – And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Mark 9:23 – Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Romans 8:24 – For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Proverbs 23:18 – For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Romans 8:25 – But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jesus was speaking to the Laodicean church. He wanted to come in and fellowship with them ,have a relationship with them. It also is a message to Christians as well as the unsaved. He is knocking on your heart, your life and wants to come in, will you let him?

Revelation 3:8 – I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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.

Psalms 24:7 – Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

What is Jesus meaning when he was talking to the church of the Laodicean? Let’s break it down. The Laodiceans built an aqueduct to bring cold water down from the mountains. When it left the mountains, it was ice cold, but by the time it made that trip all the way down the mountains to Laodicea, it was lukewarm. And lukewarm water is not very good. Down in the valley where the Lycus River joins the Maeander River, there are hot springs. However, when they would take this hot water up to Laodicea, by the time it got there, it was no longer hot — it had become lukewarm water.

I know if you want a strong hot cup of coffee you sure don’t want it to be lukewarm or on a hot day something cold to drink. You don’t want something in the middle. Jesus is telling us to be either hot and on fire for him or you are either cold rejecting God. But to be lukewarm makes him sick.

Revelation 3:15-16 King James Version

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

We are either for God or against Him there is no middle.

Someone asked me the other day if Jesus was God or the Son of God. I explained to them who he was . We get confused sometimes and others will confuse you but it’s in the Bible. The world would have us mixed up. When you feel that confusion go to the Word of God.

King James Version

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.

1 John 4:1-4 King James Version

4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 5:4-6 King James Version

⁴ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

⁶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

Everyone has a name. With that name comes a reputation. Most importantly God knows our name! Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

John 10:14 – I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Psalms 91:14 – Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Isaiah 49:1 – Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Isaiah 43:2 – When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 43:7 – Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Exodus 33:17 – And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Are you not sure what is God’s will for your life? Seek him first. Worried about something? Seek him first. Whenever I had any doubt or worries in my life this verse always came to my mind.Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Romans 12:1-I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

John 5:30 – I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Matthew 26:39 – And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:27 – And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Timothy 6:3– If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Romans 16:17 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Have you ever had a friend that would lay their life down for you? Many will hurt you, leave you, use you but there is one that will never leave you and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

John 15:15 – Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:14 – Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

James 2:23 – And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Proverbs 18:24 – A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

1 John 3:1 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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.

Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Philippians 2:1– If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 4:8 – Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Romans 10:9-10 King James Version

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Proverbs 25:21-22 King James Version

²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

I remember years ago at a job I had two people at different times hurt my feelings so deeply. Even my other co- workers came to my defense because I had not done anything to provoke it. I continued to be nice to them and one day one of them came to me and asked to speak to me privately and that person apologized to me. Then the other person did the same thing on another day. We handled it as Christians would. Sometimes when someone who hates us, despises us or tries to hurt us we have to pray for them and give it to God and he will handle the rest.

Luke 6:27– But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Psalms 109:2 – For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Romans 12:14 – Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Proverbs 24:17 – Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalms 57:6 – They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

Romans 12:20 – Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Matthew 5:43– Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Psalms 35:1– (A Psalm of David.) Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Luke 23:34 – Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Psalms 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Psalms 37:1– (A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Psalms 71:10 – For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Proverbs 25:21 – If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Psalms 40:13-15 – Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

After Jesus was baptized he went into the desert where he fasted for forty days and forty nights. It was there Satan tempted Jesus three times.

Luke 4:1-13 KJV

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”

Satan tried to throw everything he could at Jesus but he withstood and stayed firm. Just as we face temptations in life we have to stand firm and use God’s word as Jesus did.