Developing Humility toward Others

For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. - Galatians 5:13-14 HCSB

Seek out opportunities to serve secretly. Acting humble in order to gain the acclaim of others is not acceptable.

When you perform a mitzvah, keep in mind the following quote: “All the good things I do are but a drop in the ocean in comparison to what I ought to do.”[1]

When you perform a mitzvah for someone, particularly the poor, ask them to bless you. Not only does God listen to these kinds of prayers[2] but it alleviates the shame the person may have from receiving help from your hand. Valuing their prayer of blessing lets them feel that, though they are poor, they still have something to offer. It also emphasizes their possession of a fragment of the image of God and transfers their gaze from you to Him.

Take great pains to serve those who work for you or work with you. Consider their time as more valuable than your own. Consider their needs as more important than your own. Pay your employees well and on time. Provide them with the tools they need to get the job done quickly and safely. Provide opportunities to train and improve themselves.

Always give credit where it is due. Make sure that you never steal another’s glory. He is not honorable who receives honor but who gives honor away.

Make it impossible for anyone to rightly accuse you of lashon hara. To speak of the faults of others lightly makes it apparent that you think lightly (if at all) of your own.

Competition in sports or business has its place – but never mistake ability or skill for human value. Human worth does not come with human achievement. Jesus died for the bum on the street as well as the most successful business mogul.

As a matter of personal discipline, try identifying in each person you come across some way in which they are your superior. A physicist may think he is great until he has to call on a simple handyman to unclog his toilet. Then from that point on always associate that person with that trait.

Do not judge others by their achievements but rather by their achievements compared to their potential. A retarded man who does not pass on gossip and who tries to settle arguments may actually be greater than a genius who, though successful by worldly standards, is only achieving a fraction of what he could.

Periodically sit under the teaching of someone who knows much more than you. A high school science teacher may come to believe he knows much about his subject but that same teacher in the presence of Stephen Hawking will quickly realize how little he understands. Purposefully stretch your mind by the teachings of great minds. This is the basic principle behind the entire book of Proverbs.[3]

Carefully listen to others. Humbly remaining unsure of your own correctness will make you tolerant of other views and thus able to learn what you can from them. Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out but recognize that wisdom can be found everywhere.

Very deliberately listen politely to all constructive criticism. Thank people for their advice, even when you disagree with it and don’t plan on following it.

When dealing with the less intellectually gifted apply the Golden Rule. Ask yourself “How would I like someone smarter than me to treat me?”

Collect and tell stories that elevate humble, hard-working saints.

Never seek revenge. Leave that particular form of justice in the very capable hands of Nathan N’Qamah.

[1] from “the Gate of Humility” in the Orchot Tzaddikim (The Path of the Righteous)
[2] Proverbs 22:9; Deuteronomy 15:9; 24:15
[3] Proverbs 1:5-6

Developing Humility Toward God

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you. Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. - 1 Peter 5:6-9 HCSB

Notice His command: “Humble YOURSELVES”. Humility doesn’t “just happen.” God won’t zap us with it. He expects us to work at it. Obviously we can do nothing on our own, without the help of the Ruach’ ha Kodesh, but God will not give grace to the disobedient. Unless we actually try, we can expect nothing from our Master.[1] Allow me to share some steps that I have come across, some disciplines that can help develop this particular discipline in our walk.

First, of course we must get our self-worth and self-evaluation from the only completely credible source – the Bible. And when others praise us for our gifts or achievements, we must give God the credit for granting us both the gifts and the requisite time and opportunities to develop them.

When we are asking El Shaddai for something, we must make sure that we acknowledge what He was already provided for us and be sure to admit that we don’t actually deserve whatever grace He deigns grant us.[2] Whenever we experience legitimate pleasure, no matter the form it takes, we make sure that we include God in our experience. We consciously and deliberately thank Him. Doing so out loud would be nice!

We need to learn to be content. We must accept the role, place and resources that Adonai has given us and try to develop what we have to the best of our abilities for His glory. Another great suggestion is to memorize Psalm 41:4 and quote it often to the Lord.

We shouldn’t overly plan our lives but instead allow room for God to work. We should prefer His guidance to our PDAs! We should consider every setback a wonderful opportunity to develop humility. Suffering is a great (if unpopular) way to build patience, contentment and faith in our lives.[3]

Humility can also be developed through the use of ritual. Humility comes from measuring ourselves against the infinite and eternal Creator. Those who forget Adonai are those who grow proud because they think they are the god of their universe. So we should do whatever we can to maintain an ongoing awareness of the presence of God.[4]

We can dedicate portions of time to pause and focus on God; not just His many good gifts but God Himself in all His infinite traits. We should schedule regular times of fasting and prayer into our lives. We should even set aside periods when we can focus on God for hours at a time. Fasting (in Hebrew tsum or tzom) is more than simply not eating. It should be done with kavanah[5] which is intense concentration or devotion. It is a state of mind requisite for prayer or meditation. It can be also used for the frame of mind one should possess while performing a mitzvah which (by the way) is another great way to develop humility. Adonaists observe festivals like Passover which acknowledges the cost of God’s provision or Yom Kippur which is a day dedicated to fasting and confession of sin.

We can build rituals into our lives such as praying out loud as we travel, or providing small tokens like mezuzahs or plaques to remind us of Whose invisible presence we are in.

[1] Matthew 25:14-30
[2] Genesis 18:7
[3] James 1:2-4
[4] Psalm 16:8
[5] Kah-vah-NAH

How to Look Humble

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. - Romans 12:2-3 HCSB

Humility is not self-hatred or having a “poor me” attitude. Acknowledge what Yahweh has done for you in the past and place your hope in His continued provision. Admit your continuous need of God’s supply and protection. Confess your yetzer hara[1] and beg for Hashem’s help in “inclining your heart” in the right direction. Focus all your efforts toward causing all the peoples of the earth to know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.[2] Serve others. Allow others to serve you. Remember, there is but one master at our table and it’s not you.[3]

Place your hope in God rather than in man. Wait for God’s impeccable timing. Don’t force issues. Make a constant attempt to understand Adonai’s ways. Ask for guidance of the Ruach’ ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit). Do not demand justice for yourself but instead constantly beg for God’s mercy. Depend on and remind God of His promises. Go through your life and acknowledge even youthful sins. Then don’t bring them up again for that would reveal doubt in the Lord’s ability or willingness to forgive. Ask for God’s secret counsel, day to day advice on issues not specifically covered in the Scriptures. Do whatever you must to keep your mind constantly focused on the Lord as you go through your day to day life.[4]

Keep your heart tender to the stirrings of the Spirit. Allow yourself to express these feelings openly. Only then will the Lord truly hear your prayers.[5]

Seek and depend on Hashem’s grace. Actively submit to God. Do your part. Resist the Devil in whatever form he may appear. Push back darkness wherever and whenever you can. Dedicate portions of time to spend alone with your Master. Be passionate about Him. Let there be emotional consequences when you sin. Be discerning, but don’t criticize others. Don’t be negative. Don’t be overly certain of your future. Work hard to set aside for the future but acknowledge the frailty of your life. Never boast except in Who is your Lord. Obey what you know.[6]

Be willing to submit to the teachings of your church’s elders. Once the body has spoken on an issue, if it is not in violation to the Scriptures, cheerfully go along with the decision. To go on whining about it indicates you think you know better than the combined minds of your peers. Once a decision has been made obey it. Don’t think you are above the rules or that somehow things are different for you. Don’t demand of others what you don’t demand of yourself.[7]

Be honest about your gifts and talents but be willing to either set their rewards aside or to submit them to the benefit of others. An honest evaluation of the resources available to a relationship is critical to being able to do any good. Humility helps us to identify our own self worth, to accept who we really are without having to constantly prove ourselves to those with whom we wish to relate. Understanding and acknowledging our personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of the other people with who we want to communicate, is a step toward healthy relationships and healing of troubled situations.[8]

[1] Proclivity for evil
[2] 1 Kings 8:56-60
[3] Luke 22:25-27; Colossians 1:17-19
[4] Psalm 25:1-15
[5] 2 Chronicles 34:27
[6] James 4:6-17
[7] 1 Peter 5:5
[8] Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:5-8

The Idolatry of Pride

"There was a judge in one town who didn't fear God or respect man. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'" - Luke 18:2-5 HCSB

Human pride leads us to believe that we are self-sufficient, masters of ourselves and captains of our own fate. Hubris says “I have no need of God or others.” The judge in this story was so elevated in pride that he actually conceived himself as being above Adonai Adonaim! But the one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty and the one who respects God’s commands will be rewarded.[1]

Pride is ultimately the sin of idolatry. It is the same as witchcraft. When the prophet Samuel was rebuking King Saul, he said, “Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”[2]

Pride leads us to say we are superior others, or that our needs should come before others, even to the extent of the regarding of others with contempt as if they were unworthy of any relation or interaction with us! It lifts our self-interests and our self-sufficiencies, which at first blush seem necessary and good. However, when we are self-sufficient, we will not only fail to see our need for redemption, but also fail to see our need for growth in spiritual matters. Therefore, the self becomes the god, and any work of the One True God is muted and put aside.

You cannot serve two masters.[3] You either serve God or you serve someone else. If you serve yourself you ultimately serve God’s enemy, the devil.

Biblical humility entails accepting our human limitations and acknowledging our dependence on our Creator...as well as on one another. We must be teachable.[4] If we are, humility offers many rewards. If we humble ourselves, pray, seek Hashem’s face and turn from our evil ways we will receive forgiveness and healing.[5] When we reach and serve those who are humiliated, God will in turn help us.[6] Elohim hears the desire of the humble. He strengthens their hearts. He listens carefully to our needs and does justice for us so that we no longer need be terrified by men.[7] Yahweh Aman gives great grace to the humble and will exalt them in due time.[8]

[1] Proverbs 13:13
[2] 1 Samuel 15:22-23
[3] Matthew 6:24-25; Luke 16:13
[4] Proverbs 3:5-6; 12:15; Philippians 2:3
[5] 2 Chronicles 7:14
[6] Job 22:29
[7] Psalm 10:17-18
[8] James 4:6, 10; Matthew 18:4

A Fish in Hand

Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.” Heb. 13:5
A small fish caught in a net said to the fisherman, “I am too little to be a good meal. Even if you boil me or roast me – I won’t be enough to truly satisfy your hunger for long. Let me go and keep growing. I promise to return to you two years from now. You will find me in this same spot, large and seven times as fat. If you wait till then to eat me, it will be like a great feast in your house, and then your hunger will be truly satiated.”

But the canny fisherman replied, “Better is a little fish which I now have within my grasp than a great whale which my neighbors may catch and eat before I can get to it later.”

This proverb is known throughout the world in several forms. “Better is a handful of satisfaction in your own palms than heaping handfuls of hope in the hands of another.” “Better is a bird enclosed in a cage than two hopping on a hedge.” Or, here in the United States the aphorism was formulated by Benjamin Franklin as, “Better a bird in the hand than two in the bush.”

As popular as this proverb is, you’d think that it would be easy to live by. Yet many Christians still struggle with the concept of contentment. Contentment is not dependent on wealth, nor does it have to be stifled by poverty. Seek neither poverty nor riches. Wealth by itself is neutral – neither good nor bad. The key is to thank God for what we have and to use our time and resources to please Him. Satan’s goal is to get us to believe the illusion that knowing more or having more will make us content. Actually, it just shows we’ll never be satisfied. A person who is never satisfied is a person who will fail to fully trust God. Knowing that our real home is with God in eternity should help us be content with what we have now. Making wise personal investments here will bring us great wealth in heaven. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

So learn contentment, for love of “more” brings misery. Keep free from love of “more” and you will be content. This kind of contentment promotes peace. After all, life does not consist of what one possesses. Do not lay up earthly treasures, but heavenly treasures. Seek first God’s kingdom. Though there are many ways to have transient peace, lasting genuine peace is found only in a trusting relationship with the Lord.

The Nature of Humility

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” - Matthew 5:3 HCSB

The Bible teaches four basic lessons about humility: what humility is (self-honesty), how and to whom humility is to be expressed (to God and others), the results of humility (spiritual health and ultimate exaltation) and how to develop humility in our personal life (be teachable, be obedient, be a servant).

True biblical humility can be defined as an ultimate form of self-honestly. It is not thinking poorly of oneself.[1] Humility is often defined by contrasting it with human pride.[2]

Some positive examples of humility are: Mary’s humble submission to a very difficult task,[3] the centurion’s humble faith in the Lord’s ability to heal long-distance,[4] John the Baptist’s refusal to accept any consideration that was not his due,[5] or Yeshua’s amazing grace in setting aside His due for our sakes.[6]

Some negative examples of pride are: Lucifer’s hubris in wanting to be, not god-like, but God Himself,[7] Nebuchadnezzar thinking that he was a self-made man,[8] the Pharisee who figured he had spiritually “arrived”,[9] or Herod’s acceptance of people’s worship[10]

It’s noteworthy that of all the traits that Adonai could have used to characterize Moses, the one He apparently appreciated the most was Moses’ humility.[11] Unfortunately, humans don’t necessarily tie humility with religion. This has led to religious crusades, jihads, bigotry and suicide bombers killing the innocent while screaming “God is great” and other forms of terrorism. God requires that we “walk with Him” (religion), that we do so “humbly” and that it leads to just acts and faithful behavior.[12]

Humility is said to produce health while human pride is described as destructive.[13] Trusting in the Lord rather than relying on our own understanding is said to lead to healing for our bodies and strength for our bones. On the other hand, failing to submit to discipline and good teaching will cause us to lament the consumption of our bodies at the end of our lives.

Ironically, humility is the path to ultimate success and glory. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled while those who humble themselves will be exalted by God who resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.[14]

This stems from humility being the first step on the path toward teshuvah which is repentance. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[15] Only when we humbly acknowledge our sin do we find forgiveness, grace and guidance - all required ingredients for ultimate success with God.

[1] Romans 12:3
[2] Proverbs 16:19; 29:23
[3] Luke 1:26-56
[4] Luke 7:1-10
[5] John 1:19-28
[6] Philippians 2:3-11
[7] Isaiah 14:12-17
[8] Daniel 4:30-34
[9] Luke 18:9-14
[10] Acts 12:19-23
[11] Numbers 12:3
[12] Micah 6:7-8
[13] Proverbs 3:5-8; 5:11-14; 11:2
[14] Matthew 23:12; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-7
[15] 1 John 1:9

Ten Soldiers

“I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.” Philippians 1:4-5

You may not be gifted as a missionary. You may never have to face the danger of martyrdom. It’s not everyone’s task to face the devil in his lair and send him packing through the power of the Holy Spirit. You may spend the entirety of your life safely within the confines of the state or county in which you were born. But you can take part in the great battle.Pray for those who are so gifted and tasked.

You cannot imagine how comforting it is to missionaries, evangelists, pastors, or prisoners of conscience to know that there are prayer warriors calling their name before the throne of God. It is enough psychologically to know that people remember you. One of the key elements in breaking a prisoner of war is to get them to think they are all alone and forgotten. If they find out that their friends and family are moving heaven and earth to free them, you’ll never break them.

But prayer is so much more than psychological comfort. There is real power granted whether or not the recipient is aware of the prayers.

A group of missionaries were serving in the jungles of South America. They were attempting to reach a tribe that was known for killing strangers. One night, the tribesmen surrounded the missionaries. The missionaries couldn’t see them in the darkness, but could hear them moving in the jungle underbrush. All night long, those men and women prayed, asking God for deliverance.

Finally, in the predawn hours, the tribesmen left without firing a shot. Many months later the missionaries made successful contact and a church was begun in that tribe. They asked the natives why they hadn’t attacked that night many months earlier. The natives replied “Because of the ten soldiers.”

“What ten soldiers?” the missionaries asked.

“There were ten soldiers with rifles,” the natives insisted.

Later that same year, while on furlough, one of the missionaries was relating that story to a supporting church. After the service, an older gentleman approached him. “What was the date of that incident?” he asked. When informed of the date, the man took out a journal, checked the date and told the missionary, “On that day, our prayer group was praying for you when we were impressed that you were in serious need. We prayed earnestly for you for hours. That night there were ten of us in attendance.”

You may not be a great missionary. You may never know the adventures of the front lines. But your prayers are just as needful as their service. Don’t let them down.

Meditation: Pray for missionaries, evangelists, pastors, or prisoners of conscience.

The Breath of God

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. – Genesis 1:2 NASB

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. – Genesis 2:7 NASB

We have all seen people receive artificial respiration. They lie dying as the seconds tick away. Those helping them work frantically. There is a sense of desperation because if oxygen doesn’t start getting to the brain soon, that person - not just the body but the mind, the personality, the spirit of that human - will be gone forever. When watching TV shows, we get the impression that these attempts to revive are nearly universally successful but the truth of the matter is that as often as not, the attempt to restart the heart, or the breathing, ends in failure.

How like human attempts. We strive mightily but without much affect; so much effort for so little return. Whenever we do things in our own strength and in our own way, we can rest assured that God has a much better way.

In Hebrew, the “Spirit of God” is literally “the breath of God”. Earth was without form and void and covered by darkness until God breathed upon it.

In Genesis 2:7, Elohim again breathed upon a lump of clay and thus made man a living soul. God’s very essence is life. We see this in John chapter 1 where it says “In Him (Christ) was life, and the life was the Light of men.” Jesus also said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

Our lives without Christ are without form and void. Our daily activities are covered in the dark knowledge that death lies ahead. Everything we do will pass away and very soon our very existence will be forgotten. We are lumps of clay, inanimate doorstops; shapeless until worked upon by the Master Potter. Then the eyes brighten, the heart beats, the chest heaves its first breath of air and we become something wonderful.

Your life may seem useless right now. There may seem to be no meaning, purpose or goal. You may be “living a life of quiet desperation.” Come to Christ – the source of all life. You cannot separate yourself from the source of life and expect anything but death. John 1:5 tells us that when the light of Christ shone in the dark world, the dark world did not understand it. But that’s all right. You don’t have to understand why He loves you. You don’t have to grasp the fullness of His nature. All you have to do is trust Him. Put your life in His hands. Let the breath of God flow into your spirit. Then get ready to really live.

Christian Towers of Babel

…You will tell people about me everywhere…to the ends of the earth. (Ac. 1:8)
When man was first created, he was given a command intended for each succeeding generation. Men were to be fruitful and multiply and, while filling the earth, subdue it to the service of God (Gen. 1:28).

After mankind’s depravity pushed God to destroy them with a cataclysmic flood, He reiterated to Noah His wish for us to fill the planet in Genesis 9:1. Instead, man decided in Genesis 11:4 to build a city and a tower whose top would reach the sky so that they would not be scattered over the whole earth. Contradicting God’s command, they established their own rules and attempted to “reach the heavens” with their own works. They valued reputation more than obedience.

Maybe they thought God would feel lucky to have such enterprising humans associate themselves with Him. Needless to say, the Lord was less than pleased and found it necessary to afflict them with many different languages in order to confuse all the workers and bring this great work to a halt.

Jesus also told His disciples that they were to reproduce themselves “in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). But being human and naturally stiff necked, they followed part of His wishes by having a considerable number of spiritual children (Acts 2:4) but chose to remain in Jerusalem and even began developing a rigid hierarchy (Acts 6:2-3). God sent a persecution in Acts 8 in order to enforce His desire but He still had to give Peter another strong push to accept non-Jews (Acts 10). The disciples still had strong misgivings about spreading into the Gentile world (Acts 11:1-2) and even with more persecution to spread them further (Acts 11:19), most still tried to stick with their own people wherever they went.

This command still applies to Christians today. We are to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth with our own kind. We have the example of our Lord who chose to associate with publicans and prostitutes, the low class and the general scum. We, however, choose to build big beautiful buildings instead of sending our own out into the world. We choose programs over missions and build ever larger religious towers, lest our work get scattered, largely out of fear of losing reputation.

Now I have nothing against the Holy Spirit working greatly. But let me ask you this - when we pastors go to conferences, do we hear from missionaries or church planters? No, we are taught by CEOs of megachurches. We’re supposed to be impressed by the numbers and the programs… but you know, I wonder if the people in the town of Babel tried to impress others with the number of bricks or the beauty of their tower?

Limited Confidentiality

A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but the trustworthy keeps a confidence. - Proverbs 11:13 HCSB

We have all seen the cop shows where a criminal confessed something to a priest that was critical to the case, but the priest believed he couldn’t reveal the key piece of evidence for fear of breaking the “sanctity of the confessional.” Unfortunately, many Christians have formed their views on the issue of confidentiality more out of what they have learned off the television than out of the Bible.

Obviously, an elder would not make for a very popular counselor if he went around gossiping about those who confessed their sins to him![1] It’s just good sense to remain silent about most of what we’re told. If we want to have a reputation for being trustworthy, we’ve got to be able to keep a confidence.[2] After all, the information we are given could be potentially devastating if revealed![3] As agents of positive change and makers of peace[4], we have to realize the potential for strife that comes from mere gossip and actively work against its destructive blaze.[5] We cannot allow our sinful urge to appear “in the know”[6] to overwhelm our good sense.

However, the Bible clearly teaches that confidentiality is not an absolute! Jesus taught that if our brother sins against us, we should go and rebuke him in private. Our first thought should be the maintenance of confidentiality. But if he won’t listen and the sin warrants further action, then we are to break confidentiality and take someone with us to rebuke his sin and get him to stop. In modern parlance, this would be referred to as an “intervention”. If he still won’t listen and the sin is very serious, then church discipline may be in order. Obviously, confidentiality is completely out the window by now![7]

Yahweh’s elders should generally practice confidentiality. However, if someone confesses a crime to them, or confesses that they are a danger to themselves or to someone else, confidentiality must be breached in order that justice may prevail. In fact, we are specifically prohibited from remaining silent when someone is heading for danger.[8]

We must be slow to breach confidentiality. We need to think carefully before speaking.[9] After all, the person whose confidence we are considering revealing will certainly not be happy![10] We also need to be sure of our facts. Many people confess to sins that they didn’t commit, simply to gain attention and notoriety.[11] An effort must be made to deal with the matter by involving the least number of people possible but we must make sure that everyone is appropriately cared for.


[1] Proverbs 20:19
[2] Proverbs 11:12-13
[3] Proverbs 17:9; 18:21
[4] Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18
[5] Proverbs 16:27-28; 25:23
[6] Proverbs 18:8; 26:22
[7] Matthew 18:15-20 cp Galatians 6:1-5
[8] Proverbs 24:10-12
[9] Proverbs 15:28; 17:27-28
[10] Proverbs 21:23
[11] Proverbs 21:28

Cutting

Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence. - Colossians 2:23 HCSB

A young girl began wearing long-sleeve shirts all the time. She was very careful to not show her arms but one day, as she was washing some dishes, her father noted some cuts on her forearms. At first, she tried to say she’d simply gotten scratched by her playful dog but there was something about her tone that made her father keep questioning. Soon it became apparent that she was a “cutter”, someone who responds to negative emotions by making small cuts on themselves with a razor blade.

Although it may be difficult for some people to imagine, it is possible to become addicted to pain. The human pain center called the periventricular system and runs from the hindbrain (or medulla) to the forebrain. However, this system runs parallel to the pleasure center, called the median forebrain bundle. When we experience something pleasurable, the brain releases endorphins. However, the brain can also release endorphins when we experience pain, in order to moderate the degree of pain we feel. This is why some people (like me) experience great pleasure from eating hot chile peppers.

When faced with difficult or stressful circumstances, cutters will try to alleviate some of their negative feelings by cutting or scratching themselves enough to draw blood. Others will burn themselves. They feel the urge to get angry and lash out and instead they turn their anger inward and damage themselves. However, both psychology and the Bible agree that this ascetic practice is completely useless in resisting fleshly indulgences. It is an unhealthy coping mechanism. Not only does the difficult circumstance continue because nothing positive was done to ameliorate it, but it is compounded by the new habit and exacerbated by the need to hide and the guilt!

Sometimes, people with very dramatic personalities will injure themselves as a way of drawing attention. They will allow someone to “catch” them. If the person reacts strongly to what they are doing, then the cutting habit may actually be reinforced! This aspect of cutting falls squarely in the sin of pride or vanity.

It is important to note that demonic activity is closely associated with self-mutilation.[1] If you are struggling with the sinful habit of damaging God’s body,[2] tell someone.[3] Ask for help. Don’t try to get out of this alone.[4] Godliness with contentment is great gain. It is when our pride leads us to believe that we deserve more that we develop many foolish and harmful desires.[5] Identify the passions that trigger the urge so that you can flee them.[6] Work at kicking this habit. Freedom from this won’t just happen. Jesus died to liberate you from sin and its consequences. Make sure you are saved and then knead this salvation into every aspect of your life – even the urge to damage yourself.[7]

[1] Matthew 15:22; Mark 5:1-5; 9:14-27; Luke 9:38-42 (Matthew 8:30-32; Mark 5:11-13; Luke 8:32-33)
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
[3] James 5:16
[4] Ecclesiastes 4:10
[5] 1 Timothy 6:6-9
[6] 2 Timothy 2:22
[7] Philippians 2:12

Raising Falling Hands

If your brother becomes destitute and cannot sustain himself among you, you are to support him as a foreigner or temporary resident, so that he can continue to live among you. Do not profit or take interest from him, but fear your God and let your brother live among you. You are not to lend him your silver with interest or sell him your food for profit. - Leviticus 25:35-37 HCSB

With so much poverty in the world, how do we decide who to help? What should be the goal of our assistance? What measurable marker can we use to know where and when to draw those lines?

The phrase “cannot sustain himself” here in the Holman is in Hebrew rendered “mowt yad”[1] which can be literally translated “if your brother’s…hand falls.” Basically, as long as someone’s hand is yet raised, as long as they are still making some kind of effort, there is yet hope for them. A fundamental principle of economic justice is to not allow the poor to so extend themselves that they “fall” and are no longer able to help themselves.

Think of a heavily laden animal. As long as the beast can still stand under its burden, a child can lead it. Allow that same beast to collapse under its load however, and not even five grown men can raise that same animal.[2]

In a materialistic and capitalistic nation like ours, the Bible’s command for the empathetic treatment of the poor sounds strange and vaguely utopian. However, to Yahweh it matters little whether the poor is native, a foreigner or a temporary resident. This social and economic principle transcends the artificial boundaries of nations and states. It involves the proverbial “milk of human kindness.”

The task the Lord sets before us is not to enrich our brother. The goal is not, like many of our society’s social programs do, to reward laziness. We must not allow the unscrupulous to manipulate the system in such a way that their supposed “handicaps” are used as a way to abuse the funds legitimately given by caring people.

The task set before us is to snatch our poor from the desperate edge of abject poverty. It is to allow our fellow human being, who was also created in the image of God, to maintain some degree of human dignity.

I recently heard of a credit card scheme to deliberately set about getting those shackles into the hands of the poor but to increase the interest rates on them in order to compensate for the company’s “greater risk.” This directly contradicts the will of God. We are not to profit off the questionable judgment of the poor.

The Lord told Ezekiel that a person who doesn't lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men follows the Lord’s statutes and keeps His ordinances, acting faithfully. He said that such a person is righteous and will certainly live.[3]



[1] Strongs #4131 + 3027
[2] Sifra Leviticus on 25:35-38
[3] Ezekiel 18:8-9 cp Psalm 51

The Cry of the Desperate

Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, because what has been decreed will be accomplished. He will not show regard for the gods of his fathers, the god longed for by women, or for any other god, because he will magnify himself above all. Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses--a god his fathers did not know--with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward. - Daniel 11:36-39 HCSB

British historian Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) affirmed, “The nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to our world’s problems.”[1]

Dr. Paul Henri Spaak, one of the organizational leaders of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, former Secretary General of NATO, first president of the United Nations General Assembly, prime minister of Belgium, one of the early planners of the European Common Market, and President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1949 to 1951, made the following statement to the United European Community in 1957: "We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and whether he be god or devil, we will receive him."

Council on Foreign relations member James Warburg said, “We shall have world government whether or not you like it – by conquest or consent.”[2]

Jack Lang, then president of the French National Assembly’s foreign affairs committee, said that the EU “needs a single figure at the helm.” According to Mr. Lang, Europe needs a strong central government with a single “personality” in control.[3]

In July of 2000, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called for a single European currency as a first step toward a federation that needed to be controlled by a “powerful president”. He welcomed the demolition of the sovereign rights of nations which he viewed as a necessary precursor to this new “uber” nation’s control of currency, as well as its internal and external security.[4]

What they don’t realize that such a man, such a powerful and charismatic man who is willing to take the helm of an entire continent is not likely to be particularly empathetic. Such a “king” will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself and say outrageous things. His need for dominance will necessitate a fascination with military power and security. It will start with defense but will quickly move to the offense. This is intrinsic to the nature of such a man.

These are the pathetic cries of spiritually wounded and desperate men. And as usual, there is a lion prowling about,[5] just waiting to cull the weak.

[1] A Study of History; Vol. IX The Prospects of Western Civilization; Oxford University Press, 1954
[2] 1967 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
[3] The London Times, August 19, 1997, quoting a speech by Jack Lang which he gave in Paris.
[4] “German Foreign Minister floats idea of elected EU president,” The Financial Times, July 7, 2000.
[5] 1 Peter 5:8

Gilgal’s Passover

The LORD then said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you." Therefore, that place has been called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. The day after Passover they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land. - Joshua 5:9-11 HCSB

Most Jews tend to focus on the first Passover at this time of year. You know - the one in Egypt when Yahweh delivered His people from Egyptian bondage and made freedmen of slaves.

Most Christians tend to focus on the other famous Passover - the one where Yeshua spoke of His coming crucifixion and our delivery from the bondage of sin.

Today, I would like to draw your attention to another, lesser known Passover. The Israelites crossed over the Jordan during the harvest,[1] observed the Passover,[2] and then took Jericho according to the Lord's command.[3] Thus Israel’s national existence began with this act of religious obedience.

In all the time that they were wandering in the wilderness, only one other Passover was actually recorded.[4] That one was particularly notable because it marked the origin of the only exception clause in regards to the timing of the Passover – namely what to do if someone were ritually unclean or physically incapable of performing the rituals at the appropriate time.

That wilderness Passover took place in the second year after the Exodus. In other words, it was the second one after the initial Passover in Egypt. So thirty-nine Passovers had gone by without note by the time Israel camped at Gilgal.

There are a couple points I’d like to make. First, consider that the Egyptian Passover presaged our ancestors’ deliverance from Egypt’s slavery; Gilgal’s came just prior to Israel’s first conquest in the Promised Land; and Yeshua’s marked our delivery from the Dark Kingdom. Do we see a pattern in this? When Yahweh’s people are obedient to His ordinances, victory comes shortly thereafter.

The second, and in my mind the more crucial, point that I’d like to make is the thousands upon thousands of other Passover celebrations that were simply observed without fanfare or reward. I don’t think that Yahweh would have granted the victory had our people not quietly and steadily obeyed. It is when we are “faithful in the small things” that we are granted “great things.”[5]

This Saturday our church will be gathering to observe Passover. The children will go through the building hunting for ch’ametz; our ladies will light the festival candles; we will partake of the cups of Sanctification, Plagues, Redemption and Praise. We will eat and rejoice in the long, rich history of interaction with Merciful God our people has had. We will do it, hoping for further great victories and deliverances. But should this be one of thousands of other quiet Passovers, we will obey nevertheless.

L’shannah ha-ba’ah bi Yerushalaim! Next year in Jerusalem! Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.

[1] Joshua 3:15
[2] Joshua 5:10
[3] Exodus 12:18, Leviticus 23:5 and Numbers 28:16
[4] Numbers 9:1
[5] Matthew 25:23; 1 Corinthians 4:2

Is Baptism Necessary to Salvation?

Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20 HCSB

It is interesting how many Christians believe that a physical act could lead to their salvation after God spent so much time trying to pound the very opposite into our heads. If a physical act was necessary to our salvation, why not stick with the sacrifices?

Oh, I know the few verses that are taken out of context and used to bolster swiss-cheese arguments. Some will quote “Then He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…” but will fail to go on to “but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”[1] Clearly, we are to be baptized, but the pivotal point is faith, not baptism.

In another passage, we read, "Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”[2] However, go on a few verses and see that it was only those who believed who followed the Lord in “believer’s baptism.”[3]

Another passage that is frequently cited is Paul’s testimony to a Jewish mob. He quoted Ananias as saying, “And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.'”[4] The error here lies in failing to take the entire context into consideration, including the original circumstances. In doing so, we discover that Saul saw the light on the road to Damascus, immediately referred to Jesus as Lord, obeyed the Master completely, began praying steadily, was given a vision as well as a mission, and was already referred to as “brother” by the self-same Ananias, well before his baptism.[5]

Of course, the ultimate (and in my mind at least conclusive) argument on the issue is the fact that the repentant thief on the cross was not baptized and yet was assured of his place in Paradise by no less than the Master Himself![6] What had he done to receive this wonderful gift? He acknowledged his status as a sinner and the justice of his punishment.[7] He recognized Jesus as the sinless Lamb and asked to be mercifully allowed to enter Christ’s kingdom.[8] He did this in front of a hostile crowd.[9] Baptism is the WAY we confess Christ before men. He could not get baptized but apparently his public confession was enough.

Baptism is not salvation. However, it is a required step of obedience for all those who can do it.



[1] Mark 16:15-16
[2] Acts 2:38
[3] Acts 2:41
[4] Acts 22:38
[5] Acts 9:1-18
[6] Luke 23:43
[7] Luke 23:40-41
[8] Luke 23:42
[9] Luke 23:35-39 cp Matthew 10:32-33

The Forces of the Dark Side

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep. - 2 Peter 2:1-3 HCSB

Adonai destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of them. He confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness while simultaneously confirming the message of His servant and fulfilling the counsel of His true messengers.[1]

These false prophets earn their bread and butter by uttering lies about a false peace with God, but they are prophesying a lie in the name of the Lord. He did not send them nor command them or even speak to them. Instead their false vision – their worthless divination – is a deceit of their own minds.[2] They pick up the recurring theme of “peace and light”, “grace no matter what” from each other. It does not come from the Word of God.[3]

They teach, “Your children will not only graduate but graduate first in their class” (i.e. Joel Osteen) but it would be interesting to take a poll to verify whether or not that comes about. They teach “Sufficient faith will heal you” (i.e. Benny Hinn) but every follow up study demonstrates the falsity of the claim. As the true prophet said, “They claim: This is the LORD's declaration, when the LORD did not send them, yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.”[4]

They plaster the people’s sins with whitewash by seeing false visions and lying divinations.[5] Their message of lawlessness, of moral and religious relativism causes the love of many to grow cold and even to fall away from the Christ.[6]

Our Master warned us of these days. He told us, “Beware of false prophets who come…in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves”. He warned us to identify them by checking their lives.[7]

These false apostles and deceitful workers disguise themselves as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness much as their true master Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.[8] Satan smuggles them in to our midst to spy on our freedom and to enslave us again in the old rusty chains of immoral lifestyles and externalism.[9]

These will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed, they will try to exploit us with deceptive words but their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.[10]

These stealthy agents of spiritual destruction turn the grace of our God into promiscuity and into denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.[11] These people blaspheme anything they don't understand, and what they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals--they destroy themselves with these things.

Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, replacing God’s ways with their own and pouting when the Word gets in the way. They attack the godly rather than conform to godliness.

They have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam which was preaching for profit.

Like Korah, who turned against God’s rightful leadership out of jealousy, they too will perish.

These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs in our fellowship. They feast with you, nurturing only themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn--fruitless, twice dead, pulled out by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever![12]

These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage. They create divisions and are merely natural, not having the Spirit.

Brothers and sisters, we must not yield in submission to these people for even an hour, lest the truth of the gospel depart from us.[13] Remember the words foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; they told you, "In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires."[14] We must not believe every spirit, but test them to determine if they are truly from God.[15]

[1] Isaiah 44:24-26
[2] Jeremiah 14:13-14; 23:32
[3] Jeremiah 23:30-31
[4] Ezekiel 13:6
[5] Ezekiel 22:28
[6] Matthew 24:11-12
[7] Matthew 7:15-20
[8] 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
[9] Galatians 2:4-5
[10] 2 Peter 2:1-3
[11] Jude 1:4
[12] Jude 1:10-13
[13] Galatians 2:5
[14] Jude 1:16-19
[15] 1 John 4:1

The Point of the Game

Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. – 2 Timothy 2:5

I walked into our living room and watched a couple of my children playing a game called Spy Hunter. It involves a James Bond-like car that chases evil cars around and generally causes mayhem while saving the world. What drew my attention was a warning whoop that kept sounding. When I walked in and saw what they were doing, I couldn’t help but laugh. They were actually going through the course backwards! They were ignoring all the rules, just bashing into stuff, blowing up good guys and pretty much making a big mess of the game. Oh, sure they were having a grand old time but the thing that concerned me was that they weren’t even aware that they were playing it wrong! There were little icons that signaled imminently fatal damage to their car but they didn’t recognize it for what it was. There was another icon that kept flashing at them that they were headed the wrong way but it was ignored. There was yet another that informed them of goals yet unreached but it might as well have been invisible.

How are you playing at life? Are you one of those people that say “I know the Bible says that but…” You know - “I know the Bible says I should go to church (Hebrews 10:25) but that’s my only day to catch up on chores.” “I know the Bible says that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6) but I think that there are many alternate ways as well.” “I know that the Bible says I should respect my husband (Ephesians 5:22) but you don’t know my husband!” “I know that the Bible says I should demonstrate sacrificial love for my wife (Ephesians 5:25) but she’s such a nag!” But, but, but, but!

Do you want to succeed in life or not? I’m not talking about making a million dollars, climbing the corporate ladder or being world famous. By success I mean being prepared to die a good death; coming to your death being surrounded by your loved ones, knowing your life meant something and being right with God so you can die in peace. If that is what you want then listen to the Bible. It has the answers to every imaginable question you might have. It’s like the gamers ultimate walk-through manual. It not only talks theory and strategy but gives you practical examples of people who have practiced it successfully and some who have not.

You may be having a lot of fun. You may be whooping it up. But are there little signs in your life indicating imminently fatal errors? Are there warnings that you are going the wrong way or that you are not achieving the goals God has set in place for you? Don’t ignore them. Don’t brush them aside. You may be missing the whole point of the game.

Take a few moments to find a quiet place, turn off the radio, the TV, the VCR and unplug the phone. Take a piece of paper and pencil in hand and ask God to show you the signs of wrong living in your life. Then take that list and vow to change one each week until you’re back on track.

The Trinity, 3 of 3

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! - Mark 1:9-11 HCSB

[1]There are many verses in which the Trinity may be demonstrated. For example, at one time a false doctrine was introduced to the Church that was called Sabellianism. Sabellians taught that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God that appear consecutively, rather than three distinct persons that exist concurrently. However, that false doctrine is clearly repudiated by the Gospel descriptions of the Lord Jesus’ baptism where we see the Son being baptized and the Father speaking from heaven while the Spirit descends in the aspect of a dove simultaneously.[2]

The idea of the Trinity pervades the New Covenant. We are to go and proclaim the gospel, convert souls, baptize them and disciple them in the name of all three.[3]

Jesus said that He would ask the Father to give the disciples the Spirit to act as their counselor which makes it abundantly clear that all three members are intimately involved in the continued spiritual well-being of the believer.[4]

Paul told the Corinthians that there are different gifts, but the same Spirit; different ministries but the same Lord; different activities but it is the same God who is active in everyone and everything.[5]

The Ephesians were told that there is one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father. Just as many Christians form one body of Christ, so the three Persons of the Trinity form one God.[6]

The Thessalonicans had been chosen through the Spirit to not only be saved and sanctified but to obtain the glory of the Son.[7] While explaining the same process of salvation, the apostle told Titus that the Father saved us through the washing and regeneration of the Spirit who was poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.[8] He told the Galatians that the Father sent the Son to redeem us, so that the Spirit could enter our hearts, allowing us to be adopted into God’s family and cry out “Abba! Father!”[9]

If we are to ever achieve d’vekut[10], it will be because that relationship is built through Holy Spirit empowered prayer, focus on the love of the Father, and an appreciation for the mercy demonstrated by our Savior Jesus Christ.[11]

It would take a lifetime and an entire library of books to truly explore the ramifications of the concept of the Trinity. I must unfortunately close this brief, surface examination. However, I would like to close with a blessing Paul gave to the Corinthian church. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.[12]


[1] The Trinity; by Lucas Cranach the Elder; Oil on wood; Museum der Bildenden Kunste at Leipzig, Germany
[2] Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22
[3] Matthew 28:19
[4] John 14:16; 15:26; 16:13-15
[5] 1 Corinthians 12:3-6
[6] Ephesians 4:4-6
[7] 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
[8] Titus 3:4-6
[9] Galatians 4:4-6
[10] a deep, passionate and intimate relationship that is only possible with God
[11] Jude 1:20-21
[12] 2 Corinthians 13:14 HCSB

The Trinity, 2 of 3

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! - Mark 1:9-11 HCSB

Even the most cursory examination of the Scriptures will indicate to the careful student that the members of the Trinity do everything as a unified team. Each is involved in every function of the other.

The Trinity created all things. We are told that the Father created all things by speaking it into being. [1] The Son is the personification of that creative word of God. He is the “Word made flesh.”[2] While the Father expressed the will, and the Son was the mode, it was the Holy Spirit, the Ruach’, the breath of God that empowered that creation.[3] By the way, Wisdom in the book of Proverbs is a personification of Ruach’, the Spirit of God, Who is referred to in the New Covenant as “Sophia” the Spirit of Wisdom.

Because the idea of a community of Persons forming one Person is so foreign to us, the concept was progressively revealed to humanity over time. Thus the idea is far more clearly expressed in the New Covenant than in the Old. However, we get intimations of the Trinity from the very beginning of the Holy Scriptures. In Moses’ creation account we read, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”[4]

Here we see the “Us” of the Trinity balanced by the “God” (singular), “His” and “He” (both also singular). God was not using the “majestic we” as some claim, else He would consistently follow that practice, not only in these two verses but throughout the Scriptures. We also see that to be “in the image of God” entailed two persons, one male and the other female, together forming Mankind.

Divinity is ascribed to the three Persons. The Father proclaims Himself to be God, the Son accepts the title of God, and the Apostles called the Holy Spirit God.[5] They share a fundamental similarity of nature. For instance, all three members are eternal,[6] holy,[7] and true.[8]

The entire Trinity was involved in the Son’s resurrection[9] which only emphasizes their being the source of eternal life.[10] Thus we are saved through the work of Triune God.[11]

The Trinity sanctifies us, which means all three Persons call us or set us apart for holy use.[12] In fact, Triune God is the author of all spiritual advancement,[13] with all three Persons teaching us[14] primarily through the Trinity-inspired Scriptures.[15] So our salvation, sanctification and ministry all depend on the foreknowledge of the Father, the sanctifying power of the Spirit and the grace made available through the shed blood of Christ.[16] That care has continued through the provision of elders to guide, teach and equip Hashem’s people.[17]


[1] Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6, 9; 148:5; Proverbs 3:19
[2] John 1:1-3, 14 cp Colossians 1:15-17
[3] Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Proverbs 8:27-31
[4] Genesis 1:26-27 HCSB
[5] Exodus 20:2; John 20:28; Acts 5:3-4
[6] Romans 16:26; Revelation 22:13; Hebrews 9:14
[7] Father - Revelation 4:8; Son - Acts 3:13-14; Revelation 15:3-4 (though the wording is similar to Revelation 4:8 note that it is called the “Song of the Lamb”; Holy Spirit - 1 John 2:20
[8] Father - Psalm 31:5; John 7:28; Son - Revelation 3:7; Holy Spirit – John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:5-6; 5:6
[9] Father – 1 Corinthians 6:14; Son – John 2:19; Holy Spirit – 1 Peter 3:18 (I believe the correct translation there is “made alive in [or through] the Spirit”)
[10] Father – Romans 6:23; Son – John 10:27-30; Holy Spirit – Galatians 6:7-8
[11] Father - Psalm 107:19-20; John 6:44; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Son – 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 3:4-6; Holy Spirit – 1 Peter 1:12
[12] Father – Romans 8:28-31; Son – Hebrews 2:11; Holy Spirit – 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2
[13] Father – Hebrews 13:20-21; Son – Colossians 1:28-29; Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:11
[14] Father – John 6:45; Isaiah 48:17-18; Isaiah 54:13; Son – Luke 21:12-15; Galatians 1:11-12; Holy Spirit - Zechariah 4:4-6; John 14:26; 1 John 2:20
[15] Father – Hebrews 1:1; Son – 2 Corinthians 13:3; Holy Spirit – Mark 13:11; 2 Peter 1:21
[16] 1 Peter 1:2
[17] Father – Jeremiah 3:15; 26:4-6; Son – Ephesians 4:10-13; Matthew 10:5-7; Holy Spirit – Acts 13:2; 20:28