Author: Emily Wooten

by Emily Wooten
Proverbs 2: 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
God teaches us through his word that there is wisdom, knowledge and understanding available if we seek for it.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
We see that God promises, if we ask and seek we will receive and find. We are told that wisdom is more valuable than riches in God’s opinion.
Proverbs 3:13-15 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
We see in scripture where God invites us to come and learn. He provides a tutor who knows everything. Inside every person who has accepted Jesus as their savior, is the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus was speaking in these two scriptures of the Holy Spirit. Remember in Genesis we read where the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. God said or declared, “Let there be light: and there was light.”
Holy Spirit is not an ambiguous teacher who is vague. His words are clear and to the point. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ever present, on our side and looking for a way to help us overcome. Ask for Holy Spirit to help you learn. He will show us, teach us and help us communicate, if we listen and obey.

by Emily Wooten
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid not; and it shall be given him.
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
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.
We see in scripture that God is for us. It is his good pleasure to help us, when we ask.
Proverbs 2:1-7 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cry after knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding; If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
For teachers and students, there is wisdom in asking God to help. For the teacher God wants us to pray they will have sound wisdom, understand how to present information in a way their students can comprehend. God wants to give them insight, patience and wisdom.
For students we can pray according to the Ephesian 1 prayer that God would give then the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; that they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. From Ephesians 3: that he would grant to them, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Then from Colossians 1: 9…they might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
One might argue that these scriptures are talking about spiritual knowledge. God our father knows everything there is to be known. As we fellowship with him and present ourselves to the ultimate teacher, Holy Spirit, he will help us retain the information needed to help us succeed. It is still necessary for us to study, to show ourselves approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, but with God’s help we will be like Daniel and his friends.
Daniel 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them (Daniel and his friends) ten times better than all the wise people that were in all his realm.
This scripture says wisdom and understanding. It doesn’t limit their grasp of knowledge to spiritual information. Let’s acknowledge God in all our ways and trust him to direct our path. See Proverbs 3:6-7

by Emily Wooten
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.
These two scriptures might lead a person to think if we love someone we can overlook their bad behavior. Especially when we see where Jesus taught we should forgive 7 times 70.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Jesus wasn’t teaching tolerance. In his ministry Jesus clearly defined the lines of sin and spoke against it.
Mostly he shared positive lessons of things we should do instead of focusing on all the things we shouldn’t do. In John 10 he said he was the good shepherd, his sheep knew his voice and another they would not follow.
The illustration of the shepherd and his sheep shows us Gods provision and protection. No where does it suggest we can do whatever comes to mind without consequences. Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
Matthew 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Colossians 3:12-15 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
While we should not think more highly than we ought about ourselves, we also find the truth that we should love God and one another. Humility is not a fake show of self-deprecation. Loving others means we genuinely look out for their well being and consider their feelings. When we are wrong we are to quickly repent and as we forgive ourselves for the bad judgment we learn ways to prevent that wrong behavior in the future. That is how we grow. Loving others helps us find grace to forgive their errors as well. Learning to discipline ourselves in these areas is pleasing to God. He is eager to give us wisdom and strength if we ask.

by Emily Wooten
First fruits is the biblical principle of giving God the very first and best portion of our increase.
Exodus 23:19 The first of the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
Romans 11:16 For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Malachi 3:6-11 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
In ancient times a family’s crops were their lively hood. Humans bartered trading goods for other goods. It isn’t complicated. Whatever the increase, 10% of it is to honor God.
People don’t often look at tithing as worship, but we should. God said we should bring our tithes and offering to him so “that there may be meat in mine house.” Provision for God’s house is a biblical principal. We see examples of people who showed their love and appreciation for God by worshiping him with tithes and offerings.
When we think about the many ways God loves us and has provided for us, it causes us to experience a feeling of gratitude. In response we submit to God the first fruits or 10% of our increase. Offering money, time and other resources is one of the ways the body of Christ continues his ministry today, reaching out to those who are lost and teaching God’s people how to access all he has for us.
Salvation didn’t stop when God raised Jesus from the dead. His ministry didn’t stop when he went up to heaven. We are his voice in the world today.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

by Emily Wooten
1 John 2:19-21, 27 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Many are confused or dismissive about the Holy Spirit’s role in the church today. God established the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide. If we choose to ignore him or count the unction of the Holy Spirit as unimportant, we are missing a valuable resource, our lifeline and connection to God in this earth.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
We can’t afford to ignore the Spirit’s leading. It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to ask God for forgiveness of sin. He welcomes us in to the body of Christ and comes to dwell in us.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Whether we are looking to God for salvation of our spirit, soul or body, God has provided Holy Spirit and he requires we listen to him and follow his instructions. Absorbing the word is essential to believing God and learning to live by faith. Listening to the unction of the Holy Spirit and doing what he says is how we receive anything God has provided.

by Emily Wooten
The children of Israel wanted a king like the other nations. God chose Saul. In the beginning of his reign, Saul was humble. It only took a couple of years before he fell into a trap that isn’t uncommon. He allowed his own ideas to become more important than God’s instructions.
In 1 Samuel 13, we see where Saul made a mistake. Instead of repenting and asking for mercy, he tried to explain away his error and justify his actions.
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Humans have the capacity to make good decisions, but in Romans 7:21 Paul said, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”
Paul was explaining that living by faith requires us to fight against evil and resist its influence.
1 Timothy 6:11–12: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
God found in David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).
But David wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, yet when the man of God showed him his error, he accepted responsibility and repented.
We will be challenged, and sometimes we may fail. We can learn from David’s example by being quick to recognize our failures and just as quick to correct them.
Psalm 34:9, 22: “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The Lord redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
David knew God as his source. He recognized that every good thing was God’s idea. He chose to look to God for his answers, and when he failed, he threw himself upon God’s mercy and asked for grace to correct his course.
Psalm 51 is David’s cry to God in repentance. In verse 10 he said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This is a man whom Scripture says was after God’s own heart, yet here we see him asking for mercy and correction. That is how David kept favor with God. He wasn’t perfect, but he asked God for mercy, corrected his wrong behavior, and trusted God to give him strength and protection.
Psalm 138:8: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me: thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever.”
Hebrews 4:15–16: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

by Emily Wooten
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
When Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem, his manner of behavior was apparent.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
James 2:14,17-18 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Romans 12:1-2 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Matthew 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Two things Jesus asked us to do: love God and love others. The most powerful work we can do is to share God’s love with others. Scripture teaches us that works are the treasure we lay up in heaven but we are also warned that works without faith is dead and unfruitful. As we learn to submit ourselves to God and resist every form of darkness we are working to share God’s love and like Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

by Emily Wooten
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Genesis 17:3-7 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Galatians 3:13-14, 29 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
John 3:15-16 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
More than 4,000 years ago God made a covenant with a human he named Abraham. Adam’s sin had brought death to all humans but through Jesus Christ, God made it possible for any human who believes Jesus is the son of God could be saved. 1 John 4 tells us that God has made us overcomers. Before we knew God was, he set his love on us and sent Jesus, his only begotten son to bear our sins. Now we have hope in this life and the one to come.
Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

by Emily Wooten
In Matthew 23:37 Jesus described God’s feelings for Jerusalem, “…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
From these two scriptures we see a God who is merciful, loving, protective and empowering.
David knew God as protector. When he needed help he was not hesitant to call on our heavenly Father. We can know God even more closely than he did.
Psalm 18:2-3 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
God promised to send the comforter to teach us.
John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus provided peace. He provided the greatest teacher possible in Holy
Spirit. We see in scripture that Jesus is our healer. He left us this testimony in Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
We see that Jesus was a teacher, healer and friend.
John 15:14-15 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
God is our Father. His tender mercies are new every day. His love for us is boundless. God is everything a father should be providing peace, protection, wisdom and love. Let’s allow God to embrace us and share his love with us as we resist every work of unbelief, submitting ourselves and our families to God’s plan.

by Emily Wooten
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is God’s will that we know him in a personal and intimate fellowship. Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to pray that God would dwell in their hearts and they would comprehend the love of Christ.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We believe the bible is meant for us, for our instruction and given to teach us. God is showing us through Paul’s prayer that he wants his church to know and understand him. How can we walk in his precepts if we don’t know them. In Paul’s prayer for the Colossians we see that God wants us to increase in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:9-12 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Scripture reveals to us God’s will to save us, heal us and know us. God, the eternal, self existing creator, who was and is and is to come: the God who can measure the entire universe with a grain of sand; the all powerful redeemer wants us to know him, not just know of him.
As we move into this week, let’s make it our purpose to be vulnerable with him. Let’s listen from his heart to be revealed to us and plan time to hear him and cherish his presence.