Memory Verse: Ephesians 6: 10-18 10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.

Introduction: Let Your Fingers Do the Walking (Yellow Pages) I have deviated from the traditional Memory Verse.. in that usually we take one of the words in the slogan and seek a scripture that uses that word, but today I’m using the concept of what Yellow Pages is all about.. seeking and finding. I used the word Walking.. which made me think of shoes.. and this set of verses is exactly what I want to share. This assignment will be tougher than those of the last few weeks.. take your time, you can always do it late. Put on that full armor and study God’s word, so that you can more fully understand what He wants you to learn from it. This scripture from Ephesians is exhorting us to be armed - fully armed - to stand against HaSatan - the Adversary. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. I want us to dig deeper into God’s Word, and to really let our fingers do the walking through the resources we have available to us - books, internet - and really seek to find the true meaning of His Word. Don’t worry, I’m no expert, I’ll be learning to do this along with you all.

Assignment: I’d like you to choose a word, find the Hebrew or Greek original word, and then dig into it’s full meaning. Use things like the Strong’s Concordance or the Gesenius and find the root of the word. What is the first occurance of that word in scripture? What did that word mean in that first occurance? Did the meaning of the word change as God used it in scripture? Now find some verses in scripture that use that word, and like The Message Bible does, re-write that scripture using the full meaning that you now understand to illuminate that scripture verse. What kinds of words should you look up? I’m going to do fire.. but you could look up water, altar, sacrifice, prayer, washing, or any word that you feel God is asking you to understand better. If you feel challenged to, when you find the Hebrew word, look up the meaning of the letters in the root word. The Hebrew letters themselves have meaning, and give meaning to the word.

I picked the word Morning Star as found in Revelation 22:16.

Star, Morning:

Greek

ἀστήρ  (Strong’s 792)

aster – a star

a name figuratively given to Christ (Rev 22:16; 2Pe 1:19). When Christ promises that he will give the "morning star" to his faithful ones, he "promises that he will give to them himself, that he will give to them himself, that he will impart to them his own glory and a share in his own royal dominion; for the star is evermore the symbol of royalty (Mat 2:2), being therefore linked with the sceptre (Num 24:17). All the glory of the world shall end in being the glory of the Church." Trench's Comm.

Matt.2:2 – “we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

Rev. 2:28 – “I will give him the morning star”

Root word: strōnnyō - 1) to spread

2) furnish

3) to spread with couches or divans

 Also in the Old Testament I found Star in Numbers 24:17

Hebrew

כוכב – Kaph, Vav, Kaph, Beyt =

Kaph= bend, open, allow, tame

Vav=  Add, secure, hook

Kaph = bend, open, allow, tame

Beyt= Family, house, in

Kowkab- 1) star

a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God's omniscience (fig.)

Numbers 24:17- “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

From the English Dictionary: Morning Star- a bright planet, especially Venus, seen in the east immediately before sunrise.

This name of Christ Jesus has become more real to me this past month. He has shown me that He is indeed the Bright Morning Star who’s light and truth pierces through the darkest of places to shine and guide me. When the enemy is lying in my ear and I begin to fall into the dark pit of despair Morning Star bursts forth with the truth to hold on to and it destroys the lies.

I love this verse in Revelation 22:16 – “I Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

To follow the assignment I’ll pick out a few words from the Hebrew definition of Star that really stuck out to me. So comforting:

“I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I, Jesus, am Open, Secure, Family, Royalty, Messiah, God Omniscient, The Brightest Star just before dawn.”