3. Accurate Communication is often a Hard Thing to Achieve!

4. A wife’s fortieth anniversary gift! A wife’s fortieth anniversary gift!

5. Every Time We Speak, We Say Three Things....

6. We Say What We Thought We Said! We Say What We Thought We Said!

7. We Say What They Heard!

8. We Say What We Actually Said!

9. So, How are We to Understand God?

10. Philippians 2:5-13 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery… Philippians 2:5-13 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery…

11. …to be equal with God 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

12. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

13. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…

14. …of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…

15. …to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more…

16. …in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

17. How are We to Understand God? “...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” How are We to Understand God? “...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

18. ‘pleasure’ eudokía will, choice, good will, kindly intent, benevolence, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, desire ‘pleasure’ eudokía will, choice, good will, kindly intent, benevolence, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, desire

19. When God Speaks, He Never Contradicts His Character

20. When God Speaks, He Agrees with His Revelation

21. When God Speaks, He Is Seeking to Accomplish His Will

22. How are We to Respond to God? “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...” How are We to Respond to God? “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...”

23. Micah 6:7-8 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Micah 6:7-8 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil?

24. Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;

25. …and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

26. Behavior Is Always Downstream from Values & Belief

27. An Inner Transformation A Christ- Centered Salvation An Inner Transformation A Christ- Centered Salvation

28. An Outer Manifestation A Christ-Centered Surrender An Outer Manifestation A Christ-Centered Surrender

29. John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”