Digging Deeper Day 38

Barrier: Form of Godliness But Denying Its Power

Breakthrough: Godliness

Today’s focus is extremely important. The nature of the barrier is deceiving. It is proof that a person can believe he is following God, believe she is honoring God, but in truth only hold to a “form” of godliness, which is not godliness at all.

“…having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:5- NIV)

“…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”
(ASV- Most accurate translation of this verse)

“Holding”
· to have, i.e. to hold
o to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
· to have i.e. own, possess
o external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
o used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
· to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
· to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
o to be closely joined to a person or a thing

“Form”
· · the mere form, semblance


“Godliness”
· reverence, respect
· piety towards God, godliness

“Denied”
· deny

· to deny someone

· to deny one's self
o to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself
o act entirely unlike himself
· to deny, abnegate, abjure

· not to accept, to reject, to refuse something offered


“Power”
· strength power, ability

· inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
· power for performing miracles
· moral power and excellence of soul
· the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
· power and resources arising from numbers
· power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

“…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”

USING THE DEFINITIONS
“Possessing, clinging to a mere semblance or appearance of piety toward God, having rejected, refusing to accept the power of God---His Omnipotence (All Power) His Ability, His Supernatural Ability to Overcome, to Heal, to Change, to Transform, to Make Himself Known, His Purity and Spirit, God in all His fullness and glory and majesty and power… “

Let’s make this personal.

After announcing to the teenage virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God, the angel Gabriel proclaimed: “For nothing is impossible with God.” Do you have the faith of Mary? Whose response was simply: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:37-38) Do you believe nothing is impossible with God? Or have you placed God in a box of “that was then, this is now.” Do you believe in the power of God (“Nothing is impossible with God.”) or have you resigned to a mere semblance or form or should we say “manmade idol” of god? Nothing more than an idol you sing songs about and read about three times a week.

What are the limits on “nothing is impossible with God?” Why do we as mere men think that we have to explain away scriptures that talk about the mighty nature and power of God? Why do we read those scriptures and say this was something for the first century but not us? Why do we take liberty with what the WORD DOES NOT SAY instead of putting our faith in the mountain moving God the scriptures do speak of? Where do we get the nerve to take such liberty with the word? Could it be that we have laid hold of a mere caricature of God, a mere thought of God, a warm-fuzzy religion that makes us feel good about ourselves and sometimes really, really bad about ourselves but offers nothing but lukewarm snake oil for our true ailments?

If “nothing is impossible with God,” what is impossible? NOTHING! Maybe we should look up nothing… No, we know what nothing means… Zero…Nothing… Nada!

Jesus told the apostles the following about God: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27) That is the other way of looking at it. Gabriel covered man’s tendencies to look at things as impossible and said “nothing is impossible with God.” Jesus looked at it from God’s point of view “with God all things are possible.”

What is impossible with God? NOTHING!

What is possible with God? ALL THINGS! What is the meaning of all? In Hebrew, Greek, and English “all” means “all.”

So I ask you: Do you believe in this God? The God of the Bible, not man’s limited semblance or form of God. God! Almighty! Omnipotent! Omniscient! Omnipresent! Holy! Mighty! Loving God! The God you need, the God Who is real! He is real!

FYI: God can’t be placed in a box. You can think He is there but He is God. If you have limits on God, you are the one who is limited! God is waiting, longing to give you a breakthrough! The greatest breakthrough you can possibly have is to place your faith in Him! Completely! No limits! No impossibilities! All Possibilities!!!
Don’t deny His power, you are only denying yourself when you do that! Trust Him!

Check out the words of our scripture for today as this is closed. I’ve highlighted the God statements.


3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (You can breakthrough (His Divine Nature) these barriers (evil desires) through His Divine Power)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(That is what the entire 40-Day process is about)

9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (I, too embrace the charge of repeating myself in my preaching because I want everyone of you to have the BREAKTHROUGH that is yours through Christ!)

"I am the Lord's servant, may it be as you have said!"

Digging Deeper Day 37

Barrier: Disobedience to Parents

Breakthrough: Honor and Obey Your Parents



Exodus 20:12
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Proverbs 6:20-35
20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, 24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife. 25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, 26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. 27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? 28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? 29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. 30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. 31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house. 32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. 33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away; 34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. 35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Proverbs 13:1
1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Definition
1. impersuasible, not compliant, disobedient, contumacious

Word Usage - Total: 7
disobedience 1, disobedient 6

Romans 1:18-32

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Colossians 3:18-25
8 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Digging Deeper Day 36

Barrier: Without Self-Control

Breakthrough: Self-Control

I don’t know why it is missing from your daily reading, but the first passage is the scriptural basis for today’s barrier. I also have the other selected readings for the day. In your meditation today, simply read and pray through the individual statements slowly. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict, confirm, reveal, restore, revive---do whatever He needs to do as you read the Word.

2 Timothy 3:1-31

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Galatians 5:13-26

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

2 Peter 1

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Digging Deeper Day 35

Barrier: Drunkenness
Breakthrough: Filled with the Spirit

All of us are full of something. All of us are under the influence of something. Ephesians 5:18 is one of the key verses in the entire Bible: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse is really not about literal drunkenness, well, it is, but it is not. It is contrasting the two choices we have in life. We can choose to live under the influence of the flesh or the Spirit. Which can choose the trappings of the world or we can choose the gifts of the Spirit. We can choose to be angry and bitter or we can choose to forgive.
We can choose hatred and judgment or we can choose love. It is a contrast between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit.
Drunkenness is the perfect antithesis to being "filled with the Spirit."
Being under the influence of wine is a sham. Everything it offers is
counterfeit. It gives you a false confidence and joy. When you wake up
the next morning you have only faint memories of the night before and agonizing pain. You find yourself in a desperate cycle of desiring more, needing more, hurting more. Wine never satisfies yet it imprisons you in total dependency. It is an evil master! Escape is a key word to describe living under the influence of wine. Life is so full of pain and heartaches that you desperately need an escape. An escape that leaves you with more burdens and despair than you had before. "Drunk on wine" represents all the barriers on this calendar. "Filled with the Spirit" represents all the Breakthroughs...
Check out the passages below. The scriptures that refer to the flesh and the former way of life are describing what it is like to be under the influence of the flesh (represented by the idea of being drunk on wine). The scriptures which refer the spirit or new life describe what it is like to be "filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 4:17-5:20
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be
sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:1-17
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Galatians 5
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words!
I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Digging Deeper Day 34

Barrier: Lazy/Slothful

Old Testament Meaning
Definition
sluggishness, laziness
laxness, slackness, slackening, deceit, treachery
Word Usage - Total: 33
indolence 1, laziness 1, lazy 1, lazy one 1, sluggard 12, deceitful 4, deceitfully 3, deceit 2, slothful 2, false 1, guile 1, idle 1, slack 1, sluggard 14, slothfulness 2
Proverbs 19:15
Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
Proverbs 6:9
How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
Proverbs 10:26
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
Proverbs 15:19
The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 19:24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, And will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
Proverbs 22:13
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!"
Proverbs 24:30
I passed by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense;
Proverbs 26:13
The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!"
Proverbs 26:14
As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.
Proverbs 26:15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
Proverbs 26:16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Ecclesiastes 10:18
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

New Testament Meaning
Definition
free from labour, at leisure
lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform
sluggish, slothful, backward
slow, sluggish, indolent, dull, languid
Word Usage - Total: 16
careless 1, idle 4, lazy 1, useless 2, lagging behind 1, lazy 1, trouble 1, dull 1, slothful 1

Matthew 20:3
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;
Matthew 20:6
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'
1Timothy 5:13
And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
Titus 1:12
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
Matthew 25:26
"But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed.
Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Colossians 2:18 - Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
1Thessalonians 5:14 - And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7 - For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
2 Thessalonians 3:11 - We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Breakthrough: Excellence/Perseverance

Old Testament Meaning
Definition
strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
strength
ability, efficiency
wealth
force, army
Word Usage - Total: 243
able 5, armies 3, army 82, army* 1, capability 1, capable 3, elite army 1, excellence 1, excellent 2, forces 12, full 1, goods 1, great 1, might 1, mighty 1, nobly 1, power 2, retinue 2, riches 9, strength 10, strong 2, substance 1, troops 2, valiant 41, valiant* 4, valiantly 6, valor 18, very powerful 1, warriors 1, wealth 25, wealthy 1, worthy 1

Genesis 47:6
"The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock."
Exodus 18:21
"Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Exodus 18:25
And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Joshua 8:3
So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose, men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.
Judges 6:12
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior."
Ruth 3:11
"And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
Psalm 108:13
Through God we shall do valiantly; And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.
Psalm 110:3
Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee as the dew.
Psalm 118:15
The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
Psalm 118:16
The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
Proverbs 12:4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels

New Testament Meaning
Definition
a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action
virtue, moral goodness
any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity
Word Usage - Total: 5
excellence 2, excellencies 1, moral excellence 2

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
2 Peter 1:3
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:5
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge;
Definition
to stay at or with, to tarry still, still to abide, to continue, remain
of tarrying in a place
to persevere, continue
of the thing continued in
f the blessing for which one keeps himself fit enoting the action persisted in to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee
to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ
to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments
Word Usage - Total: 34
continue 4, continued 1, persevere 1, persisted 1, remain 4, stay 2, stayed 3, staying 1 endure 3, endure...with patience 1, endured 5, endures 3, patiently endure 1, perseveres 1, persevering 1, remained 1, stayed behind 1
Colossians 1:23
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Romans 12:12
rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
1 Corinthians 13:7
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
2 Timothy 2:10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
Hebrews 10:32
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
Hebrews12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:3
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:7
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
James 1:12
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 5:11
Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
1 Peter 2:20
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Ephesians 2:10 -For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Digging Deeper Day 33

Barrier: Fornication/Adultery

Fornication and Adultery are best described as unfaithfulness. They are to the physical what idolatry is to the spiritual. Just as God is a jealous God and will not share us with anyone or anything, just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are one so is a husband and wife. Marriage is the one human institution that reflects the unity of the Godhead. Sexual intimacy is meant for one person and one person only and that is our mate. Sex is to marriage what worship is to God. We have so distorted the true meaning of sex in our society that many Christians think the last statement is potentially blasphemous. It was God who created sex between a man and his wife, period. Just as God alone is to be worshipped, not other gods like money, sexual impurity, entertainment, leisure, sports, etc…
Proof of this is the constant description of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God as adultery. Jesus raised the bar in the Sermon on the Mount when he made us aware that the fact that adultery can also be committed in your heart. Therefore, our faithfulness to God must be in our mind and action. Our faithfulness to our mates must also be in mind and action. The below scriptures are not even to close to comprehensive on the subject but they do make the point about how God feels about this type unfaithfulness.
Why does God feel this way? Why is He so hard on unfaithfulness? Because “He is always faithful.” In contrast to man, who is fickle in and generally faithful in “fair weather.” God is Always Faithful to us even when we don’t deserve it, which is all the time! Thanks be to God for His Faithfulness, that He will not give us up even when we deny Him and are unfaithful. There is no one like OUR GOD!

Old Testament Meaning
Definition
to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot
to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication
to commit adultery
to be a cult prostitute
to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)
to play the harlot
to cause to commit adultery
to force into prostitution
to commit fornication
With another wife
Idolatrous worship
Word Usage - Total: 124
adulterous 1, become a harlot 1, commit adultery 1, commits flagrant harlotry 1, fall to harlotry 1, harlot 22, harlot continually 1, harlot's 2, harlot's* 2, harlot* 3, harlotry 3, harlots 5, making her a harlot 1, play the harlot 18, play the harlot continually 1, played the harlot 24, playing the harlot 3, plays the harlot 1, prostitute 1, unfaithful 1adulterer 3, adulterers 5, adulteress 3, adulteresses 2, adulteries 1, adulterous 1, adultery 1, commit adultery 6, commits adultery 3, committed adultery 5, committing of adultery 1

Numbers 15:39
"And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot,
Numbers 25:1
While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
Deuteronomy 31:16
And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the harlot with the strange gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.
Judges 2:17
And yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do as their fathers.
Judges 8:27
And Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.
Judges 8:33
Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.
1Chronicles 5:25
But they acted treacherously against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
Psalm 73:27
For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee.
Psalm 106:39
Thus they became unclean in their practices, And played the harlot in their deeds.
Proverbs 23:27
For a harlot is a deep pit, And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
Proverbs 29:3
A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
Ezekiel 6:9
"Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations.
Ezekiel 16:15
"But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.
Ezekiel 16:16
"And you took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors, and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen.
Exodus 20:14
"You shall not commit adultery.
Leviticus 20:10
'If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Job 24:15
"And the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, 'No eye will see me.' And he disguises his face.
Proverbs 6:32
The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.
Proverbs 30:20
This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong."
Jeremiah 3:8
"And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
Ezekiel 16:32
"You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!
Ezekiel 16:38
"Thus I shall judge you, like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I shall bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
Ezekiel 23:37
"For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to them as food.
Ezekiel 23:45
"But they, righteous men, will judge them with the judgment of adulteresses, and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.

New Testament Meaning
Definition
an adulteress
as the intimate alliance of God with the people of Israel was likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot
fig. equiv. to faithless to God, unclean, apostate
Word Usage - Total: 26
adulteress 2, adulteresses 1, adulterous 3, adultery 3, adulteries 2, commit adultery 11, commits adultery 2, committing 1

Matthew 12:39
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;
Matthew 16:4
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them, and went away.
Mark 8:38
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
James 4:4
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
2 Peter 2:14
having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
Matthew 15:19
"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
Mark 7:21
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
Mark 7:22
deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness
Matthew 5:27
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery';
Matthew 5:28
but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:32
but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 19:18
He said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
Romans 2:22
You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Romans 13:9
For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Revelation 2:22
'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.

Definition--FORNICATION
illicit sexual intercourse
adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,
metaph. the worship of idols
of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
NAS Word Usage - Total: 25
fornication 4, fornications 2, immoralities 1, immorality 16, sexual immorality 1, unchastity

John 8:41
"You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."
1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
1Corinthians 6:13
Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 7:2
But because of immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
2 Corinthians 12:21
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Galatians 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Ephesians 5:3
But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
Colossians 3:5
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Revelation 2:21
'And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
Revelation 9:21
and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.
Revelation 14:8
And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."
Revelation 17:2
with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."
Revelation 17:4
And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,
Revelation 18:3
"For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."
Revelation 19:2
because His JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has AVENGED THE BLOOD OF His bond-servants ON HER."

Breakthrough: Faithfulness

Old Testament Meaning
Definition
firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness firmness, faithfulness, truth
sureness, reliability
stability, continuance
faithfulness, reliableness
truth
as spoken
of testimony and judgment
Word Usage - Total: 175
faith 2, faithful 5, faithfully 14, faithfulness 35, honestly 1, responsibility 1, stability 1, steady 1, trust 2, lasting 1, truth 85, true 18, truthful 2

Deuteronomy 32:4
"The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.
Psalm 33:4
For the word of the Lord is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.
Psalm 36:5
Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 89:2
For I have said, "Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens Thou wilt establish Thy faithfulness."
Psalm 89:5
And the heavens will praise Thy wonders, O Lord; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
Psalm 89:8
O Lord God of hosts, who is like Thee, O mighty Lord? Thy faithfulness also surrounds Thee.
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 119:90
Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the earth, and it stands.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
Isaiah 25:1
O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name; For Thou hast worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
Jeremiah 5:1
"Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now, and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her.
Jeremiah 5:3
O Lord, do not Thine eyes look for truth? Thou hast smitten them, But they did not weaken; Thou hast consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.
Jeremiah 7:28
"And you shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.
Jeremiah 9:3
"And they bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," declares the Lord.
Lamentations 3:23
They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.
Hosea 2:20
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.
Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
Psalm 108:4
For Thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; And Thy truth reaches to the skies.
Psalm 111:7
The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure.
Psalm 111:8
They are upheld forever and ever; They are performed in truth and uprightness.
Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Thy name give glory Because of Thy lovingkindness, because of Thy truth.
Psalm 117:2
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 119:43
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Thine ordinances.
Psalm 119:142
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Thy law is truth.
Psalm 119:151
Thou art near, O Lord, And all Thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:160
The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.
Jeremiah 32:41
"And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.
Jeremiah 33:6
'Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.
Jeremiah 42:5
Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the Lord your God will send you to us.

New Testament Meaning
Definition
trusty, faithful
of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties
one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust
that can be relied on
easily persuaded
believing, confiding, trusting
in the NT one who trusts in God's promises
one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead
one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation
Word Usage - Total: 67
believe 2, believer 4, believers 5, believing 1, faithful 44, faithful one 1, faithfully 1, sure 1, trustworthy 7, who believe 1

1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
1Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
1Timothy 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service;
1 Timothy 3:11
Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
1 Peter 4:19
Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Revelation 2:10
'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Digging Deeper Day 32

Barrier: Filthy Language

Old Testament Meaning
There is not really a word for “filthy” as referring to language in the Old Testament. The word “filthy” in the Old Testament is used almost exclusively to speak of “uncleanness” as related to the law and most uses of the word are found in Leviticus. The terms most closely related to the New Testament use is “in vain” or “vainly.”
Definition
emptiness, vanity, falsehood
emptiness, nothingness, vanity
emptiness of speech, lying
worthlessness (of conduct)
Word Usage - Total: 53
vain 22, vanity 22, false 5, lying 2, falsely 1, lies 1
Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Deuteronomy 5:11
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Psalm 139:20
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
Psalm 144:8
Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Psalm 144:11
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
Isaiah 59:4
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
Psalm 109:17
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

New Testament Meaning
Definition
obscenity, filthiness
foul speaking, low and obscene speech
Word Usage 2
filthy 1; filthy language

Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Breakthrough: Purity of Speech

Colossians 3:8-17
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ephesians 5:1-20
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:12
12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Matthew 5:33-37
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.