Welcome

Greetings to everyone who finds their way to this blog. Thank you for taking the time to visit.

I want to make a special welcome to students for the EITI School of Worship and all those interested in classes at EITI: http://www.eaglesiti.org. For further information on the School of Worship go here: schoolofworship_adm@eagles.org.

Please feel free to poke around - there are numerous articles in the archives that will be interesting to any students of worship. You can look through the postings based on a date - found down on the right hand side of this page under the heading: "Blog Archive."

You will see that I haven't been writing a lot this year - I hope to get back to regular articles when my schedule calms down a bit. 

Another way to access helpful information is to go up to the top left and enter a topic in the search box. Type in "Praise and Worship" for example, and an interesting mix of different articles will come up.

Feel free to use any and all of the material posted in this blog. Give attribution and pass on the connection to your mates. Also...if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask me either here, or via email: vivienhibbert@gmail.com.

One final word - If you are interested in any of my written materials, CD's, DVD's, Teaching tapes etc. Please go to my website: www.vivienhibbert.com. My book "Prophetic Worship" is about to be released after a major makeover. Make sure you pick up this groundbreaking text on worship.

Prophetic Word For 2016 From Isaiah 52:7

A word for us all in 2016:

Is. 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!”

7 Observations:

1. Mountains - often refer to nations – also churches and centers of God’s presence. God is focusing on some specific nations for this year. Strategic meetings will set the stage for revival in certain nations that will touch every continent. People who have never traveled are going to be thrust out in short-term missions and see great effectiveness.

2. Feet - God is giving us increased authority - dominion in the places we tread this year.

"Feet" regel – journey, to move

These feet are beautiful on the mountains: "beautiful" (Strongs 4998) na’ah – this word is only used 3 times in the Bible to describe: holiness Ps. 93:5; cheeks Song 1:10; feet Is. 52:7

3. Good news...God is going to use us in greater measure to proclaim the power of His Gospel this year.

4. Peace - this not only means peace as we know it...but the prosperity and blessing that accompanies the Gospel. Increased blessing and prosperity for 2016.

5. Good news of good - we are the bearers of good news - happy news - positive messages proclaimed into the hearts of His people this year.

6. Publishes salvation - unusual circumstances coming this year - people you have been praying for over many years will come to salvation in 2016! Friends, relatives, neighbors and work mates. Expect significant breakthroughs!

7. You will say to Zion: "Your God reigns!" "Zion" represents the worshipers - those who love His presence. This is the mountain where David established his tabernacle of worship for all nations. The Lord wants to rule in the hearts of His worshipers in greater measure this year - some territories to conquer once and for all. He is giving you renewed authority to speak into these areas and be a champion for champions!

Titus - Godly Character

The Book of Titus was written by Paul (in about A. D. 64) to his Greek disciple, Titus. Titus was in Crete at the time. Crete was a corrupt seaport where cargo ships stopped off as they traversed the Mediterranean. It had been socially backward for 1400 years. This letter was intended to help Titus as he instructed the Cretans in holy living. Titus was sent to Crete to oversee the churches and leaders, and to bring them into Godly order (Titus 1:5 NIV The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.) These Cretan Believers were living in a society where the people were known for being lazy, liars, and gluttons. Titus showcases Paul’s strategy for leadership and points the way for all Believers to live as lights in the midst of unprecedented evil.

One of the striking features of this book are the lists of character traits that show what a true Godly life looks like, and what an ungodly life looks like. I have attempted to put these into some sort of order, and pair them with character traits that show the Godly and ungodly sides of our heart. I have used several translations (particularly NKJV, NIV, NLT, AMP and NLV) in order to get a greater understanding of each of these character traits. Different translations use different words to describe what the Holy Spirit is saying through these verses.

The Lord is more interested in our character than our gifts or talents. I use lists such as these to take inventory of where I stand with the Lord, and how I can move forward – away from ungodly behavior, and towards His holiness:

Key verse: Titus 2:14

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin,

to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people,

totally committed to doing good deeds.

Godly Character For Elders (Leaders of the Church)

Godly Character	Ungodly Character	Fruit of the Spirit Needed to Grow this Character
Husband of one wife; faithful to his wife, blameless 1:6	Wild and disobedient; immoral; rebellious 1:6	Patience—Gal. 5:22
Faithful children - Believers 1:6	Overbearing 1:7	Gentleness—Gal. 5:23
Hospitable; a servant; enjoy having guests 1:8	Unable to manage the household 1:7	Joy—Gal. 5:22
Lover of what is good 1:8	Violent; Quick-tempered; gets angry over little things  1:7	Goodness—Gal. 5:22
Sober-minded; wise 1:8	Self-willed; arrogant 1:7	Peace—Gal. 5:22
Just; financially ethical 1:7-8	Greedy; dishonest with money 1:7	Faithfulness—Gal. 5:22
Holy 1:8	Sinful 1:15	Love—Gal. 5:22
Self-controlled; disciplined 1:8	Given to (much) wine; heavy drinker 1:7; 2:3	Self-control—Gal. 5:23
Trusting in the Word and able to teach the truth 1:9	Opposing the Word; stands against the truth 1:9-10	Kindness—Gal. 5:22

G

Godly Character For all Believers – Men and Women

Godly Character	Ungodly Character
Sober; self-control; dignified 2:2; 2:12	Addicted to wine; insubordinate; rebellious 1:10; 2:3
Reverent; sound in faith 2:2-3; 2:7	Idle (useless, empty) talkers 1:10
Temperate; wise 2:2; 2:6; 2:12	Deceivers – false teachers 1:10
Sound in Faith 2:2	Unbelieving 1:15
Loving 2:2	Defiled 1:15
Patient; steadfast; endurance 2:2	Deny God; Detestable; disobedient and unfit for doing anything good 1:16
Teachers of good things that encourage younger Christian women to tenderly love their husbands and children 2:4-5	Deceived 3:3
Discreet; wise 2:5; 2:6	Slanderers; malicious gossips 2:3
Chaste; pure 2:5	Impure 2:15
Kind; good-natured; do good works of every kind; have homes where God is honored 2:3; 2:5-7	Living in malice; malicious gossips 3:3
Teach the truth 2:8	Dishonest; 1:11; Turned away from the truth 3:11
Obedient (submissive) to their husbands 2:5	Disobedient 1:16; 3:2
Strict regard for integrity; beyond reproach 2:7-8	Disqualified; worthless for anything good 1:16
Incorruptible; self-control; seriousness 2:6-7	Corrupt mind; conscience and heart 1:15
Sound speech; teach truth; wisdom 2:8; 2:12	Foolish 3:2
Righteous; upright 2:12	Lustful; worldly immoral desires & passions; enslaved to various sinful desires 2:12; 3:3
Godly; devotion to God 2:12	Ungodliness 2:12
Looking for the appearing of Jesus with confident expectation 2:13	Unbelieving, deny and disown God 1:15
Submit (subject) to rulers and authorities 3:1	Strivings about the law 3:9
Obedient 3:1	Foolish and disobedient; Hateful 3:3
Ready for every good work; Always ready to do what is good 3:1	Foolish, ill-informed disputes; controversies 3:9
Speak evil (slander) of no one 3:2	Quarrels and fights 3:9
Peaceable; kind 3:2	Contentions; foolish discussions 3:9
Gentle 3:2	Envious; malice; evil; hatred; hateful 3:3
Humble towards all; show consideration to all 3:2	Divisive 3:10
Participate in good and honorable things – things that are excellent and profitable for all people 3:8	Heresies that cause divisions and confusion

Godly Character For Slaves

Godly Character	Ungodly Character
Obedient; subject to masters; pleasing 2:9	Answering back 2:9
Showing good faith; trustworthy; good, do credit to the teachings of the Lord 2:10	Stealing (pilfering) 2:10

Key verse: Titus 3:4-7

But—

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit

6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence

that we will inherit eternal life