Anderson Hills UMC

This week, by reading psalms of praise, we will more clearly see the One who deserves our thanks and praise. God is glorified in the praises of His people and the Psalms have been a blueprint for praising Him for the last several thousand years. We will explore thankfulness by seeing where we fit in God’s plans and having the right view of ourselves in relationship to Him. Throughout the centuries, many songs have been written based on the language found in the Psalms. The music and melody of the words themselves draw us toward God and the beauty of His creation. Psalms reminds us of God’s deep love for us and His glorious majesty that existed before time and will continue forever.

Psalms 1 and 2 are known as a deliberate psalm pair, meant to introduce the book of Psalms. Psalm 1 contrasts the way of the righteous, who meditate on God's law or instruction day and night, with the way of the wicked who do not follow God's path. Psalm 2 introduces God's anointed earthly king (Messiah), whom God calls "my son." God rules through the King and provides a place of refuge for God's people. Together, Psalms 1 and 2 provide a lens or window through which the reader is invited to read all the psalms as a way to meditate on God's instruction (Psalm 1) and in hope for God's messianic reign of peace and justice (Psalm 2).

Love is the hardest thing in the world. In fact, apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, the love envisioned in Scripture is impossible. Your only hope of becoming a person of real love is Jesus in you. This is what waking up is all about. It means with each passing day, becoming more fully alive to the power of God, which is the love of Jesus Christ. If the journey of the awakening begins with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life,” it finds its fulfillment in 1 John 3:16. “This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, therefore we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” A profound love for God will produce an ever-increasing love for others.

Love is the hardest thing in the world. In fact, apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, the love envisioned in Scripture is impossible. Your only hope of becoming a person of real love is Jesus in you. This is what waking up is all about. It means with each passing day, becoming more fully alive to the power of God, which is the love of Jesus Christ. If the journey of the awakening begins with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life,” it finds its fulfillment in 1 John 3:16. “This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, therefore we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” A profound love for God will produce an ever-increasing love for others.

If depending on God is a turning point in the journey, delight is one of the final destinations. To delight in someone is to love them from a deep place of satisfaction with and in them. God takes great delight in His children and wants us to find great delight in Him. However, we often find ourselves taking delight in God’s creation over taking delight in God himself. What is it, or who is it, that we take delight in more than God? We must recognize that we are easily carried away to place our delight in something or someone. The more you grow to trust God and believe what He says in His Word, the increasingly more fulfilling your love affair with Him will become

The movement of being broken leads us into the grace reality of dependence. Our dependence on Jesus will never exceed the depth of our real relationship with Him.

Of the ten transformational stops, this is the most challenging—the way of brokenness. Research indicates that in order to move closer to completion of the journey, a person must be broken of three things: sin, self, and society. These three obstacles hinder us from listening to, obeying, and enjoying God. Habitual sin is an obstacle in our relationship with Jesus and must be dealt with or broken before we can go deeper with Him. If you haven’t emptied yourself of yourself, you are still the “god” of your life which leaves little room for Christ. And if culture influences us more than the ways of God, we will struggle with moving on to completion of the journey

Our spiritual awakening and true growth most often begin when we become dissatisfied with the way things are in our walk with the Lord. We wonder why we are not the person we hoped we would become by now. The first step on the road to the second half of the Gospel is holy discontent. Holy discontent is the size of the gap between the story the Bible tells and the story your life is telling. When we pay attention to this discontent, it can lead to tremendous breakthroughs into the greater purposes for our lives. If you are tired of the same old patterns, habits, and ruts in your walk with God and are ready to move beyond managing sin and on to real deliverance from it, let God know.

Research has shown that the transformation journey of becoming like Christ has ten stops en route to wholeness and freedom. And most Christians never move past stop five—having invited Christ to be their Savior and then engaging in a lot of religious activity. In other words, a majority of us never reach the second half of the stops on the journey to wholeness and fruitfulness. For us to fulfill our call to transform the world, we must seek and experience an awakening. We must make a commitment to pursue transforming our own hearts and minds from simply “believing” in Jesus to “becoming” real disciples who have developed a profound love of God and others

Research has shown that the transformation journey of becoming like Christ has ten stops en route to wholeness and freedom. And most Christians never move past stop five—having invited Christ to be their Savior and then engaging in a lot of religious activity. In other words, a majority of us never reach the second half of the stops on the journey to wholeness and fruitfulness. For us to fulfill our call to transform the world, we must seek and experience an awakening. We must make a commitment to pursue transforming our own hearts and minds from simply “believing” in Jesus to “becoming” real disciples who have developed a profound love of God and others

The church’s primary mission will always be to share the good news of Jesus and make disciples for Him. The motivation behind this, as we will see in this series, should come from a profound love of God, and for others, that develops as we progress on the journey to become like Christ. Even though our mission remains the same, the pandemic is forcing us to make changes in how we do evangelism and how we practice the other Six Habits. The apostle Paul was willing to change and adapt to win people to Christ and so should we. Now is a good time to evaluate where you are on your faith journey and then make plans to grow spiritually in 2021

The church’s primary mission will always be to share the good news of Jesus and make disciples for Him. The motivation behind this, as we will see in this series, should come from a profound love of God, and for others, that develops as we progress on the journey to become like Christ. Even though our mission remains the same, the pandemic is forcing us to make changes in how we do evangelism and how we practice the other Six Habits. The apostle Paul was willing to change and adapt to win people to Christ and so should we. Now is a good time to evaluate where you are on your faith journey and then make plans to grow spiritually in 2021.

After the birth of Jesus, Magi from a distant land came with their gifts fit for royalty. They bowed down in worship before the one who had been born, not merely King of the Jews, but as King of all kings, the Lord Supreme over heaven and earth. The desire of the wise men to worship this glorious King is the same desire God has put in every one of our hearts. When we try to fill the deep desires or the core longings of our hearts with anything or anyone other than God, we will become restless. God is calling each of us to seek Christ, to behold His truth and grace, and to bow down and worship Him with all that we have and all that we are. When we do that, our restless hearts will find rest and true joy, and our faith will flourish.

In this line of the hymn, Wesley reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament messianic prophecies promising that one day Messiah would come and strengthen, comfort and restore God's ancient people, Israel. Although He fulfilled Israel’s prophecies, Jesus came to bring salvation to the entire world. He is the consolation of His people, both Jews and Gentiles. There were many prophecies that looked forward to Messiah’s coming, and many devout Jews prayed earnestly for the day when He would arrive. Simeon, a man of faith, was “looking for the consolation of Israel.” When he saw Jesus as an infant, Simeon knew that this Child was the fulfillment of his messianic hope; this inspired Wesley’s song.

This week we are going to look at the connection between fear, sin, and rest in Christ. How exactly does Advent celebrate our release from fear and sin? The writer of Hebrews helps by showing what God has done for us in Jesus. Each of the three aspects, atonement, incarnation and mercy, helps us move from fear to rest. You cannot know true release from fear without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Sin and fear are directly related—sin creates fear. Putting your faith in Jesus and receiving Christ is the first step toward freedom and rest for your soul.

The second line of our Advent hymn could be summarized with the word power. Wesley celebrates the fact that Jesus’ birth was the beginning of the end of the hold that sin and death had on mankind. His birth set the stage for spiritual freedom. All human beings face the spiritual problem of bondage of our innate and natural sinfulness. This problem created the need for the Advent of Jesus and the freedom and wholeness we long for in His Second Coming. Advent was the beginning of God calling people weighed down by empty living to a life of freedom, grace, and forgiveness. It is not merely about being born again—you become a totally different person from the inside out. It means you have been set free!

In Galatians 4, the apostle Paul provides a remarkable summary of the Christian faith, including significant and hopeful truths regarding the Advent of Jesus. First, the arrival of Jesus’ first coming was controlled by the will of God, orchestrated and implemented through God’s sovereign plan. Second, Jesus’ birth was a supernatural intervention with a personal connection; Jesus connects with us in a way that is unique and powerful. And third, God had a redemptive purpose in sending His Son. The redemption was not merely to rescue us from slavery to sin and death; it was to make us sons and daughters! Good news!

Jesus uses the parable of the sheep and goats to emphasize the vital truth that we need to be prepared for His second coming and how to be sure that we are indeed ready. Jesus says that all of humanity will be divided into two, and only two, groups. There are no other options. This is not a trial but a sentencing, because the Judge already has all the evidence that exists—and by the time you meet Him He will have already decided your case. Jesus says that there is one feature, one characteristic, which distinguishes a sheep from a goat. It is having a profound love of God and a loving and merciful heart towards others. Since this decision is so monumental, we had better understand the basis of it.

God gifts us in a variety of ways, and He expects us to use those gifts to show our love for Him and for the benefit of others. Those who risk everything – even their own lives – out of love for the Lord will be abundantly blessed. Jesus simply wants us to anticipate His return by a lifetime of daily decisions that glorify Him, daily choices motivated by love for God and love for others that lead to exponential kingdom growth. We must be learning, growing, carrying out our responsibilities, and developing the resources that God entrusts to us until He returns and settles accounts.

Jesus’ disciples questioned Him about when the end of the age would come and what signs they could expect prior to it. Jesus certainly does give some answers to the “when” and “what” questions, but it seems that the purpose for His statement was not to give a timeline; it was to encourage His disciples to spiritual watchfulness and discernment. Jesus is concerned not so much with the “when” and the “what” of these events as He is with the “so what.” He speaks at more length about the alertness, trustworthiness, and compassion that will be required of His disciples until He comes. They are concerned about when He will return; He is concerned about how they will live in His absence.

Jesus’ disciples questioned Him about when the end of the age would come and what signs they could expect prior to it. Jesus certainly does give some answers to the “when” and “what” questions, but it seems that the purpose for His statement was not to give a timeline; it was to encourage His disciples to spiritual watchfulness and discernment. Jesus is concerned not so much with the “when” and the “what” of these events as He is with the “so what.” He speaks at more length about the alertness, trustworthiness, and compassion that will be required of His disciples until He comes. They are concerned about when He will return; He is concerned about how they will live in His absence.

Sunday, November 1, is All Saints Day, which is an opportunity for us to give thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith. Though they are now in the eternal, their stories continue to help increase our faith and inspire us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We thank God for the heroes of the faith found in the Bible as well as those who have personally impacted our faith. No matter how discouraging the events of our lives are, we can make it through with the encouragement of those who modeled how to live a godly life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power. Before Jesus started His ministry, He went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, and He received power from heaven to walk out His mission to bring salvation to the world, giving sight to the blind and setting captives free. That power is the same power in which Christ followers walk, but many do not exercise that power. If we all did, the world would be a very different place. The power of the Holy Spirit is within each Christian, but it can only be manifested as we walk in obedience to the opportunities which we have before us. We have, through the Spirit, power over sin, power over sickness, and power over all the powers of the devil!

Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power. Before Jesus started His ministry, He went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, and He received power from heaven to walk out His mission to bring salvation to the world, giving sight to the blind and setting captives free. That power is the same power in which Christ followers walk, but many do not exercise that power. If we all did, the world would be a very different place. The power of the Holy Spirit is within each Christian, but it can only be manifested as we walk in obedience to the opportunities which we have before us. We have, through the Spirit, power over sin, power over sickness, and power over all the powers of the devil!

Jesus was often called or referred to as “Teacher.” When He spoke of His leaving, His disciples were distraught. How could they possibly go on without Him; He had the words of life and truth. Jesus assured them that He would not abandon them, promising that Father God would send the Holy Spirit to be with them, and He would teach them all things and would remind them of everything He has said. The Spirit of Truth would come and guide them into all truth. This would be even better than Jesus’ physical presence, as the Spirit would be ever-present with them at all times, encouraging, guiding and teaching.

Jesus was often called or referred to as “Teacher.” When He spoke of His leaving, His disciples were distraught. How could they possibly go on without Him; He had the words of life and truth. Jesus assured them that He would not abandon them, promising that Father God would send the Holy Spirit to be with them, and He would teach them all things and would remind them of everything He has said. The Spirit of Truth would come and guide them into all truth. This would be even better than Jesus’ physical presence, as the Spirit would be ever-present with them at all times, encouraging, guiding and teaching.

The third Person of the Godhead, and perhaps the least understood, is known to us as the Holy Spirit. From Scripture, we see that He is described as a teacher, comforter, helper, advocate, and empowerer. The Holy Spirit is the One who takes God’s love and truth as it has been revealed and accomplished in Christ, and administers it to the particular needs, places, times and circumstances of God’s people. We need to pursue a close relationship with Him, just as with Father God and Jesus. While we do not have the physical presence of Christ today, we now enjoy the comforting guidance of His spiritual presence dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit, who is there for us in times of despair and sadness, bringing us comfort.

Jesus, the Son of God, is also known as our Mediator, or Intercessor. As the Father is the source of all the Godhead’s purposes, the Son is the one who mediates the Father’s love to us and who mediates our prayers and fruit-bearing to the Father. Jesus is interceding on behalf of those who have put their trust in Him for their salvation. Although Christ’s work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, His care for His redeemed children will never be finished. Our salvation is not only based on a historical event, but also on the life and intercession of Christ in the present and in the future. He is able to intercede nonstop because He always lives. Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man.

The second person of the Godhead is the Son. Jesus is called by many other names in Scripture and fulfills many roles for us throughout our lives. This week, we’ll look at one name that helps us to develop and maintain a close relationship with Him: that of Friend. Understanding this friendship relationship is powerful. Jesus was and is eternally God. As God, Jesus represents the greatest friendship we can ever experience. Some struggle with the concept of “friendship” with Jesus; He is our King, not our Friend, is the sentiment. But friendship with Jesus does not diminish His glory nor does it diminish His authority in our lives. Jesus is both our King and our Friend, and we need to cultivate that friendship.

We tend to let our life experiences, relationships, culture, media and the world around us define who we are. We are pressured to use our jobs, financial status, successes, grades, appearance, and what other people say about us as the means by which we create our identity. If we have any hope of finding who we truly are, we must first know God, the giver of all things. When we go to the Word of God instead of all the usual means, we will find a description of who God says we are. However, a gap often exists between intellectually knowing these truths about who God says we are and living them out. Living out of an identity based on how God sees us and what the Father says about us frees us up to live confidently and with stability

God, as our loving heavenly Father, desires to protect us from anyone or anything that could harm us. God is able and willing to use the vast resources at His disposal to provide protection to those that trust in Him. There is no other power in heaven or on earth that can do all that God can do. Although God has the ability to deliver us out of every physical calamity or trouble, it may not be His will to do so. Sometimes He uses these trials to purify us. We are protected in all things, yet we have the ability, by allowing our sin nature to rule us, to depart from the will of God. When we trust in God and willingly seek to obey Him, then we will be in a place where we enjoy His protection in our lives.

The first Person of the Trinity is commonly called “Father” because He is the initiator and source of heaven’s love. Jesus referred to God as Father hundreds of times, reminding us that He is the source of the Godhead’s good purposes for us. Jesus also emphasized the magnitude of the Father’s love for us and that He is the source of all heaven’s blessings. As we pursue knowing God as our Father, we’ll first look at His provisional nature. God’s intentions are to meet our every need. He knows what we need and longs to provide for us in exceeding measures. No matter how old we get, God will still be our Father. We never have to go through a season apart from His perfect provision.

The first Person of the Trinity is commonly called “Father” because He is the initiator and source of heaven’s love. Jesus referred to God as Father hundreds of times, reminding us that He is the source of the Godhead’s good purposes for us. Jesus also emphasized the magnitude of the Father’s love for us and that He is the source of all heaven’s blessings. As we pursue knowing God as our Father, we’ll first look at His provisional nature. God’s intentions are to meet our every need. He knows what we need and longs to provide for us in exceeding measures. No matter how old we get, God will still be our Father. We never have to go through a season apart from His perfect provision.

Often overlooked in the healing of the blind man is that Jesus used something as simple, earthy, and ordinary as mud to work a miracle. The man born blind moves from blindness to sight, both physically and spiritually. For the past 200 years God has used ordinary people in Anderson Township to share Jesus’ love to open the eyes of those who have not yet met Him. As we celebrate our church’s 200th anniversary, you will hear about our history and Methodist heritage from its beginning in the early 1800’s to the present. We will see how God used a group of ordinary people to share the gospel much like the people of the first church in the book of Acts

The last miracle John recorded before the resurrection shows the fulfillment of our Lord’s promise to all who believe in His name as He called Lazarus out of the grave and restored him from death to life. Even though Jesus knew Lazarus was sick, He actually waited until Lazarus was dead and buried before He responded to the sisters’ call for help. He did this so He could bring Lazarus back to life. It was an unmistakable model of the resurrection of the believing dead, and a perfect example of the incredible love God has for us. This miracle is a promise that all who believe in Him will live even though they die and those who live and believe will never die.

Aside from the Resurrection, this is the only miracle Jesus performed that is included in all four gospels. In this miraculous feeding, we see the gospel story told in a truly practical manner. By giving us His Son, our God brings life to everyone, Jew and gentile, completely satisfying our spiritual hunger and sustaining us through the power of His Word. Two of the lessons and truths that come from this miraculous event include: as the Bread of Life, Jesus satisfies the deepest desires of our hearts; and when we have a willingness to offer what we have been given for the sake of others, God can miraculously use ordinary things to create extraordinary things.

Aside from the Resurrection, this is the only miracle Jesus performed that is included in all four gospels. In this miraculous feeding, we see the gospel story told in a truly practical manner. By giving us His Son, our God brings life to everyone, Jew and gentile, completely satisfying our spiritual hunger and sustaining us through the power of His Word. Two of the lessons and truths that come from this miraculous event include: as the Bread of Life, Jesus satisfies the deepest desires of our hearts; and when we have a willingness to offer what we have been given for the sake of others, God can miraculously use ordinary things to create extraordinary things.

This is the first recorded miracle of Jesus found only in John’s gospel. Aside from the fact that changing water into wine requires supernatural ability, the most important thing about this miraculous sign is that it results in the disciples putting their faith in the Lord. Jesus begins to reveal who He really is: He is the one who gives the good wine, revealing that He is the true bridegroom everybody is waiting for. The wedding at Cana recalls the wedding between God and His people that had been announced by the prophets. Jesus was invited to the wedding, so we too need to invite Jesus into our lives to experience His love, goodness, and provision.

Peacemakers want to bring peace to their world and the world around them. They are supportive; others feel accepted, heard and understood in their presence. Peacemakers are great mediators who can see everyone’s side but often don’t know what they want or think because they are so other-focused. Abraham is one biblical figure who exemplifies the Peacemaker. We see the best and worst of a Peacemaker through his: pleading with God for the city of Sodom, struggling and separating from his nephew Lot, dealing with the enemies he encounters in his travels, contending with strong-willed wife Sarai, and obeying the voice of the Lord. The Biblical truths that Type 9’s need to pursue include owning and resolving their feelings and making their needs known, embracing conflict in order to arrive at positive resolutions, and pursuing faith in action.

Type 8 is a strong, independent and powerful force. Often described as having “presence,” people know when they are in the room either from their quiet strength or their verbal and direct communication. They have little patience with what they see as weakness in themselves or others but are defenders of those who are treated unjustly or powerless. Challengers are straightforward truth tellers, which rings true of John the Baptist. He was unafraid of standing up to others for the sake of a greater cause. He had no problem challenging the religious leaders and others in authority and used his confrontational preaching to get to the heart of matters. The Biblical truths that Type 8’s need to pursue include pursuing and extending mercy, submitting to others in humility, and acknowledging vulnerability and accepting discipline from the Lord.

Type 7’s tend to be enthusiastic, adventurous, and spontaneous in their behavior. They love seeking out new experiences, constantly thinking about “what’s next”. Enthusiasts are optimistic about what the future will bring and automatically reframe challenging things into positive opportunities, finding joy in all situations. They are spontaneous and playful, but this can result in being restless and distracted. King Solomon is a perfect example of a #7. He seemed to have it all, but it was not enough. Solomon, the son of King David, lived most of his life seeking the next thing that would bring him happiness or pleasure. The Biblical truths that Type 7’s need to pursue include learning to be content in all situations and to exhibit self-control, trusting God’s use of suffering and perseverance to form Godly character, and choosing their companions wisely.

The Loyalists are always aware of the world around them and they are thinking about what can, will or might go wrong. They value security and relationships but are constantly questioning the strength of both. Loyalists are devoted to people and causes and are loyal to their relationships and the commitments they make. Peter, a Loyalist, found his mission in life through following Jesus; he worked hard and thought of himself as a loyal member of Jesus’ inner group of followers. He was loyal to the mission of Jesus and believed that he would defend it until the end. And after Pentecost, that’s exactly what happened. The Biblical truths that Type 6’s need to pursue include knowing the Lord is always with them, giving them courage and strength; seeing that others can be reliable too; and believing that God is for them and is trustworthy.

The Observers want to know; they want to understand and make sense of the world around them. They are insightful and observant, desiring for the world to be a less chaotic and more organized place. 5’s strive for independence, appreciate privacy and tend to conserve their mental, emotional and physical resources. Jesus was having a private conversation with a Pharisee and learned teacher named Nicodemus, who most likely was an Observer on the Enneagram—known also as investigators who ask a lot of questions. Nicodemus was secretly investigating Jesus, seeking to know more about Him; Jesus wanted him to know how to have eternal life. The Biblical truths that 5’s need to pursue include realizing the importance of expressing feelings and emotions, valuing community and sharing what they have and know, and striving to go from knowledge to belief.

The Observers want to know; they want to understand and make sense of the world around them. They are insightful and observant, desiring for the world to be a less chaotic and more organized place. 5’s strive for independence, appreciate privacy and tend to conserve their mental, emotional and physical resources. Jesus was having a private conversation with a Pharisee and learned teacher named Nicodemus, who most likely was an Observer on the Enneagram—known also as investigators who ask a lot of questions. Nicodemus was secretly investigating Jesus, seeking to know more about Him; Jesus wanted him to know how to have eternal life. The Biblical truths that 5’s need to pursue include realizing the importance of expressing feelings and emotions, valuing community and sharing what they have and know, and striving to go from knowledge to belief.

Type 4 on the Enneagram is known as the Individualist. Sometimes referred to as a romanticist or creative, they experience the aesthetic beauty of their world. 4’s are nothing if not subtle and expressive and are said to be on one hand emotionally honest and personal, and on the other moody and self-conscious. King David was most likely a Type 4. He was a man after God’s heart who expressed his feelings beautifully and creatively. David is often credited with the writing of the Psalms. When he was able to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, David danced on the streets. #4’s struggle with envy, as we see in the story of Bathsheba. The Biblical truths that Type 4’s need to pursue include embracing gratitude, seeing the beauty and talent of others as a good thing, and letting their faith trump their emotions.

If you want something done in the best and most efficient way possible, then you want the Type 3 Achiever involved. #3’s can jump into any situation, see what needs to be done and then make it happen. They have a strong desire to be successful in all they do and are competitive and goal oriented. Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, exemplifies the Achiever. Starting at his birth narrative we see the traits of a #3, as he came out of the womb grasping the heel of his brother Esau. Through the stories of his interactions with his family, especially his brother, father, and uncle, we see the healthy and unhealthy traits of an Achiever demonstrated. The Biblical truths that Type 3’s need to pursue include the importance of being honest with self and others, admitting failure and confessing sin, and seeking success as defined by God.

Type 2 of the Enneagram is known as the Helper; “Service” is their middle name. #2’s value relationships and are kind, self-sacrificing and considerate of others. They want their world to be a more loving place and work hard to make this so. Through their unconditional love and care, Helpers are a gift from God, showing His love toward others. In Scripture we read of a servant-hearted Helper named Martha, who typically gets a bad rap. As a Helper, Martha is simply walking in her type, wanting to serve the Messiah, her Lord, as best as she can. The Biblical truths that Type 2’s need to pursue include watching out for and confessing the sin of pride as it affects the way they see themselves and others, learning that is it is okay to ask for help, and understanding that their identity comes from God, not from what they do.

The Reformers are typically strong-willed and justice-oriented. They find comfort in structure, rules and order, and are willing to take a stand for what they care about. Type 1’s have a deep desire to be right and to get things right; they reflect God’s goodness. They also struggle with anger issues. The elder son in the parable of the Prodigal Son fits this description. He is the son who always did what he was supposed to do—the right thing. This son’s reaction to his father embracing the younger son who chose to rebel and dishonor the father shows us the passion that the elder son has for being good and right. The Biblical truths that Type 1’s need to pursue include learning to control their own anger and giving allowance for other’s faults and offering forgiveness to them. They also need to remember that God alone is good, and His goodness is seen through His mercy, compassion, and faithfulness.

Another danger of the fast-paced life is that we make decisions on the fly, leaving God out of the process. There is only one place where we can have the mind and will of God; it is alone with God. So we must build in pause moments all through the day, relying on Him to help you make decisions. The enemy wants to make you ignorant of God’s will and blind to the needs of others; he wants you to rely on your fleshly desires. The Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth and to know God’s will, but if you are not taking time to hear, recall truth, and act accordingly, you will miss opportunities to be a blessing.

Most of us live our lives in hyper-speed and find ourselves feeling drained. In the midst of the busyness, we even begin to drift spiritually. It's vital that we pause and spend time alone with the Lord through prayer and solitude every day or the speed of the world will skew your understanding of God. Jesus often removed Himself from the world to commune with the Father. We, too, need to take time to remember Who He is, and Whose we are. God created us with core needs or longings that only He can meet, and God will provide these good gifts, if we allow Him. Anxiety, unrest and discontentment will hover over you like a dark cloud if you are not pausing in His presence on a regular basis.

“Yes, I am coming soon.”— Jesus. Of the original apostles, only John remained to hear these words. He had experienced the climax of salvation history, but God was not yet finished. He had one more message to share with John and the growing churches to show His servants what must soon take place. John was exiled on the island of Patmos for his faith in Jesus. It was here that the glorified Christ appeared to John with a message of His second coming. Jesus had messages for each of these seven churches, words of commendation and a rebuke for each congregation, as well as instructions and encouraging promises. After visions of what will come in the final days, John’s vision culminated with the coming of the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem