Podcasts about god therefore

Date: 02/18/24Speaker: John SarverTitle: I Know God, Therefore I AmScripture: John 17:1-5

     Jesus' suffering and death on the cross has both infinite and eternal value for both God the Father as well as those trust in Christ as their Savior. According to Francis Schaeffer, “Christ's death in space-time history is completely adequate to meet our need for refuge from the true moral guilt that we have. It is final because of who He is. He is the infinite second person of the Trinity; therefore, His death has infinite value.”[1]Though Jesus suffered for our sins for only a few hours on the cross, His death had infinite and eternal value and saves forever those who trust in Him as Savior. Geisler states, “Being by nature the infinite God, Christ's death had infinite value, even though His suffering and death occurred in a finite amount of time. Time is not a mandatory measure of worth—birth, for instance, happens over a relatively short span but produces something of extraordinary value. One death in limited time achieved something of limitless value for all eternity.”[2] Paul Enns states, “At the heart of orthodox belief is the recognition that Christ died a substitutionary death to provide salvation for a lost humanity. If Jesus were only a man He could not have died to save the world, but because of His deity, His death had infinite value whereby He could die for the entire world.”[3]      As a result of what Christ accomplished, there is great benefit for us who have trusted in Him as our Savior. By His work on the cross, Christians become the recipients of great blessings, both in time and eternity. Though He blesses some Christians materially (1 Tim 6:17-19), His main focus is on giving us spiritual blessings which are far better. Paul wrote that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). According to Harold Hoehner, “Every spiritual blessing (eulogia) refers to every spiritual enrichment needed for the spiritual life. Since these benefits have already been bestowed on believers, they should not ask for them but rather appropriate them by faith.”[4] Some of the spiritual blessings mentioned in Scripture are as follows: We are the special objects of His love: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), and “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We are forgiven all our sins: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13-14; cf. Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14). We are given eternal life: Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand (John 10:27-28; cf. John 3:16; 6:40; 20:31). We are made alive together with Christ: “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:4-5). We are raised up and seated with Christ: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6). We are the recipients of God's grace: “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16), “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We are created to perform good works: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10), and “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10; cf., Tit 2:11-4). We are given freedom in Christ: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1), “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13; cf., 1 Pet 2:16). We are given a spiritual gift to serve others: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet 4:10; cf. Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11). We are children of God: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1a), “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26). We are made ambassadors for Christ: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). We are gifted with God's righteousness: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21), “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9; cf. Rom 4:3-5; 5:17). We are justified before God: “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:24, 28), and “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16). We have peace with God: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). We will never be condemned: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18), “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24), “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). We are given citizenship in heaven: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). We are transferred to the kingdom of Christ: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13; cf. Acts 26:18), and “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Th 2:12). We are all saints in Christ Jesus: we are “saints by calling” (1 Cor 1:2), and “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:1), and “are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” (Eph 2:19). We are made priests to God: “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 1:6). We are God's chosen: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph 1:4), “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12). We are the recipients of His faithfulness: “He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you'” (Heb 13:5), and even “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). We have been called to walk in newness of life: “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4), and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2). We are members of the Church, the body of Christ: “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom 12:4-5), and “He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:22-23; cf. Col 1:18). We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16), “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit: “having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13b; cf. 2 Cor 5:5). We are enabled to walk with God: “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16), and “Since we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). We are empowered to live godly: “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 Pet 1:3). We have Scripture to train us in righteousness: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We are guaranteed a new home in heaven: “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). We are guaranteed resurrection bodies: “I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:51-53). We have special access to God's throne of grace: “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). We will be glorified in eternity: “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col 3:4), for Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Francis A. Schaeffer, Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History, Second U.S. edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 206. [2] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2005), 403. [3] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 225. [4] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 616.

Hope (Elpizo) Hope according to dictionary definition is to want something to happen and to have a good reason for that NB Never interpret bible terms with dictionary According to Scriptures Hope is simply Confidence; 1, Hope in the eternal blessing of God For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Hebrews 6:13‭-‬14 KJV For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Hebrews 6:16‭-‬19 KJV 2, Hope in the Grace (charis) of God Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: Romans 5:1‭-‬4 KJV hope (elpis,elpizo) maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5 KJV 3.Hope That God will not make us ashamed according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20‭-‬21 KJV They looked on him and were lighted up; they were not ashamed psm34:5 4, Hope in an incorruptible, undefiled inheritance kept for us in heaven Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,1 Peter 1:3-4 [4]To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5, Hope in the resurrection of the saints on the last day Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:15‭, ‬17‭-‬21 KJV

John 9:14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.  15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 "but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?"  In this section of Scripture we will see the effects of Jesus healing the blind man.  It affects the blind man in that he can see now, but also begins to see who Jesus really is.  He is a picture of us who are spiritually blind and cannot see the truth unless Jesus opens our eyes to it.  It affects the Pharisees because they get mad that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  Instead of rejoicing that a man blind from birth can see, they want all the details, especially those pertaining to the sin they believe the healer has committed.  It affects the parents, they are not sure what to think, but then they are also scared and intimidated by the Pharisees who will kick them out of the Synagogue if they admit that it was Jesus.  So these parents who have probably taken care of their son all their life suddenly want him to stand on his own two feet and take care of himself, especially when it comes to talking to the Pharisees.  Lastly it affects all the people who knew the man and saw the difference in him.  How about you, has Jesus coming into your life affected all the people you know or have you forgotten to share that new sight with all who do not know the truth of Jesus and His saving grace.  14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Why would he do this? To show that he was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). He defines the Sabbath. To show what the point of Sabbath rest is. The point of Sabbath rest is healing. That's why you rest. Healing! The point of Sabbath rest is that we are helpless and God creates, God sustains, God heals, we don't. What day could be better for God incarnate to find a broken man and heal him—to give him and his parents rest from all the struggles of blindness? That's what the Sabbath is for—God-exalting blessing to broken and weary humans.  15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."  16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. Blind Man's Spirtual Progress – Verse 11 - All he knows is A Man called Jesus Verse 17 -  then comes to realize Jesus is a Prophet John 9:25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." Believes He is From God - John 9:31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.  32 "Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." John 9:38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. Then he believes Jesus is from God then He believes in Him and Is Saved As He sees more and more of Jesus his courage is strengthened more and more to the place where He does not care if he is thrown out of the Synagogue and directly confronts the Pharisees, go back to John 1 where the disciples see more and more of Jesus, John 4 the woman at the well, the man whose son is healed, Peter on the day of Pentecost and all believers who truly understand who Jesus is and will stand up for Him even to death Note the Spiritual Digression of the Pharisees and others nearby Not from God - Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. He is a Sinner - John 9:24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." Would not believe, so they remain unsaved - John 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"  41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. Jesus has himself done the works of God. And those who have eyes to see say with John 1:14, “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” That's what the blind man saw. That's what the Pharisees did not see, which is why this chapter ends with blindness just like it began, only of a worse kind. John 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.  37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."  41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.  This is what Jesus was after: Clear sight of who he was, courageous confession of faith, and worship. And the expression of tragically blasphemous hearts.  V24 Give glory to God (cf. Josh. 7:19; 1 Sam. 6:5; Jer. 13:16) was a call to admit his guilt in siding with Jesus, whom they called a sinner. When they said We know, they were pressuring him. Unbelief often claims to be scientific, but here it was just stubborn and willful.[1]     John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.  Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.       Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions  

Living for God- Therefore since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourself also with the same attitude - 2 Peter 4

 What has Mercy done for You?Romans 5:1-2            1.     Right Position before God·      “Therefore, having been justified by faith . . .”  Romans 5:1a·      Hebrews 8:122.     Real Peace with God·      “We have peace with God through our   Lord Jesus Christ . . .” ·      Colossians 2:19-203.    Redeeming Personal Access to GodRomans 5:2Hebrews 4:16Romans 13:11-12·      Wake Up·      Clean Up·      Dress UpSupport the show

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Therefore we read in John 3:16,  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."Friends, grace will one day run out, even though it is amazing and unmerited, and marvelous. It will be discontinued. Grace is not of us. It is of Yahweh! Grace is summed up in John 3:16! Are you  glad that grace is not of man but of the eternal Elohim? Please seek Yahweh while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Revelation 22:11 clearly states that grace will one day be discontinued.  "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."Prepare to meet your coming King!Episodes are also available on our own radio station Proclaim Gospel Radio! Visit us! https://proclaimgospelradio.comIf you have been blessed by this broadcast please write to us at P. O Box 336, Road Town, Tortola, Virgin IslandsTelephone: 1284 547 4601.Email:proclaimgospelvi@gmail.com

As we've seen, the book of Hebrews opens with a contrast – in the past God spoke to us by the prophets; now he has spoken by his Son. The contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is the main theme of the book of Hebrews. It runs throughout and the superiority of the New Covenant is highlighted at every point. Today's passage continues the contrast between the angels and the Son, which the author began in verse 4. Chapter 1 moves back and forth between Son and angels, showing how the Scriptures have always expressed the supremacy of the Son. So I want to begin by giving a brief overview of angels, because you can't understand Christ's supremacy without some biblical baseline. Then we'll look at the Son and what Hebrews finds in the psalms about Christ. And then we'll close with a few words of application. Brief Overview of AngelsAngels are personal spirits of great power and might. They are immortal and invisible (Luke 20:35-36; Colossians 1:16). They neither marry, nor multiply by procreation. They don't have flesh and bone as men and beasts do, though they do manifest themselves in visible and bodily form at times. They are not omnipresent or omniscient. When the angel Michael appears to Daniel, he tells him that he was sent from God, but was held up along the way by the prince of Persia. And 1 Peter tells us that there are things into which angels long to look.When angels appear in Scripture, the most common human response is awe and fear. Even the holiest men fall on their faces and are tempted to worship them. Angels are personal; they aren't merely forces or powers. They communicate and act. They are moral beings; some spirits obey God, whereas others have rebelled against him. Evil spirits are at war with God and with men; they are able to influence and oppress people, both physically and psychologically. The Bible alludes to various kinds of spiritual beings that we typically classify under the category of “angels.” There are the cherubim, which are essentially throne guardians; they first appear in Genesis 3 and guard the way to the tree of life. Images of cherubim appear in the tabernacle and temple, and over the ark of the covenant. When prophets see visions of the heavenly throne room, the cherubim are represented as possessing characteristics of certain beasts: lion, eagle, leopard, and so forth. There are also the seraphim, the burning ones, who appear in Isaiah 6, winged spirits who surround God's throne. Paul mentions spiritual powers and classifies them as “thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities, principalities” and so forth (in Colossians 1 and Ephesians 6). Some Christian theologians have attempted to delineate the different orders and ranks of angels, and while there may be some truth to these, the details are speculative. At least two angels are named in Scripture – Michael and Gabriel.The word “angel” itself simply means “one who is sent.” Throughout the Bible, we see these spiritual beings performing various tasks as God's representative. We frequently see them worshiping God, as with the cherubim and seraphim pronouncing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,” or the heavenly choir at Christ's birth, or the angelic hosts in the book of Revelation. They often act as God's messengers, bringing word to his prophets. The Bible speaks of essentially a heavenly council or court, in which angels (and at times the prophets) assemble to receive orders from God himself. Angels are agents of judgment, as at Passover, when the angel of death executes judgment on Egypt, or in the book of Revelation. Some of their titles (dominions, thrones, rulers) imply that they have some sort of governing authority in the cosmos, ruling and reigning over aspects of God's creation (including men). They are frequently linked to the stars; the phrase “heavenly host” sometimes refers to the stars in the sky, or to the angelic armies of heaven.But perhaps one of their most important functions, at least according to the New Testament authors, is that angels were the mediators of God's law in the Old Testament. In Galatians, Paul says that God put the law in place “through angels.” In Hebrews 2, the law is described as “the message declared by angels.”So to summarize, the Bible teaches us that the cosmos is inhabited by innumerable spiritual beings, some good, and some evil, who have great power and might and interact and influence history and human affairs. Faithful angels are God's agents, gladly fulfilling his purposes; fallen angels, though in rebellion, are ultimately under God's control and fulfill God's purposes despite their hostility to God and man. In other words, there is an entire spiritual world operating behind the scenes of what we visibly see all the time. Think of Elisha's words to his servant when the armies of Syria surrounded the city and the servant was dismayed. Elisha prayed that God would open his eyes, and he saw that the enemy army was itself surrounded by an angelic army, complete with horses and chariots. Just a Metaphor?When we come to our passage in Hebrews, we hear the author quote Psalm 104: “He makes his angels winds,and his ministers a flame of fire.” God's word about angels contrasts with his words about the Son (1:8-13). And the author is really keying in on a few words from this passage, which show up again in 1:14. The phrase “ministering spirits” is drawn from this quotation. “Minister” and “ministering” are obviously related. The other connection is difficult to see in English, because our translators translate the word “pneumata” as “winds” in v.7 and “spirits” in v.14. But it is the same word. God makes his angels to be spirits and ministers (ministering spirits) who are sent out to serve for our sake. But perhaps he's doing more than this. In its original context, Psalm 104 is clearly talking about wind and fire; the previous verses note that God covers himself with light as with a garment, he makes the clouds his chariot, and he rides on the wings of the wind. And then he says, “he makes his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire.” As modern people, our tendency at this point is to regard this as “just a metaphor.” Angels are like wind, because they are invisible, or because the wind is ephemeral; it comes and goes. And God's ministers are like fire, in that fire burns up and then disappears. And this contrasts with the Son in the next verse whose throne is forever and ever. And I think there is something to that contrast.But we ought to be slow to reduce things to being “just a metaphor.” That whole modern way of framing reality is inherently myopic and narrow. We live in an age of scientific reductionism, in which material, physical causes are regarded as the only real causes. The entire modern world reinforces this reduction. It constantly catechizes us into what some philosophers aptly call “nothing-buttery.” A star is “nothing but” a ball of flaming gas. You are “nothing but” a sack of protoplasm. Love is “nothing but” a chemical reaction in the brain. So I simply want to raise the question for you: What if this isn't merely a metaphor? What if he really does “make his angels winds”? The book of Jonah says that God hurled a storm at Jonah when he fled from his mission. What if the storm had a name, like Gabriel or Michael? We name hurricanes. What if God does too? What if he really does make his angels winds?“But Joe, we know how hurricanes are formed: warm ocean air rises into clouds, creating areas of low-pressure, which causes more air to rush in and then rise and cool, which leads to rain, which creates more warm ocean air and more low pressure, until the air really begins to rush in and swirl. It's science, not angels.”But why would those be mutually exclusive? You have a spirit, an invisible aspect to your being that makes use of the chemicals in your brain in its activities. The spiritual and the physical don't cancel each other out. Might not winds, clouds, and fire have something similar underneath? What if the regularities that we observe in nature, are not owing to impersonal laws, but owing to the fact that holy angels are really, really obedient?There's more to be said about this modern tendency. On February 23, I'll be giving a lecture at The North Church (formerly Bethlehem's North Campus) as a part of Bethlehem College and Seminary's Spring Lecture Series on Puddleglum's Faith: Breaking the Dark Enchantments of the Modern World. We'll include more information about that in the weekly email.Of the SonBack to Hebrews. The main contrast he's drawing is between angels who are “made” and who “serve” and the Son who has an eternal throne, and who laid the foundation of the earth, and whose years have no end. Angels are creatures; they are made. The Son is not. To make this contrast, the author draws from Psalm 45 and Psalm 102 and claims that these passages are talking about the Son. How can he do that? How is he reading his Old Testament. Let's look closely at Psalm 45.Psalm 45 is clearly a royal psalm. “I address my verses to the king.” "You are the most handsome of the sons of men;grace is poured upon your lips;therefore God has blessed you forever.Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,in your splendor and majesty!In your majesty ride out victoriouslyfor the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!Your arrows are sharpin the heart of the king's enemies;the peoples fall under you." (Ps. 45:2-5) Later, the psalm celebrates the marriage of the king to the queen. “At your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.” And then she is exhorted to leave her father's house and fully be joined to the king who desires her beauty.This is clearly a human king. But then, in the middle of the passage (v. 7-8), we have this oddity: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.Therefore God, your God, has anointed youwith the oil of gladness beyond your companions;" So someone is addressed as “God,” and then that person is said to have a “God” “Therefore, God, your God” has anointed you. So this human king, most handsome of the sons of men, with a queen in her beauty, is said to be God and have a God, who anoints him with the oil of gladness.Some might call this Messianic hyperbole. The Bible uses this exalted language to describe Israel's king and to express Israel's hopes for a future king who will restore the house of David. This is just hyperbole, nothing but hyperbole.We see the same sort of thing in Isaiah 9, the famous Christmas passage. Isaiah 9:6–7, “For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,” Clearly, this is a human son, a child. In verse 7, we're told that the zeal of the Lord of hosts will establish the throne of David. So this is a child in the Davidic line. And what will his name be called? “and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and of peacethere will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish it and to uphold itwith justice and with righteousnessfrom this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Just Hyperbole? Nothing but messianic exaggeration? Perhaps. Until the hyperbole becomes reality. When Jesus arrives, we clearly see that passages like Psalm 45 and Isaiah 9 (and like Deuteronomy 32 which David Mathis explored last week) are not merely hyperbole. There is a human king, a son of man, born to a woman. And this son of Man is truly the eternal Son, the one who laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning, whose throne is forever and ever, and whose years will have no end. This is what the Old Testament has been saying all along, and why Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for not getting it. Or consider the final quotation from Psalm 110. “And to which of the angels has he ever said, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?” Jesus himself appealed to this passage to stump the Pharisees in Matthew 22. Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,“‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at my right hand,until I put your enemies under your feet”'?If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” Note the argument. David wrote the Psalm. And David says that “the Lord” (Yahweh) says to “my Lord” (Messiah) “Sit at my right hand.” The Messiah is both David's son and David's lord. He is David's descendant, and David's superior. Just as we must not reduce winds to physical causes, we must not reduce the Messiah to his human origins. The Old Testament promises, and the New Testament verifies and confirms, that the Messiah is a man, and more than a man, more even than an angel. The things that God says about the Messiah could not be said of any creature–human or angelic. Christ is supreme over the angels.ApplicationWhere do we go with this truth? Next week Pastor Kenny will unpack the conclusion that the author draws in 2:1 (note the word “therefore”). And then the following week, we'll discuss the relationship between Christ and the angels in 2:5-9. And for that, let me just plant a little seed for your reflection. Last week Pastor David noted that the Bible gives us an order of being: God, angels, man, beasts. Humans reign over animals (Genesis 1, Psalm 8), and angels are over humans. Angels, it seems, reign over the nations of men and influence the course of human history. God gives the law through angels (Hebrews 2:2; Galatians 3). And this makes sense. Angels are beings of great power and might; they see the face of God, and act as his agents. Man is made “lower than the angels.”But then we have 1:14, which says that angels are sent out to serve for our sake. So at one level, angels are above us; in another, they are below us. How do we make sense of both of those claims? Ponder that over the next few weeks.For now, let me note a few ways that we can be encouraged by this chapter.First, recognize the place of angels in God's works. Modern people need reminders that there is more in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our reductionistic philosophies. Our earthly problems feel so big; reminding ourselves of the invisible supernatural realm, and the battles and praises taking place there, can help to recalibrate us. I don't mean that you should become obsessed with angels (or demons). But I do mean that it is good and right for you to welcome and seek the service of God's ministering spirits. When I put my kids to bed, I regularly pray that God would send his mighty angels in flames of fire to guard my house and my children. And you might say, “Joe, why don't you just ask God to guard your house and your kids himself? Why bring angels into it?” Because I don't want to be holier than God. I don't want to be more spiritual than Jesus. The Bible tells us that God will command his angels concerning his people so that we don't strike our foot against the stone. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and deliver them. The psalmist praises God for the activity of faithful angels and seek to praise God with the angels:Psalm 103:20–21, “Bless the LORD, O you his angels,you mighty ones who do his word,obeying the voice of his word!Bless the LORD, all his hosts,his ministers, who do his will!” Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, as he prayed in agony, was strengthened by the appearance of an angel. Later in Hebrews, the author says that we should show hospitality, because some people have entertained angels unaware.So recognizing and acknowledging the role of angels is a real part of the biblical vision of reality. And so we want to keep both truths in view: angels are real; Jesus is better. Second, let the loves and hates of Jesus shape your own. Of the Son he says, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.” There are things that Jesus loves, and things that Jesus hates. He has embedded knowledge of right and wrong in our consciences and then expressed them clearly in the Bible. And yet, we're sinners, and we suppress the truth, and exchange the truth for a lie. Human beings know God's decree and practice the opposite and celebrate our sin. And so it takes gracious effort to cultivate your loves and your hates. And I stress both, because the passage stresses both. We are pressed on every side to emphasize what God loves, and not what God hates. But there are things that Jesus hates.Earlier this week at Bethlehem College and Seminary Chapel, we sang an arrangement of Psalm 125. Psalm 125:1–3, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,which cannot be moved, but abides forever.As the mountains surround Jerusalem,so the LORD surrounds his people,from this time forth and forevermore.For the scepter of wickedness shall not reston the land allotted to the righteous,lest the righteous stretch outtheir hands to do wrong.Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,and to those who are upright in their hearts!” Christ's scepter is a scepter of righteousness (Hebrews 1:8). Here there is the scepter of wickedness. And one of the dangers of living beneath a wicked scepter, under wicked rulers is that ungodly law shapes even the righteous so that they stretch out their hands to do wrong. This is one of the reasons why law matters – it shapes our views of what is good and evil. And we live under wicked rulers. Just this week the Minnesota legislature is considering bills that will expand abortion access for any reason up until birth, remove waiting periods and parental consent, and deny medical care to children who survive abortions. They've also queued up bills that would enable the state to seize custody of children from parents should they deny “gender affirming care” to their minor son or daughter, that would outlaw efforts by counselors to help minors and vulnerable adults as they wrestle with their sexuality, and that would mandate that schools teach children about the “spectrum” of sexuality. These are wicked laws, established by the scepter of wickedness. But we live under Christ's scepter of righteousness. We trust in the Lord, and seek to calibrate our loves and hates by the loves and hates of Christ. And from that faith and upright heart, we seek the face of God; we ask him to do good to us, and then through us to our city, state, and nation. We ask the Lord to act to establish justice for the weakest and most vulnerable members of society, for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Third, and finally, because Christ perfectly and completely loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God anointed him with the oil of gladness beyond his companions. According to Acts 10, the oil of gladness here is the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Jesus and empowered him for his ministry. And then, Christ pours out that same oil of gladness upon us, anointing his people with his Spirit at Pentecost. In the face of the great evils we face – both in the culture and in our own midst and hearts – the joy of Jesus anchors us in his rule and reign.The TableThis brings us to the table. Here, we marvel that Jesus doesn't change. His throne is forever and ever. He laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning. He made the heavens, and he will outlast them. He will bring history and this creation to its close. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And he is seated now, as God brings everything into subjection to him. God makes his angels winds; he makes Christ's enemies his footstool. We eat this meal because Christ is seated at the right hand of Majesty.

     As God's children, we simultaneously live and operate in two realms. Physically, we live in the material world that God created (though damaged by our sin), and it is here we spend our time learning, working, playing, resting, and touching the lives of those whom God places in our path. It is here we must advance by learning God's Word and living wisely in His will (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). Making good choices from day to day—rooted in God's Word—is paramount to this life, as well as the one to come. As believers, we are to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33), and trust that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). This requires faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6). But we also live in a spiritual realm that touches things real, but unseen. As Christians, we are to be led by God the Holy Spirit, to be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18), and to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16). Furthermore, we face attacks from the spiritual realm, as Paul warns us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). As advancing Christians, we are to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col 1:9). And because the mind is the primary battleground, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Knowledge of God and His Word provides a basis for living effectively in both the physical and spiritual realm. God's Word reveals He's provided us a portfolio of spiritual blessings that benefit us in this life and, if understood and applied, will result in great rewards in the eternal state (1 Cor 3:14-15; 2 Cor 5:10).      Living in the dispensation of the church age, God has bestowed on us many good things. Though He blesses some Christians materially (1 Tim 6:17-19), His main focus is on giving us spiritual blessings which are far better. Paul wrote that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). According to Harold Hoehner, “Every spiritual blessing (eulogia) refers to every spiritual enrichment needed for the spiritual life. Since these benefits have already been bestowed on believers, they should not ask for them but rather appropriate them by faith.”[1]Warren Wiersbe states: "In the Old Testament, God promised His earthly people, Israel, material blessings as a reward for their obedience (Deut 28:1–13). Today, He promises to supply all our needs “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19), but He does not promise to shield us from either poverty or pain. The Father has given us every blessing of the Spirit, everything we need for a successful, satisfying Christian life. The spiritual is far more important than the material."[2] Some of our spiritual blessings are as follows: We are the special objects of His love: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), and “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We are forgiven all our sins: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13-14; cf. Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14). We are given eternal life: Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand (John 10:27-28; cf. John 3:16; 20:31). We are made alive together with Christ: “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:4-5). We are raised up and seated with Christ: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6). We are the recipients of God's grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We are created to perform good works: “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). We are given freedom in Christ: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1; cf. Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16). We are given a spiritual gift to serve others: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet 4:10; cf. Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11). We are children of God: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1a; cf. John 3:6; Gal 3:26; 1 Pet 1:23; Tit 3:5). We are made ambassadors for Christ: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). We are gifted with God's righteousness: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21; cf. Rom 4:3-5; 5:17; Phil 3:9). We are justified before God: “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:24, 28). We have peace with God: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). We will never be condemned: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). We are given citizenship in heaven: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). We are transferred to the kingdom of Christ: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13; cf. Acts 26:18; 1 Th 2:12). We are all saints in Christ Jesus: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” (Eph 2:19; cf. Eph 1:18-19). We are made priests to God: “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:6). We are God's chosen: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph 1:4; cf. Rom 8:29-33). We are the recipients of His faithfulness: “He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you'” (Heb 13:5; cf. Phil 1:6; 1 Th 5:24). We have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life: “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4; cf. Rom 6:10-13). We are members of the Church, the body of Christ: “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom 12:4-5), and “He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:22-23; cf. Col 1:18). We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor 3:16; cf. 1 Cor 6:19). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit: “having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13b; cf. 2 Cor 5:5). We are enabled to walk with God: “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). We are empowered to live godly: “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 Pet 1:3). We have Scripture to train us in righteousness: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We are guaranteed a new home in heaven: “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). We are guaranteed resurrection bodies: “I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:51-53). We have special access to God's throne of grace: “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). We will be glorified in eternity: “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col 3:4), for Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21)      In these blessings from God we observe “the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7). These are bestowed on us at the moment we trusted Christ as our Savior, and we come to know and appreciate them the more we study God's Word and grasp His goodness toward us. Such blessings are intended to motivate us to service, to live a life in appreciation for all God has done for us. With Paul, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph 1:18-19a).     [1] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 616. [2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 9.

Make a donation to Unity Center of Norwalk "I Am a Child of God Therefore..." Rev. Shawn Moninger @ Unity Center of Norwalk CT (8/7/22) You can see this talk and others on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/c/UnityCenterNorwalk Last week's message from Rev. Shawn Hey U-nity, Living From the Super-consciousness “No Time In the All Of The Time” I've heard so many people (including myself) say, “What happened to July? Where did it go?” July moved through my consciousness very rapidly. So did 2020 and 2021 for that matter. Most of this past decade has flown by and I no longer remember a lot of it. A time I am aware of however, is right now. I'm conscious of being here now and not rushing to get to the next time. I know I have things to do in the next time, but I'm okay with being here now while writing this newsletter about time. I remember being mostly in a rush to get to the next time because there was something I was looking forward to or something I wanted to get over with. Plus, I used to remember the past vividly. I could tell you details about stuff from practically before I was born. How often do we declare, “I don't have time for this!” And yet, we seem to have more than enough time for video games, overeating, addictions, arguing, prejudice, and of course, worrying. I guess that's why we don't have time for “this.” In God/Spirit there actually is no time. No time exists in Spirit. It's always now. So, before we get all puffed up again with how there's just not enough time, remember that there isn't any time at all. See what that thought inspires in you. Glad we met just in time :} Rev. Shawn

And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Remember that we have great reason and motivation to worship the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, first, because of who He is. Then we worship Him because of where He is, in the midst of the throne. And we worship Him for what He does! He is worthy of all worship because He alone can open the seals on this scroll, because He alone is the Redeemer of the world with the blood of His own sacrifice! This praise song that is being sung before the throne of God in heaven is not only a worship hymn, it is also a Gospel song! And yesterday we talked about how it is missionary song! We are told that sinners were redeemed "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:9). Today we will meditate two more wonderful aspects of this worship song being sung in heaven around the throne! This heavenly hymn was also a devotional hymn, for it announces our unique position in Christ as "a kingdom of priests." In many scriptures in the New Testament we are told that like Melchizedek of old (Genesis14:17-18; Hebrews 7:1), we as believers are kings and priests. The Apostle Peter told the saints he was writing to that: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:5&9). The veil of the temple was torn when Jesus died, and the way is opened to God: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-25). Even today we have direct access to God's throne of grace where we can find mercy and help in our time of need! (Hebrews 4:16) Finally, this song was a prophetic hymn: "We shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10). When Jesus Christ returns to earth, He will establish His righteous kingdom for 1,000 years; and we shall reign with Him (Rev. 20:1-6). The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come!" (Matthew 6:10), will then be fulfilled. Creation shall then be set free from bondage to sin. Isaiah describes this wonderful time on earth in a beautiful prophesy in Isaiah 11:1-10. Paul wrote about it in Romans 8:18-23: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” What a day that will be when Christ shall reign in justice and power, and by His redemptive power restore everything back to His original creation! And best of all, we can be there to enjoy it if we by faith trust Jesus to save us today! What a marvelous hymn we will be singing with the redeemed in heaven! God bless!

December 24-25, 2021 Home For Christmas Week #4 Come Home for Christmas Christmas is about connecting with God Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. Jeremiah 3:12 Movies and songs […]

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 8: Letting God Finish the Work Louie Marsh, 8-1-2021   Intro -  pictures of unfinished buildings -  story of house in Mom & Dad's neighborhood.   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   I Must Develop the Proper Perspective on…   My PROBLEMS   “14 … What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b, ESV)   My ACHIEVEMENTS   “5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)   My HEART   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)   The TRUTH   “32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:32, ESV)   Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. John 14:6 (Mes)   Martin Luther – wrote this about the Peasants Revolt, in the tract, “Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants.”   Picture of Luther's Tract   If the peasant is in open rebellion then he is outside the law of God…Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel… Therefore dear sirs, fire here, save there, stab, smite, strangle them, whoever can. If your death result, very well, you can never attain to a more blessed death.”   My RELATIONSHIPS   “10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)   “5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV)   “12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13, ESV)   I Allow God to Finish the Work When I…   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   1) Understand God's goal for my life – CHRIST-LIKENESS.   2) Let God give me His PEACE.   3) Find SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS in Christ!   “24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John 4:24, ESV)   4) Let Christ bring wholeness to my SOUL!   My soul is my –   MIND   “20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20, ESV)   WILL   “24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)   EMOTIONS   “16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:16, ESV)   5) Realize this – God wants my BODY!!   “19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)   “2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:2, ESV)  

Let me make this clear…   You are more than what you do for a living!!   Your identity is more and deeper than what you do for your career or business!   Fellas, ultimately, we are destroying ourselves because we are defining ourselves primarily by what we do for a living…instead of by the TRUTH OF WHO WE ARE!   Our identity is HOW we see and perceive ourselves…how we define ourselves. How we perceive  ourselves has great impact on whether we have positive or negative self-esteem toward ourselves. This identity dictates how we show up in the world.   PROBLEM: WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES BASED ON OUR CAREER   We often identify & define ourselves by what we do (i.e. doctor, lawyer, business owner, etc.), and how well we do it. If you were asked…”Who are you?” How would you answer? Often times our professional title is used to answer that question. When first meeting someone we often immediately talk about what we do. The first question after greeting someone and sharing our name is the question, “What do you do?” We connect our WORTH and VALUE to what we do and how well we do it We often automatically translate our level of success or failure within our career or business, to a measure of what our personal value and worth is. We often think…”Once I achieve this next career goal…then I'll be happy”. This in essence is saying, “I will feel better about myself…I will feel of value and worth only AFTER I achieve this professional goal”.   Unfortunately, this dependence of our identity on our career is a setup for… Perpetual failure: In essence we never believe we are good enough because our worth will always be connected to the next goal we are in pursuit of and therefore only happy and fulfilled once we achieve it. That means the rest of the time while in pursuit of achieving the goal, you feel ‘less than'. An emotional rollercoaster: If (and only when) we achieve, then we are happy about ourselves. But if we don't achieve, then we feel horrible about ourselves. Conditional self-worth: Your self-worth and self-esteem is completely conditional upon performance…which is false!! Your self-worth and value has NOTHING TO DO with your performance or achievement! You have intrinsic value that fuels your ability to achieve…not that achievement fuels your value. A lack of self-control: We can NOT control many circumstances that influence our results in life. Therefore, when we connect our value to our results, we are in essence connecting our value to things we have zero control over.   What I've found is that when our identity and value is tied to influences that are external from us, such as our job or titles, it creates what I call a conditional performance identity: If I perform well…then I have a temporary positive self-esteem and value If I don't perform well…then I have a constant negative self-esteem and value   The challenge with this way of thinking is that our career, jobs, and businesses can change based on circumstances we have no control over (i.e. market changes, Covid, etc.) And if circumstances change the results within our career…then so does our identity and self-value.   Examples: Professional sports Post retirement identity issues: Athletes struggle with retirement because their identity was primarily defined by their career as an athlete. As the career retires, so does their identity and feeling of self-worth. Career Anxiety & depression: When they don't perform at a certain level, they will struggle mentally because their value and identity is tied to their level of performance.   This happens within our careers as well…but it just more on full display with professional sports.   SOLUTION: ANCHOR OUR IDENTITY ON SOMETHING FOUNDATIONAL THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE   Your identity is WHO YOU ARE…not What you do!!   Your identity should help you in ALL areas of life! Not just for your career!   Who you are is based on THE TRUTH who YOUR CREATOR says you are and the INTRINSIC UNIQUENESS AND VALUE YOU WERE BORN WITH. You ARE… A child of God: Therefore by definition you are Royalty: You are a chosen child of The King Capable: Made in the image and likeness of God himself A Citizen of heaven: You are a representative of The Kingdom of Heaven Great: God is great, and the Spirit of God is IN YOU…therefore you are great Complete: You are already equipped with greateness. You don't NEED anything to be great.   Therefore, you show up great, because your intrinsic value is great! You don't need to prove your value by performing because you ALREADY ARE GREAT!   I envision God asking…”Who told you, that you were just a doctor…lawyer…business owner?”   When you come from this place of known intrinsic value and greatness…the pressure is off! You don't have to perform to prove your worth or value. You can now create to the level of who your TRUE identity is, based off of who your creator says you are.   ACTION: DISCOVER WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE   Do some simple research. Google this phrase: “What does God say about who I am in the bible?” Write down your top 3 things of what God says about who you are. Start telling yourself this daily to remind yourself about who you really are and your true identity!   If you need help, book a 1:1 Discovery Call with me at https://drbradmd.com   Talk to you soon, Dr. Brad  

Have you ever read through Ephesians 6:10-18 on the whole armor of God and thought, “That seems like a lot of work to put on” and maybe feels impossible to do every day? Let's break it down a bit because it really is an important part of our life and not one that we’re expected to do on our own. Before we look at the details of the armor, it's important to remember these two things written in verses 10-12: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We are told to be strong in the LORD and in the strength of HIS might. I think sometimes I tend to give myself too much credit in my mind as if because I'm saved, I am somehow in and of myself better able to handle things in this life. However, we can't handle much, if anything, on our own and we aren't just being told to be strong, but to be strong IN THE LORD and in HIS MIGHT. We do that by putting on the full armor OF GOD in order to stand. So really, step one is ridding ourselves of self-reliance and being dependent on what God gives us in order to be strong and stand against the schemes of the devil. We have to remember that this battle isn't physical at all, it's all in the spiritual realm. This may seem a bit unfair to us because it's not like we're angels that can see into the spiritual realm like it's the physical. However, the odds are completely loaded in our favor because greater is He who is in us than he who is the world (1 John 4:4), so we're able to fight successfully with the equipment and equipping God gives us. If we lose focus of this fact though, we can be left spiritually naked in battle and end up fighting the very people whom we're supposed to be showing God's love to. It's a spiritual battle that needs spiritual armor and spiritual weapons. The Whole Armor of God “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (v.13-18a). God gives us this armor freely, but we are required to take it up and use it in order to be effective in standing firm. We have the belt of truth that holds up our pants so to speak. When the soldiers back in the day used to go to battle, they would gird up their loins (which let's just be real, the tunics were like dresses). So they had to belt these tunics in order to fight and it would keep them from tripping. Truth keeps us focused so that we are not deceived and tripping, or falling into deception and sin. When we hear something that's not true, we'll be girded and ready with the truth, who is also the way and the life, Jesus. We have the breastplate of righteousness, that covers our major internal organs, namely our heart. Our heart is deceitful in itself and our emotions can often mess with us, reminding us of our past failures that turns our stomach in knots and makes us want to curl into a ball of shame. As new creations in Christ, we don't wear our own righteousness though, we are robed in Christ's righteousness. We can stand tall in His righteousness in our battle position knowing that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. We have our feet with shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. We are ready to march into any battle knowing our shoes will not wear thin, because the gospel is for us the same yesterday as it is today as it will be tomorrow. We have a hope and are ready to give a reason for that hope to everyone we come in contact with. And as we go throughout battles, it's our God of peace who gives us His peace. We have the shield of faith in which we can extinguish ALL the flaming darts of the evil one, that we are told to take up in ALL circumstances. If you've ever seen movies of old Roman soldiers, they used to carry full body shields that they could stop, plant down, and take cover under as enemy archers would send over a sea of arrows at them. We too have a shield, our faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen, and with which it is impossible to please God without (Hebrews 11:1,6). Our faith is powerful and even with only as much as of a mustard seed, could we move mountains, then how effective it is against the lies the enemy shoots our way (Matthew 17:20). We have the helmet of salvation. Our minds can often lead us into trouble if we over think and try to rationalize everything to death. The enemy is an excellent liar, mixing the perfect amount of truth with lies that it becomes a concoction of possibly an undetected deceit. We can know that we know that our salvation is 100% secure in Christ. No one can snatch us out of the Father's hand and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee Who has sealed us (John 10:28-29; 2 Corinthians 1:22). We have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. If you're in a battle, would you ever put down your sword? Me either! I'd be gripping that thing so tightly and taking it with me everywhere. The same should hold true for our spiritual sword, which is both an offensive and defensive weapon. We have to realize too, that the devil tries to use the word of God against us sometimes, but it's done in deceit. Satan will twist and add to and take out things from God's word in an attempt to sword fight with us, and when he's that close it's often very personal, just like it was with Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). Being a Berean, actively seeking the truth and testing every spirit, being prudent in attention to using your armor in conjunction together is essential (1 John 4). This sword is sharper than any two-edged, and can not only fight against the enemy, but God uses it to do surgery on our hearts, cutting away sin from us on the battle field (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We have prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT. Prayer is often times regarded as a last resort option, but it is a powerful weapon that we should use in conjunction with our swords. Prayer for ourselves, prayer for the saints, prayers for others. The really cool thing about prayer too is that you can help fight spiritual battles all over the world. We can pray anywhere at any time. Prayers are like targeted missiles that the enemy can't do anything about. We can be paralyzed or unable to talk and still offer up prayer and supplication in our hearts to God. This section ends with a final word of instruction. “To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” (v.18b) We can't dig a hole and stick out heads in it or just wear our armor and chill at home forever, we have to keep alert with all perseverance. Not to mention, we have a promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, but since when do gates move? That means we, the church, can't be stuck in a building all the time, we have to get out and storm those gates, knowing we will be victorious if we get out there and fight. (Matthew 16:18) My dear friend, the harvest is so plentiful, but the laborers are few and God is calling, “Whom shall I send?” Will you respond like Isaiah with, “Here I am, send me!”? I encourage you to pray for the saints, keep alert, persevere by moving beyond the walls of the church building and fulfill your ministry of reconciliation, and always wear the full armor of God that you may be able to stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

1. Stop walking in darkness-2. Stop deceiving yourself-3. Stop doubting God forgives our sin

Psalm 49:1-11 1 Hear this, all you peoples;     listen, all who live in this world, 2 both low and high,     rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;     the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;     with the harp I will expound my riddle: 5 Why should I fear when evil days come,     when wicked deceivers surround me— 6 those who trust in their wealth     and boast of their great riches? 7 No one can redeem the life of another     or give to God a ransom for them— 8 the ransom for a life is costly,     no payment is ever enough— 9 so that they should live on forever     and not see decay. 10 For all can see that the wise die,     that the foolish and the senseless also perish,     leaving their wealth to others. 11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever,     their dwellings for endless generations,     though they had named lands after themselves.  

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 91 Psalm 91 (Listen) My Refuge and My Fortress 91   He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2   I will say1 to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,    my God, in whom I trust.” 3   For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler    and from the deadly pestilence.4   He will cover you with his pinions,    and under his wings you will find refuge;    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.5   You will not fear the terror of the night,    nor the arrow that flies by day,6   nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7   A thousand may fall at your side,    ten thousand at your right hand,    but it will not come near you.8   You will only look with your eyes    and see the recompense of the wicked. 9   Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—    the Most High, who is my refuge2—10   no evil shall be allowed to befall you,    no plague come near your tent. 11   For he will command his angels concerning you    to guard you in all your ways.12   On their hands they will bear you up,    lest you strike your foot against a stone.13   You will tread on the lion and the adder;    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14   “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;    I will protect him, because he knows my name.15   When he calls to me, I will answer him;    I will be with him in trouble;    I will rescue him and honor him.16   With long life I will satisfy him    and show him my salvation.” Footnotes [1] 91:2 Septuagint He will say [2] 91:9 Or For you, O Lord, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your dwelling place (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 1 Kings 22:41–53 1 Kings 22:41–53 (Listen) Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah 41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel. 45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46 And from the land he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa. 47 There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. Ahaziah Reigns in Israel 51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done. (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Zechariah 4 Zechariah 4 (Listen) A Vision of a Golden Lampstand 4 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil1 is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones2 who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Footnotes [1] 4:12 Hebrew lacks oil [2] 4:14 Hebrew two sons of new oil (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: James 4:1–10 James 4:1–10 (Listen) Warning Against Worldliness 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions1 are at war within you?2 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people!3 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Footnotes [1] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3 [2] 4:1 Greek in your members [3] 4:4 Or You adulteresses! (ESV)

The idol of approval does not respect age, race, or religion. It tells people of all ages to worship created things rather than the creator. Its subtle voice tries to convince people to fear man more than God. It distracts people from kingdom living to people pleasing. In the worst case, it leads followers of Christ to deny their faith in order to gain the approval of others. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 ESV The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes (Psalm 118:6-9 ESV) But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV). So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4 ESV) Renouncing the god of approval: Lord, I have been insecure and have worshipped the approval of others. Thank you for your forgiveness. You alone approve of me and have freed me up from needing the approval of others. I rejoice in the truth of being approved by the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament: 1 Kings 19–20 1 Kings 19–20 (Listen) Elijah Flees Jezebel 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. The Lord Speaks to Elijah 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.1 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” The Call of Elisha 19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. Ahab's Wars with Syria 20 Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” 4 And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” 5 The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’” 7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” 12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city. Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad 13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” 15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand. 16 And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17 The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” 18 He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” 19 So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. 20 And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow. 22 Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.” 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24 And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, 25 and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again 26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27 And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” 29 And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. 30 And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go. A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad's Release 35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. 37 Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent2 of silver.’ 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.” 41 Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,3 therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” 43 And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria. Footnotes [1] 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence [2] 20:39 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [3] 20:42 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 135 Psalm 135 (Listen) Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever 135   Praise the LORD!  Praise the name of the LORD,    give praise, O servants of the LORD,2   who stand in the house of the LORD,    in the courts of the house of our God!3   Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!14   For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,    Israel as his own possession. 5   For I know that the LORD is great,    and that our Lord is above all gods.6   Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,    in heaven and on earth,    in the seas and all deeps.7   He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,    who makes lightnings for the rain    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,    both of man and of beast;9   who in your midst, O Egypt,    sent signs and wonders    against Pharaoh and all his servants;10   who struck down many nations    and killed mighty kings,11   Sihon, king of the Amorites,    and Og, king of Bashan,    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,12   and gave their land as a heritage,    a heritage to his people Israel. 13   Your name, O LORD, endures forever,    your renown,2 O LORD, throughout all ages.14   For the LORD will vindicate his people    and have compassion on his servants. 15   The idols of the nations are silver and gold,    the work of human hands.16   They have mouths, but do not speak;    they have eyes, but do not see;17   they have ears, but do not hear,    nor is there any breath in their mouths.18   Those who make them become like them,    so do all who trust in them. 19   O house of Israel, bless the LORD!    O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!20   O house of Levi, bless the LORD!    You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!21   Blessed be the LORD from Zion,    he who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the LORD! Footnotes [1] 135:3 Or for he is beautiful [2] 135:13 Or remembrance (ESV) New Testament: James 3–5 James 3–5 (Listen) Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,1 and set on fire by hell.2 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,3 these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Wisdom from Above 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Warning Against Worldliness 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions4 are at war within you?5 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people!6 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.7 The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? Boasting About Tomorrow 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Warning to the Rich 5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,8 until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. The Prayer of Faith 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.9 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Footnotes [1] 3:6 Or wheel of birth [2] 3:6 Greek Gehenna [3] 3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 [4] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3 [5] 4:1 Greek in your members [6] 4:4 Or You adulteresses! [7] 4:11 Or brothers and sisters [8] 5:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 10, 12, 19 [9] 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power (ESV)

Old Testament: 1 Kings 19–20 1 Kings 19–20 (Listen) Elijah Flees Jezebel 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. The Lord Speaks to Elijah 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.1 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” The Call of Elisha 19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. Ahab's Wars with Syria 20 Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” 4 And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” 5 The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’” 7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” 12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city. Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad 13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” 15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand. 16 And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17 The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” 18 He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” 19 So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. 20 And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow. 22 Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.” 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24 And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, 25 and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again 26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27 And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” 29 And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. 30 And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go. A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad's Release 35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. 37 Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent2 of silver.’ 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.” 41 Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,3 therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” 43 And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria. Footnotes [1] 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence [2] 20:39 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [3] 20:42 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 135 Psalm 135 (Listen) Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever 135   Praise the LORD!  Praise the name of the LORD,    give praise, O servants of the LORD,2   who stand in the house of the LORD,    in the courts of the house of our God!3   Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!14   For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,    Israel as his own possession. 5   For I know that the LORD is great,    and that our Lord is above all gods.6   Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,    in heaven and on earth,    in the seas and all deeps.7   He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,    who makes lightnings for the rain    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,    both of man and of beast;9   who in your midst, O Egypt,    sent signs and wonders    against Pharaoh and all his servants;10   who struck down many nations    and killed mighty kings,11   Sihon, king of the Amorites,    and Og, king of Bashan,    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,12   and gave their land as a heritage,    a heritage to his people Israel. 13   Your name, O LORD, endures forever,    your renown,2 O LORD, throughout all ages.14   For the LORD will vindicate his people    and have compassion on his servants. 15   The idols of the nations are silver and gold,    the work of human hands.16   They have mouths, but do not speak;    they have eyes, but do not see;17   they have ears, but do not hear,    nor is there any breath in their mouths.18   Those who make them become like them,    so do all who trust in them. 19   O house of Israel, bless the LORD!    O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!20   O house of Levi, bless the LORD!    You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!21   Blessed be the LORD from Zion,    he who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the LORD! Footnotes [1] 135:3 Or for he is beautiful [2] 135:13 Or remembrance (ESV) New Testament: James 3–5 James 3–5 (Listen) Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,1 and set on fire by hell.2 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,3 these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Wisdom from Above 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Warning Against Worldliness 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions4 are at war within you?5 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people!6 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.7 The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? Boasting About Tomorrow 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Warning to the Rich 5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,8 until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. The Prayer of Faith 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.9 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Footnotes [1] 3:6 Or wheel of birth [2] 3:6 Greek Gehenna [3] 3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 [4] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3 [5] 4:1 Greek in your members [6] 4:4 Or You adulteresses! [7] 4:11 Or brothers and sisters [8] 5:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 10, 12, 19 [9] 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power (ESV)

Discipleship H-O-M-E Authority Issues Submission government & community?earthly leadership?at the home?in the midst of persecution? 1 Peter 2 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. keep the caboose at the end of the train abstain Moralistic Therapeutic Deism indicative - sealing imperative - filling legally innocentnever sinnedfulfilled entire Lawa child of God Dual Citizenship The Age to Come __________________ This Age___________________ 1 Peter 2 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. James 4 Submit Belong Yourselves to God 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Know who God is who You are what to do 1 Peter 2 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. struggles 33 years of traction 1 Peter 2 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. struggles friction 1 Peter 2 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. worldview of Christ worldview for Christ 1 Peter 2 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

James 4:1-6 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

With family: Numbers 21; Psalms 60–61 Numbers 21 (Listen) Arad Destroyed 21 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”1 3 And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.2 The Bronze Serpent 4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze3 serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. The Song of the Well 10 And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth. 11 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD,   “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,15   and the slope of the valleys  that extends to the seat of Ar,  and leans to the border of Moab.” 16 And from there they continued to Beer;4 that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:   “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—18   the well that the princes made,  that the nobles of the people dug,  with the scepter and with their staffs.” And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert.5 King Sihon Defeated 21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the ballad singers say,   “Come to Heshbon, let it be built;    let the city of Sihon be established.28   For fire came out from Heshbon,    flame from the city of Sihon.  It devoured Ar of Moab,    and swallowed6 the heights of the Arnon.29   Woe to you, O Moab!    You are undone, O people of Chemosh!  He has made his sons fugitives,    and his daughters captives,    to an Amorite king, Sihon.30   So we overthrew them;    Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished;    and we laid waste as far as Nophah;    fire spread as far as Medeba.”7 King Og Defeated 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land. Footnotes [1] 21:2 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 3 [2] 21:3 Hormah means destruction [3] 21:9 Or copper [4] 21:16 Beer means well [5] 21:20 Or Jeshimon [6] 21:28 Septuagint; Hebrew the lords of [7] 21:30 Compare Samaritan and Septuagint; Hebrew and we laid waste as far as Nophah, which is as far as Medeba (ESV) Psalms 60–61 (Listen) He Will Tread Down Our Foes To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam1 of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. 60   O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;    you have been angry; oh, restore us.2   You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;    repair its breaches, for it totters.3   You have made your people see hard things;    you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4   You have set up a banner for those who fear you,    that they may flee to it from the bow.2 Selah5   That your beloved ones may be delivered,    give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 6   God has spoken in his holiness:3    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.7   Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;    Ephraim is my helmet;    Judah is my scepter.8   Moab is my washbasin;    upon Edom I cast my shoe;    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”4 9   Who will bring me to the fortified city?    Who will lead me to Edom?10   Have you not rejected us, O God?    You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.11   Oh, grant us help against the foe,    for vain is the salvation of man!12   With God we shall do valiantly;    it is he who will tread down our foes. Lead Me to the Rock To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David. 61   Hear my cry, O God,    listen to my prayer;2   from the end of the earth I call to you    when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock    that is higher than I,3   for you have been my refuge,    a strong tower against the enemy. 4   Let me dwell in your tent forever!    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah5   For you, O God, have heard my vows;    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6   Prolong the life of the king;    may his years endure to all generations!7   May he be enthroned forever before God;    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! 8   So will I ever sing praises to your name,    as I perform my vows day after day. Footnotes [1] 60:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms [2] 60:4 Or that it may be displayed because of truth [3] 60:6 Or sanctuary [4] 60:8 Revocalization (compare Psalm 108:10); Masoretic Text over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph (ESV) In private: Isaiah 10:5–34; James 4 Isaiah 10:5–34 (Listen) Judgment on Arrogant Assyria 5   Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger;    the staff in their hands is my fury!6   Against a godless nation I send him,    and against the people of my wrath I command him,  to take spoil and seize plunder,    and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.7   But he does not so intend,    and his heart does not so think;  but it is in his heart to destroy,    and to cut off nations not a few;8   for he says:  “Are not my commanders all kings?9   Is not Calno like Carchemish?    Is not Hamath like Arpad?    Is not Samaria like Damascus?10   As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,    whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,11   shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols    as I have done to Samaria and her images?” 12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he1 will punish the speech2 of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. 13 For he says:   “By the strength of my hand I have done it,    and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;  I remove the boundaries of peoples,    and plunder their treasures;    like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.14   My hand has found like a nest    the wealth of the peoples;  and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken,    so I have gathered all the earth;  and there was none that moved a wing    or opened the mouth or chirped.” 15   Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it,    or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?  As if a rod should wield him who lifts it,    or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!16   Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts    will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors,  and under his glory a burning will be kindled,    like the burning of fire.17   The light of Israel will become a fire,    and his Holy One a flame,  and it will burn and devour    his thorns and briers in one day.18   The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land    the LORD will destroy, both soul and body,    and it will be as when a sick man wastes away.19   The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few    that a child can write them down. The Remnant of Israel Will Return 20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25 For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26 And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27 And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”3 28   He has come to Aiath;  he has passed through Migron;    at Michmash he stores his baggage;29   they have crossed over the pass;    at Geba they lodge for the night;  Ramah trembles;    Gibeah of Saul has fled.30   Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim!    Give attention, O Laishah!    O poor Anathoth!31   Madmenah is in flight;    the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.32   This very day he will halt at Nob;    he will shake his fist    at the mount of the daughter of Zion,    the hill of Jerusalem. 33   Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts    will lop the boughs with terrifying power;  the great in height will be hewn down,    and the lofty will be brought low.34   He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe,    and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One. Footnotes [1] 10:12 Hebrew I [2] 10:12 Hebrew fruit [3] 10:27 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain (ESV) James 4 (Listen) Warning Against Worldliness 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions1 are at war within you?2 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people!3 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.4 The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? Boasting About Tomorrow 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Footnotes [1] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3 [2] 4:1 Greek in your members [3] 4:4 Or You adulteresses! [4] 4:11 Or brothers and sisters (ESV)

Quarantine Quarrels James 4:1-8 James 4:1-7 1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 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. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. A Posture of Humility: Overlooks Often. A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11 Shows Gentleness. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1 3. Listens First. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 4. Takes Ownership. Admit Apologize Ask 5. Forgives Always. Bear with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13 6. Focuses on Hope Homework: Evaluate on a scale of 1 to 10 how well you practice each of the six results of humility in the relationships closest to you. Make an intentional effort to take this posture of humility this week and working on the six results in your life. At the end of the week, reevaluate each one and determine where progress has been made.

April 12, 2020 Why doesn’t God answer our prayers? Today we are going to be looking at the most famous story of Elijah’s. This is an epic showdown between Baal and Yahweh found in 1 Kings 18. This battle answers the question, “Why doesn’t God answer our prayers?” It doesn't totally answer that question, but it begins to answer it. Next Sunday, we will see how Chapter 19 continues to answer this question, but today we are going to see the first reason. In 1 Kings 18:1, Elijah is told by God that it is time for the drought to end. So God commands Elijah to go and speak to Ahab. Elijah goes to the servant of Ahab, Obadiah, who is a devout man and tells him to bring Ahab to him. After some reluctance, Obadiah agrees to bring Ahab to this place and they meet in 18:17. Listen to the conversation... 1 Kings 18:17--20 (ESV) --- 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Troubler of Israel Notice how Ahab is accusing Elijah of bringing about all of this trouble for Israel. This is typical of how people react when things don’t work out the way they think that it should. We start to cast blame. It’s what we do. Elijah is the trouble maker because he pronounced a curse against Ahab and Israel. It is all Elijah’s fault. He has offended Baal, and now Baal won’t send anymore rain down. This is why Ahab has been trying to kill Elijah. He thought that the death of the offender would result in the return of Baal and her rain. This is the scenario that Ahab has worked out in his head. But this is not nearly the truth. Elijah looks at Ahab and tells him the truth. He says, “You are the trouble maker. You are the one who has abandoned the commandments of the Lord to follow the Baals.” Elijah calls Ahab out for his apostasy. It is interesting that Elijah did not say this back in Chapter 17. He just let Ahab stew over the curse for 3.5 years. Now, he approaches him and they each share their point of view. Which one is true? Which god has caused this drought? Elijah tells Ahab to gather the prophets together at Carmel so that they can find out. The Battle Of “gods” This is going to be the closest thing to a blockbuster fight that we have seen since David and Goliath. In this corner we have 850 prophets belonging to Baal and Asherah and in the other corner we have Elijah and the Lord, Yahweh. All of Israel comes to witness this event, so there are literally thousands in attendance. Everyone is invested in this. They are ready for the death of those responsible for this drought. Elijah comes near to Israel and makes a speech. 1 Kings 18:21--24 (ESV) --- 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Elijah is extremely outnumbered, but he challenges them to a match to see whose God can bring down fire and consume the sacrifices. This sounds good to them. Elijah even gives them first crack at it since they have so many people. The assumption is that this should be easy and quick for you to do, if your god is able. This seems to be a sudden death match up, with the first god to produce fire being called the ultimate god everyone should worship. Crying For Baal So they start to set up their sacrifice and they build their alter. Then, they call on the name of Baal from morning until noon that day saying, “O Baal, answer us.” 1 Kings 18:27 (ESV) --- 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” This has to be one of the funniest passages in scripture. You can just imagine these 850 men spending hours calling out to Baal expecting him to answer and prove himself before all of Israel. This shows that they are not trying to pull one over on the people or that they know Ahab will kill them if they don’t try. But it seems like they really believe that Baal will set that sacrifice on fire. Then, Elijah starts taunting them by coming up with excuses for them. If he really is a god, he must be busy. If he is a god, he must be on a journey, asleep, or relieving himself. Not all translations put that in there, but that is what the Hebrew idiom meant. Elijah tells them to cry louder and they respond by crying louder and cutting themselves so that blood runs down them. It starts to get graphic and they start to get desperate. Nothing happens. There is no sound. There is no voice. There is no fire. Calling On The Lord Elijah calls all of the people to him and repairs the altar of the Lord in front of them with the 12 stones that represented Israel. Then, he added the wood and made a trench around the altar. He had men bring in 12 jars of water to pour on the sacrifice and fill the trench. 1 Kings 18:36--40 (ESV) --- 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. God is responding to this prayer battle to show his ability to everyone. After this, Elijah prays for rain and it rains. The drought is ended. What Do We Learn? Understanding the purpose behind this story is not difficult. This is a prayer battle. This is an attempt to settle once and for all time the challenge of God’s opponents. Elijah starts by asking the people, “How long will you ride the fence?” They are assuming that it is better to be neutral than to make up their mind and pick a god to worship. This is the story of our society today. America has returned to an idea that is centuries old, thinking that it is a modern idea. Our society says, “We can worship all of the gods out there. Just pick whichever one you like and worship it. They are all the same and we are all going to the same place by worshipping them.” They don’t realize that they are actually delusional. All religions cannot be true because all religions profess different theologies and different ideologies. Someone who says that all of the religions are basically the same is lazy, disrespectful, and emotionally violent. They are trying to say that they know better than everyone else and that their religion, which blends the things they like in all religions, is the only one that makes sense. They are acting like choosing a religion is just like choosing your favorite flavor of ice cream because there is no absolute truth. It’s all relative. So many people believe in relativism without even realizing it. But relativism contradicts itself. Saying that all truth is relative and that there is no absolute truths is an absolute statement professing to be true. Saying that all religions are true can’t hold up because my religion says all religions aren’t true. Being neutral and accepting all is neglecting to get into the details of religion. It is lazy, disrespectful, and emotionally violent. We are not doing the dirty work of finding out what is true and what is false. So, Elijah is calling for the people of Israel to make up their mind on who to serve. He wants them to stop being lazy, disrespectful, and emotionally violent. They need to recognize that God is not malleable and able to fit into whatever we want him to fit into. We must conform to his ways, he does not conform to ours. But they are unwilling to do that. Why? Why did they ever leave the Lord to worship ba’al in the first place? Ba’al Is A Spiritual Lord The word ba’al is a word that actually means spiritual lord. There was a beauty ba’al, a military ba’al, a rain ba’al, a party ba’al, a fortress ba’al (Asherah) and many others. The people would worship anything and call it their god. We might think this is primitive, but they were just willing to recognize and describe what they were doing. We don’t call anything our spiritual lord. We do not call anything our ba’al. But do we have any spiritual lords? Do we cry out for those ba’als to provide us with what we desire most? I think we all do this. What are we are praying for and why are we praying for it? When we want something really badly we pray for it. We call out to God with faith, confessing our sins, remembering his promises, and we may even thank him ahead of time because we are so sure that he will give us what we want. We follow all of the rules to have an acceptable prayer. We may even make promises to stop sinning in this area or that if he will just give us what we want. We do our little dance expecting God to hear our prayers and give us whatever we ask of him. But that god is on a journey. He must be distracted, asleep, or relieving himself. He does not give us what we want so badly. We have to have whatever this is. We have to have good health, we have to have a marriage partner, we have to have children, or we have to have a successful job. We have to have enough rain to fill our land and make us wealthy. Fill in the blank. If we do not have this one thing, our god has failed us. We are dancing for those lords to give us what we want. We are not focused on God’s glory. I think we do this little dance to our destruction. We try to follow all of rules on raising children, but our children do not turn our right. We try to follow all of the rules on marriage and our marriages don’t turn out right. We try to follow all of the rules on our job and we still do not succeed. We are dancing for our god to hear us. Dancing is a way to get our god to do what we want him to do. But our dancing does not work. When dancing doesn’t work, we start cutting ourselves. We can’t seem to get over our prayers not being answered. So what do we do? We hate ourselves. We do things to hurt ourselves. Losing a boyfriend or a girlfriend should not result in suicide. Losing a child should not result in abandoning your spouse. When we can’t seem to get over our prayers not being answered, we let it have the spiritual authority over our life. It is not just a good thing that I would enjoy and look forward to, it is the ultimate thing. It is my ba’al. If it fails, we hate ourselves and we slash ourselves. Whether God gives these things to us or not, he is still in control and he still loves us. We have to see this, admit that we are doing this, and get passed loving these spiritual lords. We have to determine that we are going to worship God and find satisfaction in him whether these prayers come true or not. God Is The Spiritual Lord At the end of this story we see that God sends down fire, but he doesn’t send down fire to destroy the people. He could have. He could have roasted them because we all know that they deserved it for their idolatry. But God doesn’t send the fire down on the people. He accepts the sacrifice. He doesn’t ask for the blood of his prophet or the blood of the people. He accepts the blood of the bull. In the New Testament we read that the blood of bulls and goats has never been sufficient to take away sins (Heb 10:4). But there was blood that was offered on their behalf and ours 800 years later. We have all fallen into the same kinds of traps as these Israelites, but God has given an ultimate sacrifice that is supposed to turn our hearts to him. God is now expecting us to make him our ultimate. We don’t need a wife, husband, children, successful careers, good health, or even freedom to be content and blessed in this life. We can suffer the loss of everything and still be blessed because the love of God fills us. How Do We Serve God Alone? So when we pray and we find that God has not given us what we ask for, we need to evaluate who is our spiritual lord as we pray. This story says that when we pray to God and also worship ba’al we are making a grave mistake and we need to choose the Lord because He is God. That is what the people conclude at the end of the battle and that is what we must conclude as well. We must evaluate our hearts greatest desire. What kind of man was Elijah? Elijah was a man who was single minded. He was solely focused on the Lord and his glory. Listen to another thing that James said... James 4:1--7 (ESV) --- 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The problem James points out throughout his letter is being double minded. We don’t feel like we are worshipping other gods, but we are. We have passions at war within us and we get upset about unanswered prayers so we pursue those passions more. We hurt ourselves and those around us while being unfaithful to God. God is jealous over our hearts. We have been focusing in on James 5 where James says that Elijah was a man like us and God heard his prayers. Now we start to get a little insight into what he means. Elijah put his faith, his hope, and his trust in the Lord for all that he needed to survive. Conclusion The point of Elijah’s drought and his contest was to turn the heart of the people back to God and it seems to work, but not for long. They will return to pursuing beauty, success, security, fulfillment, and happiness as their spiritual lords once things go back to normal. It is what they always do. They will continue in spiritual adultery and double mindedness. But the fact remains, only one god is living and active and able to bring down fire from heaven or come to earth to suffer and die for us all. Ba’al couldn’t do that and neither can anything else we put our trust in today. Our spouses cannot provide us with what we need in this life or in the life to come. Our children, our jobs, and our possessions are all just as temporary as we are. Don’t worship them or rely on them for satisfaction. Rely on God. How long will we ride the fence? Put your trust in God.

Sermon Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanJames 4:1-10 (ESV) 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.Prayer of ConfessionOur Father, we are a wandering people. In our pride we turn our backs to you, the one who gives us all good things. We exalt ourselves, and in this folly we bring harm to ourselves and others. We confess our worries, our guilt, our wrong doing, our selfish instincts. We need more grace. Thank you for calling us back to you. Thank you for the promise that if we draw near to you, you will not reject us. Thank you that you have drawn near to us first. Forgive us our sins. Pardon our guilt, cover our shame, cleanse our hands and our hearts from all unrighteousness. During this time of social distancing, help us to know that you are close to us. We draw near to you in the name of Jesus, whose blood was shed so that we would have life in his name. Amen.Word of Encouragement – Psalm 103:11-13For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

1 Peter 2:13-17 – Honor Authority 1 Peter 2:13-17 -NCV - 13 For the Lord’s sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority, 14 and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 It is God’s desire that by doing good you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. 17 Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family, respect God, honor the king. Peter’s whole point here is that Followers of Christ should be living in such a way (For the LORD’S sake) that we silence those who criticize Christ… the Gospel… our Faith in Christ and Living for Him!   You want to shut the world up?   LIVE FOR GOD!  Live a Holy life, Be sanctified, or “set apart from the world” and LIVE above the Criticism!  Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Philippians 2:12-15 - 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 1 Peter 2:2 – Like newborn infants, long for, crave the pure spiritual milk, (God’s Word – Jesus!) that by it (Reading, Studying, Obeying…) you may grow up into a full experience of salvation… That full experience of Salvation is to be “sanctified”… to be Holy, to be set apart in Christ, for Christ!   IF we belong to Jesus, this world is NOT our home! Let’s back up to Verses 11-12  - 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” (strangers and exiles) to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. Are we so attached to the world, and the things of the world that people can’t see that we’re different!  That they don’t see the light of Christ in us?! 1 John 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. James 4:4 - You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Galatians 2:20 - I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.   The greatest way for people to SEE and BELIEVE the Gospel and Jesus Christ is to see the TRANSFORMING power of Jesus Christ in our own life!  It’s the greatest form of Evangelism there is… the greatest form of Apologetics there is… (Defending the Faith, the Gospel.) QUESTION: Who and what are we attached to?  Does the world see us as one of theirs or are we different?     Although we’re Aliens or Strangers to the world, we’re still in the world. “We’re in the world but not part of the world.” What does that really mean? Followers of Christ don’t belong to, live by, or are not attached to the “values, system, attitudes, morals, behaviors” of the world.  (The values, systems, attitudes, morals,

WISE RELATIONSHIPS Faith That Works Scott Young ~ Pastor of Hope What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? – James 4:1 1. Look To God As Your Source and Supply You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. – James 4:2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Practice Generosity You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. – James 4:3 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Choose God Loving Friends You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Walk In Humility Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Draw Near To God Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:7 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Speak No Evil Don’t criticize and speak evil about each other, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it. – James 4:11 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Download Handout James 4What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:1–10 ESV 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. According to James, the issues at church are symptoms of a deeper problem: Symptom #1: Interpersonal conflict. The Source: Ungodly, unsatisfied, and unrestrained passions . 1 Peter 2:11 NKJV 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, Symptom #2: Unanswered prayers and feeling disconnected from God. The Source: Ungodly , unsatisfied, and unrestrained passions . The condition of your horizontal relationships (i.e. relationships with people) always affects your vertical relationship with God. Matthew 5:23–24 ESV 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 1 Peter 3:7 ESV 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. The Diagnosis: spiritual infidelity . The Cure: God's grace . 2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Receiving God's grace demands humility . Proverbs 3:34 ESV 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The Prescription: Submit to God and draw closer to Him through prayer , bible reading, and worship . Spending time with God puts a spotlight on His holiness and our sin, leading to godly sorrow, repentance, and an intense desire to be more like Him. He supplies the grace we need to change. Going down is the only way to go up .

In this episode, host Joe Brannen, interviews Mike Urmie, one of his mentors and his co-pastor at GC Surrey. Together they discuss the deep impact technical teams (audio/  visual team.) have on a congregation. “How can we work together to make this the absolute best it can be for our God? Therefore, have that oneness […]

February 2, 2020 Our goal is to understand the book of James better. This is one of the most debated books in Christianity because the purpose of James is different from the purpose of most New Testament writers. However, when we look at this book carefully, we find that it lines up perfectly with the words of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. Some phrases seem to be pulled directly out of Jesus’ mouth. Of course, we know that everything James says is consistent with Paul and all of the other apostles. Most assume that James is the Lord’s brother, who became a leader in the Lord’s church in Jerusalem. If this is true, the words of this man should be precious to us. They could be seen as providing us with an inside view of the life of Jesus. Who knows our Lord better than his relatives? It should come as no surprise to us that James is often referred to as the wisdom literature of the New Testament. He seems to create many sayings in his letter that are easy for us to hold onto: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” “Every good and perfect gift is from above,” “Faith without works is dead,” “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” It also contains many pictures that are intended to blow our minds: “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness,” “The one who doubts is like the waves of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” The book has many themes throughout it. It discusses speech, money, and double-mindedness repeatedly in the text to hit on some major flaws in our lives today. What Is James About? How many of us go through trials in our lives? Think about how many different trials we go through. There are trials at the beginning of our life for understanding the way things work, not getting what we want when we want it, getting through school, trying to fit in with people, trying to find a purpose, and overcoming the hormonal changes that we all go through. There are trials in the middle of life that include broken relationships, figuring out who is trying to take advantage of you, losing people we care about, failure, and trying to have a family. Then there are trials in the later years of maintaining relationships, struggling with pain and health problems as the body breaks down, and trying to keep up or deal with the ever-changing society. These trials will impact us all, and there are many more trials that I’m sure we could add to this list. All of the trials I listed are associated with living on this earth as a human being. But as Christians, we face a different set of trials. Why? Because we are living our lives with a higher purpose. We want to become like God, glorify his name, and bring others to him. Our goal is perfection. How do we deal with the trials that bring us closer to perfection? This is what James writes to us about. He wants us to grow through our trials to be consistent with the life of Christ in our everyday walk. James 1:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. At the beginning of this letter, James tells his readers to count trials to be a joy. From the outside, this seems ridiculous, but he tells us that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness, which eventually leads us to perfection. This is a big idea for the book. We need to have a new perspective on trials to be sure that we are growing properly toward perfection. A Christian’s life is to be spent pursuing Christ-likeness in every test. Then, he points out how hard this is by saying, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” James is telling us that if we don’t understand why this trial is happening, we can ask God, and he will help us gain wisdom through trial. Every testing of our faith is intended to make us more steadfast. The rest of the book discusses different temptations that we face in our tests. Temptations At first, it seems unfortunate that God would let our faith be tested. We don’t particularly enjoy the process of being tested. We would much rather enjoy the benefits of the trial without the pain and suffering that goes into it. However, if we want to reach perfection, this is the only way to get there. Jesus himself had to learn obedience through what he suffered. But our suffering will look much different than his. Remember how Jesus was tested in the wilderness, and he passed every test. That is not what we do. We aren’t even close to that. Twenty plus years of rebellious living makes it hard to change over to a sin-free life. As we go through trials, we will inevitably face temptations. James addresses the different temptations we will meet in the body of his letter. Doubting God’s Goodness (1:6-18) The first temptation we face is how we look at God during the trials. James 1:13--15 (ESV) --- 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. If I sin, it is not because God tempted me. It is not anyone else’s fault but my own. We may be tempted to question God’s goodness for letting us go through the trial. But we need to grow and understand that our hearts want something that they should not. My heart needs to be transformed by the love of God as I understand what sin does to our relationship with him. This is a principle that James wants us to carry through the letter. All of our temptations are the result of our desires. Ignoring God’s Word (1:19-27) The second temptation we face is to see our failures and mistakes as we study God’s word and decide to do nothing to change. James 1:21--25 (ESV) --- 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. The word of God is supposed to provoke a change of who we are. As we study God’s word, we are looking into a mirror and finding out what is wrong with us. This tests our faith to see if we love ourselves more than we love who God wants us to become. Notice the words in verse 25, “The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres.” Is this the way we think of study? There are typically two responses when we see something we are doing wrong in the word of God. 1) Ignoring the mistakes I am making in my life. 2) Consider what we can do to grow out of making those mistakes. James calls this doing the word instead of just hearing the word. If we only hear the word, we are failing to be consistent with the religion we profess to have. Deceiving Ourselves About Sin (1:26-5:6) The last two verses of Chapter 1 launch us into the third section of the letter that touches deep inside our hearts. He says that we are deceiving ourselves and making our religion worthless. How? We keep on sinning with no regard to the two greatest commandments. These two commandments are equivalent to the whole law. All of these sins have to do with the two great commands of the Law and Jesus, to love God and our neighbor. Hating Our Neighbor (2:1-5:6) In Chapter 2, James starts giving us specific, practical examples of sins that are against our neighbor. We ignore the needs of others and the will of God as we focus on ourselves. James points us to the sin of partiality to show us how easy it is to have the wrong heart. We can do something as small as paying extra attention to those who will benefit us and paying no attention to those who give us no benefit. This is what a dead faith looks like. This should terrify us. Something as small as loving ourselves and pursuing our benefit can put us in the wrong if it leads us to mistreat the poor and lowly around us. In Chapter 3, James speaks against our speech. In verse 2, he says, “We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Then, he lays out all of the problems we face with our tongue. We simultaneously bless the Lord and curse our neighbor, who was made in God’s image with it. This reveals that we still have wickedness inside of us, and we need to learn to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We need wisdom from above to be pure and produce good fruits with our tongues. We need to overcome selfish ambition, bitter jealousy, and proud boasting so that we can love our neighbor as we should. In Chapters 4 and 5, he mentions other sins that we commit against our neighbors. We fight and quarrel with them, judge them as though we have a right to speak against anyone, and take advantage of people for financial gain. But the main focus of these chapters is on our failure to keep the first and greatest command. Loving This World (4:1-5:6) In Chapter 4, he transitions to talk about our love for this world. James 4:2--5 (ESV) --- 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? Again, James says that the significant problem is inside of us; our own desires are leading us away from God’s desires. We have a passion and drive for things that satisfy us in this life instead of the things that satisfy our creator. God has done and is doing everything for us to love him more than this world. Yet, we struggle to accept the things of God. What is the solution? Submission. James 4:6--10 (ESV) --- 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. We need to let go of ourselves and focus our lives around God. We must be a friend of God with faith in him, and reject the idea of being a friend of the world. Our love for this world blinds us to two very important truths. 1) We can die at any time. 2) Our treasures on earth will perish with us. We deceive ourselves into forgetting these truths, and we get so focused on this life that we willingly sin against our neighbors and God while deceiving ourselves to believe that everything is okay. Patience, Prayer, and Praise After James tells us about all of these trials, tests, and temptations that we go through, he transitions in 5:7 to talk about two solutions to all of our problems. We need to have the patience of a farmer who works and endures patiently with trust in God until he can enjoy the fruit of his labor. He also points to Job to remind us of the trials of Job’s life. Job endured so much pain and suffering to help him overcome his pride and to help him grow toward perfection. This is what we need in our lives. We need to grow toward the image of God so that we glorify his name. In verse 12, he points out what we might be tempted to do in our impatience. James 5:12 (ESV) --- 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. These are the words of Christ that we just studied last week. James wants us to focus on the purpose that God has in our lives and press on through the struggle and suffering with faithfulness. We don’t need to swear to God to get out of the pain. We need to learn patience. All of the pain and suffering will be taken away for all eternity if we remain faithful to the end. While we wait, we need to pray to God for help or sing his praise as we understand his grace toward us in helping us grow. God hears the prayers of the humble. If we confess our sins and strive to be like God, he will listen to our prayers and help us get through the trials of life with wisdom and understanding. James 5:16--18 (ESV) --- 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. The book ends with an encouragement to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another like Elijah. He started the book with a focus on prayer for wisdom to understand our trials, and he ends the book with a focus on prayer. But this prayer is for help as we try to lift one another up. He ends with a focus on loving our brothers and helping each other grow toward perfection. The letter ends abruptly with this final appeal. James 5:19--20 (ESV) --- 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Conclusion James is a terrific book for understanding what Christianity is really all about. We are choosing the more difficult path in life. It is the path of fulfilling the word of God by loving God more than anything else and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is the path of Christ. If we have a living faith, this is the path we want to take, no matter how difficult the trial is. We want to overcome temptations and desires to sin so that we can glorify God because we love him more than sin.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In this episode, Pastor Joseph Adenuga spoke strongly about the need for you to know that All Blessings Flow From God Therefore Humble Yourself.

In this episode, Pastor Joseph Adenuga spoke strongly about the need for you to know that All Blessings Flow From God Therefore Humble Yourself.

I’m sure it comes as no newsflash, but we are living in a war-torn world.   Think of the serious conflicts that rage globally. Hotspots include: Turkey and Syria, India and Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and the list goes on. Not only are there are conflicts between nations, there are conflicts within nations—places like Venezuela and Hong Kong. In fact, it might be easier to list the countries that don’t have war than those that do. Recently the Institute for Economics and Peace evaluated 162 countries. Only 11 were not involved in conflict of one kind or another.   It’s bad enough to have conflict within the league of nations, but how bad is it when it erupts in Little League?! On June 15, 2019, a baseball game for 7-year-olds in Lakewood, Colorado descended into chaos when parents disagreed over a decision made by the 13-year-old umpire.  Spectators captured video of a shocking brawl that ensued. Authorities ultimately issued citations for disorderly conduct to twelve adults. Crazy!   Let me get more personal still.  What about your family?  What about your own heart?  Are you at peace?   This coming Sunday at Istrouma we will focus on James 4:1-10. There God gives us a prescription for peace.  We’ll see the sources of conflicts, the seriousness of conflicts, and the solution to conflicts. Be sure to join us!   James: Practical Spirituality “A Prescription for Peace” James 4:1-10   The sources of sinful conflict   What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? (4:1a)   We are self-centered   We are self-sufficient     The seriousness of sinful conflict   You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a firend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (4:4-5).   We become adulterers to God   We become adversaries to God     The solution to sinful conflict   But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4:6-7).   God offers a present God orders a prescription

If you've been a Christian for very long, you know about Romans 12:2. You've heard sermons about renewing the mind, and yet many Christians continue to live out of their old mindset. It is so easy as a believer to default back to our old mind, but if we truly wish to stop living like a victim and live like a victor; if we truly desire to be more like Jesus we must lose our old minds and start living our lives with a renewed mind. The Bible has a lot to say about renewing the mind Take a moment and jot these verses down. They are great for your war room, to help you remember to live everyday with a renewed mind in Jesus Christ! I understand that you can’t expect a sinner to behave in any other way than how sinners behave. When those who claim to have experienced new birth through faith in Jesus Christ are behaving in the same way, I have some serious questions. I know how the argument goes: “I am not perfect, just forgiven.” “I am just a sinner, saved by grace.” “You may be born again but you sin a little bit every day.” How do these excuses for sinful behavior match with Scripture? What Does the Bible Say About Renewing the Mind? Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:15-17 NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus urging them “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV). The Apostle John taught “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:7-9 NKJV). It is amazing how the Apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, believed and taught being born again means you grow spiritually and develop new behavior patterns that are consistent with the new life of the Holy Spirit and the old sinful behavior is to put away. It is not a matter of legalism and a list of do’s and don’ts. It is a matter of losing your old mind and new life patterns flowing out of a renewed mind and the Holy Spirit within you, motivated by a deep love for God “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us… But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesian 5:1-5 NKJV). Believers are acting so much like the world because they haven’t lost their minds! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving us a review. This helps the Foundational podcast reach more listeners.  Be sure to tell a friend about the Foundational blog and podcast, and share with them about the free Bible Reading Challenge journal they will receive when they subscribe to receive my newsletter! More Articles On Renewing the Mind:  Learn how to renew your mind with The Freedom Series!   Discovering True Identity: A Believer's Position in Christ (Freedom Series) (Volume 1)Agape: Unveiling the Mask of Darkness, Setting the Captives Free (Freedom Series) (Volume 2)Charis: The Power of Grace (The Freedom Series Book 3)  

Sermon Notes • Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe • **1. CALL TO REPENTANCE WHAT ARE THESE TEACHINGS? ANGER LUST** In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is comparing God's own interpretation of the law against those of the religious establishment. Matthew 4:17 _From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” _ Isaiah 29:13 this people [draws] near with their mouth and [honors] me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, 
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. You can hear that. The prophets are drawing a contrast between religious formalism, and an actual act of humble submission before God. Ezekiel 11:19–20 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Jeremiah 32:37 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever Micah 6:6–8 With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? James 4:1–4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, 
the Lord would not have listened. Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. Ezekiel 11:19–20 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Kent Hughes Some time ago my wife and I were watching TV. In the middle of a program she stepped out for a moment, and when she returned, she asked what had transpired. I responded, “A worthless dope peddler was leading the two young boys astray.” My wife’s response brought me up short. “No one is worthless!” she said. And she is absolutely right. My sentiment was wrong theologically, emotionally, and socially. God loves everyone, even the debased sinner!

Back to God Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, […] The post Back to God appeared first on Power of the Cross Radio | Lighthouse Church.

Summary - Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 3:13-4:10

" I used to be a big time baseball card fan and looking through these baseball cards reminds me of all my childhood heroes. They even have a Mickey Mantle Baseball card here. Remember Babe Ruth and Roger Mirrors, Willie Mays? You want to be a winner, man. Everybody wants to be a winner." Family Discussions: Why does everybody love a winner? How do you draw near to God? How do you resist the devil? What is God like as the coach of a winning team? What is Satan like as the coach of a losing team? Transcription: 00:13 You know, I used to be a big time baseball card fan and looking through these baseball cards reminds me of all my childhood heroes. They even have a Mickey Mantle Baseball card here. Remember Babe Ruth and Roger Mirrors, Willie Mays? You want to be a winner, man. Everybody wants to be a winner. Let me read you about a winter today and how to be a winner for life. Listen to this. In James Chapter four, we'll start in verse four. It says this, "you adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility towards God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the scripture speaks to no purpose? He jealously desires the spirit, which he is made to dwell in us, but he gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." 01:20 That's one of the greatest promises in the Bible. Man, Tiger Woods, you know, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Albert Pujols, you name it, man. Baseball cards and basketball cards. The old ones are getting more valuable every single year. I carry Willie Mays baseball card actually in my hip pocket. I carry it every day because Willie Mays never stopped swinging the bat and he never stopped trying. And then he became one of the greatest of all time. You know, they tell me that some Mickey Mantle baseball cards are worth hundreds of dollars. You know, an autograph from one of the Old Dallas cowboys greats like Roger Staubach or one of the great Steeler greats like, you know, Sam Bradshaw. Who will ever forget Joe Montana? They bring in huge dollars in football crowds. 02:12 You know, at the peak of Michael Jordan's success years ago, he was the most popular man in America to kids. Everybody loves a winner. You know, wise people always choose to be on the winning side in a game or in a war? You want a winner? Hey, God's a winner! He's always going to be the winner. He always coaches the winning team. He never loses. Man, Satan is a loser. He is losing today and he's gonna lose at the end. He will be ultimately defeated. And so he gives temporary highs and so he gives temporary things.You know it just so he can get your lasting destruction on the other side. God gives lasting happiness through helping you deny those temporary kicks and to recognize counterfeit happiness. You know, and you can choose God's team in every decision you make by drawing near to him as a baby kangaroo rest securely in the pouch of his mom. You can stay off the team by denying Satan's luring temptations. Resist the Devil James says, and he will flee from you and draw near to God and he will draw near to you 03:38 For the questions today, to this great word or this. Why does everybody love a winner? And specifically how do you draw near to God? How do you resist the devil? You know, what is God like as the coach of a winning team? And what is Satan like as the coach of a losing team? And the thought for the day is this, you know as parents and as children, man, let's point out to each other today in a loving way. You know, the things that surround us, that are of God and the things that are of Satan, and let's make each other in this home winners. Let's make this home a place where winners are born and where winners go out each day.

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? - James 4:1-5

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:1–6)

FALSE APOSTLE JENNINGS DENY THE ONLY SON OF GOD THEREFORE YOU FOLLOWERS HAVE NO LIFE AFTER DEATH those​​ of you who are​ seeking a deeper understanding concerning the word welcome to (MountZionChurch The Apostle Doctrine of God). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pastorjohnmcgregor/support

Subscribe to the podcast and notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/Quran translation on iOS:https://apple.co/2C1YGXjAdditional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.orgContact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) comThe one sin that God will not forgive if maintained until death [4:48] GOD does not forgive idolatry, but He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who sets up idols beside GOD, has forged a horrendous offense. Do not divide  [30:31] You shall submit to Him, reverence Him, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and—whatever you do—do not ever fall into idol worship. [30:32] like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what they have. [42:13] He decreed for you the same religion decreed for Noah, and what we inspired to you, and what we decreed for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: "You shall uphold this one religion, and do not divide it." The idol worshipers will greatly resent what you invite them to do. GOD redeems to Himself whomever He wills; He guides to Himself only those who totally submit. Do Not Dismiss the Believers [6:52] And do not dismiss those who implore their Lord day and night, devoting themselves to Him alone. You are not responsible for their reckoning, nor are they responsible for your reckoning. If you dismiss them, you will be a transgressor. [4:94] O you who believe, if you strike in the cause of GOD, you shall be absolutely sure. Do not say to one who offers you peace, "You are not a believer," seeking the spoils of this world. For GOD possesses infinite spoils. Remember that you used to be like them, and GOD blessed you. Therefore, you shall be absolutely sure (before you strike). GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do. [60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors. [5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers. The idol worshipers must be the ones to turn away - the believers try to stay together. We invite [16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones. [3:64] Say, "O followers of the scripture, let us come to a logical agreement between us and you: that we shall not worship except GOD; that we never set up any idols besides Him, nor set up any human beings as lords beside GOD." If they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we are submitters.” [3:23] Have you noted those who were given part of the scripture, and how they are invited to uphold this scripture of GOD, and apply it to their own lives, then some of them turn away in aversion?  [2:136] Say, "We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters." [2:137] If they believe as you do, then they are guided. But if they turn away, then they are in opposition. GOD will spare you their opposition; He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. [2:138] Such is GOD's system, and whose system is better than GOD's? "Him alone we worship.” [41:33] Who can utter better words than one who invites to GOD, works righteousness, and says, "I am one of the submitters"? [41:34] Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. [41:35] None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.[41:36] When the devil whispers an idea to you, you shall seek refuge in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. Why so much fragmentation and infighting in communities  If I don’t agree with someone on everything then I reject them completely  Only God Can Guide [28:56] You cannot guide the ones you love. GOD is the only One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His knowledge of those who deserve the guidance. [5:105] O you who believe, you should worry only about your own necks. If the others go astray, they cannot hurt you, as long as you are guided. To GOD is your ultimate destiny, all of you, then He will inform you of everything you had done. [40:28] A believing man among Pharaoh's people, who was concealing his belief, said, "How can you kill a man just for saying, 'My Lord is GOD,' and he has shown you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is a liar, that is his problem, and if he is truthful, you benefit from his promises. Surely, GOD does not guide any transgressor, liar. Forcing our opinion on others [3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses—which constitute the essence of the scripture—as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create الْفِتْنَةِ [l-fit’nati] (confusion / division / disputes), and to extricate a تَأْوِيلِهِ [tawīlahu] (certain meaning  interpretation / determination). None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, "We believe in this—all of it comes from our Lord." Only those who possess intelligence will take heed. [10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers? How to Deal With the Hypocrites  [4:88] Why should you divide yourselves into two groups regarding hypocrites (among you)? GOD is the one who condemned them because of their own behavior. Do you want to guide those who are sent astray by GOD? Whomever GOD sends astray, you can never find a way to guide them. [4:89] They wish that you disbelieve as they have disbelieved, then you become equal. Do not consider them friends, unless they mobilize along with you in the cause of GOD. If they turn against you, you shall fight them, and you may kill them when you encounter them in war. You shall not accept them as friends, or allies. "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong." Frederick Douglass Example of Aaron and Moses [20:92] (Moses) said, "O Aaron, what is it that prevented you, when you saw them go astray, [20:93] "from following my orders? Have you rebelled against me?" [20:94] He said, "O son of my mother, do not pull me by my beard and my head. I was afraid that you might say, 'You have divided the Children of Israel, and disobeyed my orders.’ " [7:150] When Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, he said, "What a terrible thing you have done in my absence! Could you not wait for the commandments of your Lord?" He threw down the tablets, and took hold of his brother's head, pulling him towards himself. (Aaron) said, "Son of my mother, the people took advantage of my weakness, and almost killed me. Let not my enemies rejoice, and do not count me with the transgressing people." [20:95] He said, "What is the matter with you, O Samarian?" [20:96] He said, "I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the place where the messenger stood, and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do."* Footnote [20:97] He said, "Then go, and, throughout your life, do not even come close. You have an appointed time (for your final judgment) that you can never evade. Look at your god that you used to worship; we will burn it and throw it into the sea, to stay down there forever." Sura 49 is entitled Al-Hujurãt (The Walls) Investigate Rumors Before Believing Them [49:6] O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done. Reconcile The Believers [49:9] If two groups of believers fought with each other, you shall reconcile them. If one group aggresses against the other, you shall fight the aggressing group until they submit to GOD's command. Once they submit, you shall reconcile the two groups equitably. You shall maintain justice; GOD loves those who are just. The Real Family [49:10] The believers are members of one family; you shall keep the peace within your family and reverence GOD, that you may attain mercy. Believers Set the Example [49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors. Suspicion Is Sinful [49:12] O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful. The Only Criterion For Distinguishing Among The People [49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant. Muslim vs Mu'men [49:14] The Arabs said, "We are Mu'mens (believers)." Say, "You have not believed; what you should say is, 'We are Muslims (submitters),' until belief is established in your hearts." If you obey GOD and His messenger, He will not put any of your works to waste. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. [49:15] Mu'mens (believers) are those who believe in GOD and His messenger, then attain the status of having no doubt whatsoever, and strive with their money and their lives in the cause of GOD. These are the truthful ones. [49:16] Say, "Are you informing GOD about your religion? GOD knows everything in the heavens and the earth. GOD is Omniscient.” James 4 Submit Yourselves to God  1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  4 You unfaithful people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says in vain that the spirit that dwells in us longs jealously?  6 Greater however He gives grace.  That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud, however to the humble He gives grace.”[Proverbs 3:34]  7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and have purified hearts, you double-minded. 9 Endure hardship, feel guilt and lament. Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.  11 Do not slander (backbite) one another, brothers. Anyone who slanders (backbites) his brother or judges (decides) a brother of his then is slandering the law and decides the law. Then however the law you decide you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, One who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? [55:7] He constructed the sky and established the law. [55:8] You shall not transgress the law. [55:9] You shall establish justice; do not violate the law. All Believers Constitute the One Acceptable Religion As expected from the Creator's final message, one of the prominent themes in the Quran is the call for unity among all believers, and the repeated prohibition of making any distinction among God's messengers. If the object of worship is one and the same, there will be absolute unity among all believers. It is the human factor, i.e., devotion and prejudice to such powerless humans as Jesus, Muhammad, and the saints that causes division, hatred, and bitter wars among the misguided believers. A guided believer is devoted to God ALONE, and rejoices in seeing any other believer who is devoted to God ALONE, regardless of the name such a believer calls his or her religion. [2:62; 5:69] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in God, (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [5:48] Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD's revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny - all of you - then He will inform you of everything you had disputed. It is wrong to say that we cannot judge. By God we can judge. The Quran is the statute book it is the book of law by which we judge. [4:105] We have sent down to you the scripture, truthfully, in order to judge among the people in accordance with what GOD has shown you. You shall not side with the betrayers. We try our best to judge by the laws of the Quran [39:46] Proclaim: "Our god, Initiator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of all secrets and declarations, You are the only One who judges among Your servants regarding their disputes.” We judge when it affects our belief and liberty  Do not marry idol worshipers  [2:221] Do not marry idolatresses unless they believe; a believing woman is better than an idolatress, even if you like her. Nor shall you give your daughters in marriage to idolatrous men, unless they believe. A believing man is better than an idolater, even if you like him. These invite to Hell, while GOD invites to Paradise and forgiveness, as He wills. He clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may take heed. Who we are not to befriend [60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable. [60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors. Penguin Unity   When bellies full become unappreciative  No food one problem lots of food many problems  Devil loves animosity and disputes can claim both parties by causing division Matthew 12:22-28 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. [17:53] Tell My servants to treat each other in the best possible manner, for the devil will always try to drive a wedge among them. Surely, the devil is man's most ardent enemy. [3:103] You shall hold fast to the rope of GOD, all of you, and do not be divided. Recall GOD's blessings upon you - you used to be enemies and He reconciled your hearts. By His grace, you became brethren. You were at the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you therefrom. GOD thus explains His revelations for you, that you may be guided. [3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners. [3:105] Do not be like those who became divided and disputed, despite the clear proofs that were given to them. For these have incurred a terrible retribution.

“Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4 NIV The world has so many options to choose from and they all look like the right way because society says so, yeah it looks fun and feels right plus everyone else is doing it — but the truth is it’s damaging you and the future that God has for you, Jesus knows best for us and we may not understand now why He tells us not to do certain things but later we will see that it was only to protect us and keep up on the right track, why wait when you can save yourself from destruction, the time is now. You decide and be sure to meditate on “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV Love ya! & see you next week at 8:00AM! Don’t forget to follow our Instagram page @keepyourfaithpod and email us questions, topic suggestions, testimonials, feedback and prayer request: keepyourfaithpod@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/keepyourfaith/support

James 4:4 – You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. God loves the world, and wants us to enjoy it. But when he sent his Son into the world, people killed him, and still rebel against him. When Christians are too at home in the world they become worldly, and come under God’s rebuke. The problem with worldliness is that it happens so gradually that we don’t perceive the danger—like a boat with a slow leak. The boat belongs in the water, but if enough water gets in the boat, it’ll sink to the bottom. Christians are a witness in the world, but if the world fills up the hearts of Christians, they’ll sink, as well. Paul wrote to Timothy about a follower of the Lord who fell away from faith. He said, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas had the privilege of working with one of the greatest followers of Christ in history. But he loved the world so much that he walked away from Paul. Worldliness is any affection for this world that reduces our affection for the world to come. If we hope to get to heaven, we should throw out everything that’s pulling us down.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? -James 3:13- 4:12

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? -James 3:13- 4:12

James 4:1–10 Warning Against Worldliness [1] What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? [2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)

Hope Fellowship Church Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2018 ========== James:Worldliness / Godliness James is a book of timeless wisdom for practical living. It tackles real issues and struggles, that we will face in life, like temptation, wisdom, self-control, anger, arrogance, suffering, and so much more. James challenges our character and calls us to action directed by our faith. James takes principles and makes them practical. ========== James 4:1-4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 1. Conflict is not external but rather internal. Our lives tend to grow in one of two ways or a combination of both. · By the grace of God, we’re aware of the goodness of God in our lives. · We see all the blessings of our lives as something we’re entitled to. When lacking gratitude, we tend to grow in entitlement and contempt. James 4:5-6 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 2. The Jealousy of God and a greater volume of Grace. Romans 5:20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 3. How are we to respond to God’s greater volume of Grace? · We resist the Devil. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. · We pursue God. · We're serious about sin. James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 4. We become an expert, not in the weaknesses of our brothers/sisters but their strengths. [Image] Stay up to date on Hope events! https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1538745271068.jpg Generosity You can give online by clicking the link below. We thank you so much for all of your generosity! http://www.hopeinanderson.com/generosity Thanks for Joining Us! Thanks for being with us this week. To find out more about Hope, check out our website. http://www.hopeinanderson.com

Good morning! If you are visiting with us today, I want to welcome you once again to Grace Bible Fellowship Church. It’s an honor to be worshiping with you today. We are back in First John where John is going to highlight what it means to be discerning. He told us at the end of chapter three that we can be assured of our salvation, and today he is going to help us to be discerning about teachers we listen to as well as provide some practical tests for us. In 1 John 4:1-6, John says… 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. INTRODUCTION Have you ever been tricked or fooled by someone or something? You thought it was true or real but you found out it wasn’t. That was the case for many who thought they were going to strike it rich during the California Gold Rush. During the gold rush of the mid-1800s, the word “Eureka!” was an exclamation used by many who had struck it rich. Eureka means “I have found it!” This word summed up every treasure hunter’s dream and expressed the thrill of striking real pay dirt. The term eureka also meant instant riches, early retirement, and a life of carefree ease. However, many prospectors quickly learned that not everything that appeared to be gold actually was. They were fooled! Some riverbeds and rock quarries sparkled with golden specks that seemed like a eureka moment. However, it was nothing more than iron pyrite, commonly known as “fool’s gold.” Miners had to be very discerning and careful to distinguish this fool’s gold from the real thing. Most experienced miners could usually distinguish pyrite from gold simply by looking at it. However, in some cases, the distinction was not quite so clear. As a result, they developed tests to discern genuine gold from fool’s gold. One test involved biting the rock in question since real gold is softer than the human tooth whereas fool’s gold is harder. That must have resulted in a lot of broken teeth for those gold miners. There were other tests developed, however the ultimate point is miners had to rely on these test to authenticate real gold from fake gold. Just looking at it wasn’t enough. Spiritually speaking, Christians often find themselves in a similar position to these gold miners. When confronted with various doctrines and religious teachings, all of which claim to be true and seem to have a bit of truth sprinkled in, believers must be able to discern those that are biblically sound from those that are not. Let’s face it, just because something glitters doesn’t mean it’s good. Christians need to be equally wary of spiritual “fool’s gold.” We must not accept something as true without first testing it to see if it meets God’s standard. If it fails the test, Christians should discard it as false and warn others about it. But if it meets the test in keeping with the truth of God’s Word, believers can embrace it and endorse it wholeheartedly. John is saying here in this passage to be discerning and test what we see and hear. So John tells us that we need to first… LEARN TO LIVE DISCERNINGLY Spiritual “fool’s gold” and “false teachers” are nothing new. In fact, the old and new testaments are filled with warnings about false teachers: Isaiah 8:19 When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” We are also warned about the counterfeit doctrines that these false teachers spread. In 1 Timothy chapter one, Paul tells young Timothy: 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. And 2 Peter chapter two says: 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Therefore, we must be discerning or, as Ephesians 4:14 says, we will be “children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” First Thessalonians 5:21-22 says that it is crucial that we “examine everything carefully” in order to “hold fast to that which is good [and] abstain from every form of evil.” Otherwise, we increase our vulnerability to Satan’s deceptive attacks and manipulative perversions. Let’s take a look at Satan’s approach. Satan’s basic strategy for attacking truth was first highlighted in the Garden of Eden. The first thing he tried was he cast doubt on what God had said about eating the fruit of the tree of life when he said, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat?’” If Satan can get you to just start questioning what God has said, you have opened the door for further criticism. Secondly, Satan denied outright what God had said to Adam when he said, “You surely will not die!” Now Satan calls God a liar! That is truly an insane step to take but Satan is desperate to take everyone down with him. And finally, he distorted what God had specifically told Adam when he said, “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan and his demonic forces have used this same approach of casting doubt, outright denial and distortion of truth as they have waged a relentless, non-stop campaign against the truth of God’s Word and those who are followers of Jesus Christ. Scripture contains many references to the long struggle for knowing, upholding, and obeying the truth. In the old testament, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, and the prophets continually called God’s people back to the truth from false doctrine and idolatry. And in the new testament, Jesus Himself warned of false prophets as did Paul, John, and Jude. Today, there are many so-called pastors, teachers and evangelists that continue spewing false and perverted doctrine in an attempt to destroy you. Just like in the Garden of Eden, the source of error can always be traced back to satanic roots. That is why Paul told Timothy: 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron. Let’s make it really clear: Any ideology, philosophy, opinion, or religion other than God’s truth fits into Satan’s agenda. That is why it is so important for us to recognize the difference. If we fail to be discerning, we will not only be confused and unable to discern error for ourselves, we will also be unable to accurately convey the truth to others. So we must do three things, 1) guard the truth by knowing it, 2) hold it as a firm conviction, and 3) distinguish it from what is false. By being faithful to sound doctrine, we will be able to teach others. John knew that his readers were under attack from false teachers so he commanded them to test those who claim to teach the truth. He gave them reasons why such testing is crucial and guidelines for how it should be conducted. So John is going to lay out a strategy that all Christians can use for distinguishing between God’s true spiritual riches and Satan’s “fool’s gold.” John starts by saying that there is… A COMMAND TO TEST 1 John 4:1a Beloved, do not believe every spirit… John just discussed the abiding work of the Holy Spirit in true believers at the end of chapter three, now he transitions to the work of unholy, evil spirits in false teachers and their false teachings. Because these supernatural spirits are experts in deception, Christians must be careful to closely examine every spiritual message they encounter. As I mentioned earlier, 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22, tells us to, “...examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” John is literally saying to “stop believing” false doctrines. Due to the present tense of the word “believe,” John’s phrasing indicates that the action is already under way and that believers are to stop believing these spirits. If any of his readers were accepting the message of false teachers, they were to stop doing so immediately. They needed to exercise some biblical discernment just like the Bereans of whom Luke wrote in Acts 17:11 when he said, “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Unbelievers, whose understanding has been darkened according to Ephesians 4:18, have no basis on which to evaluate false teachings that claim divine origin. According to 1 Corinthians 2:14, “…a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” Therefore, they are highly susceptible to false doctrine and can easily be led astray into error. But believers, who have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit living within them, must test what they hear with what they know to be true, as revealed in God’s Word. John tells us there is a commandment to be discerning and test every spirit and now he says… THERE IS A REASON TO TEST 1 John 4:1b …but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. The term translated “test” is used to refer to a metallurgist’s assaying of metals to test their purity and value. Since John uses the present tense of the term “test” it indicates that believers are to continually test the spirits “to see whether they are from God.” Christians are to continually evaluate what they see, hear, and read to determine if it originated from the Spirit of God or, alternatively, from Satan. Of course the only reliable way to test any teaching is to measure it against what God has revealed in His infallible, written Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. As the perfect standard of truth, the Word of God provides believers with their primary defense against error. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God’s Word is able to divide truth from lies and to know the reality of what is going on in our hearts. John says there are not just a few false prophets, he says “many false prophets have gone out into the world.” We need to realize that Satan does not merely want to oppose the church, he wants to deceive and destroy every single person he can. Satan, with his deceitful schemes, with support from his demons, has infiltrated denominations, institutions, churches, schools, and organizations, resulting in compromise and ultimately error. There are many false prophets that Satan is using to deceive those inside and outside church. Satan not only develops lies that directly deny biblical truth, but he is also very subtle, often mixing some truth with some error. After all, some truth mixed with error is usually far more effective and far more destructive than a direct contradiction of the truth. Those who believe everything they read from the Christian bookstore or what they hear on Christian radio or what they see on Christian television shows are prime targets for doctrinal deception. Think about it for a minute, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” So Satan masquerades his lies as truth. He does not have to always wage war openly against the truth. He is much more likely to attack the truth by infiltrating the church with subtle error. He uses the “Trojan Horse” approach by placing his false teachers in the church where they can selectively and secretly introduce destructive heresies. Satan puts his lies in the mouth of someone who claims to speak truth from God’s Word. That way, Satan disguises error as truth and makes evil look like it is good. For this reason, Jesus Himself warned of false prophets in Matthew 7 where He says: Matthew 7:15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. Christians who ignore the Lord’s warning are living a very risky life. It is absolutely imperative that believers practice biblical discernment. John now goes on to highlight the… GUIDELINES ON HOW TO TEST 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. John sets forth three familiar tests for determining whether a teacher and his message reflect the Spirit of God or the spirit of Satan. Here are the three tests: 1) Does the person confess Jesus Christ is from God? 2) Does the person manifest evidence of the fruit of righteousness? And lastly, 3) Is the person committed to the Word of God? Therefore, true teachers are characterized by a confession that Jesus Christ is from God and is God, a possession of a righteous life, and a profession that God’s Word is the divine law. Those who fail to exhibit these traits prove that they are not from God. Let’s take the first test… CONFESSION OF JESUS CHRIST AS GOD 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. The first test is a theological test although more specifically it is a Christological test. The question is, “Does this person confess and teach that Jesus Christ is from God?” The word “confesses” in this passage means “to say the same thing.” Every teacher who agrees with scripture that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, confesses a truth taught by the Holy Spirit—that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. If you will recall, John is just echoing a very clear Christological statement that he made when he opened this letter. All the way back in 1 John 1:1-3, he said: 1 John 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came from God the Father as the living Word of God who became flesh: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus is one with the Father and is manifested to us as the second person of the Trinity – the Son of God. According to God’s plan, Jesus came in the flesh to die a substitutionary death for all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. John continues to emphasize the deity of Christ and teaches that no one can honor the Father without honoring the Son because they are one. For an individual to be saved, one must believe that Jesus is eternal deity who became a man. Jesus is not a created being! However, many ancient false teachers and some current day religions such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is just a man which implies he was created and specifically denies that He is God. Even for those who have an intellectual belief of the truth that Jesus is God, it will not save them. James 2:19 says that even the demons believe and shutter. To be saved one must acknowledge Jesus as Lord. According to Romans chapter 10: Romans 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. A person’s understanding and acceptance of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is the ultimate litmus test of the legitimacy of his professed faith. In today’s politically correct world it is becoming increasingly popular to affirm that all monotheistic religions worship the same God. But the fact is, they do not! Jesus made this point very clear in Luke 10:16 when He said, “The one who listens to you (referring to the disciples) listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” Jesus also said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Every spirit propagating any religion or philosophy that does not confess Jesus, is absolutely not from God. This type of teaching is both erroneous, heretical and ultimately a rejection of Christ. John emphasizes the spirit of the antichrist several times through this epistle. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and 8-9, all believers have heard that the final Antichrist is coming, but John is telling us that the spirit of the antichrist is already in the world. This spirit of the antichrist is evident in false religions and their deviant doctrine. The true nature of Jesus Christ is predictably denied by false teachers and the religious systems they promote. However, those teachers who rightly understand Jesus Christ as God and portray Him and His work on the Cross prove they possess the Spirit of truth. The second test for determining whether a teacher and his message reflect the Spirit of God or the spirit of Satan is whether the person is… MANIFESTING EVIDENCE OF A RIGHTEOUS GOD-LIKE LIFE 1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. When Jesus came to earth, God became a partaker of human nature. Philippians 2:7-8 says “but [He] emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Although God became a partaker of human nature through incarnation, it is through salvation that believers become partakers of the divine nature. According to 2 Peter 1:4, Peter says, “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” In John’s statement where he says, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world,” he is primarily affirming the believer’s security against the false teachers. Peter highlights that all true Christians possess an incorruptible seed of eternal life that means no satanic deception can take them out of God’s saving hand. Those who have been truly born again have been given a supernatural insight into the Truth and a discernment that protects them from false doctrine and those who teach it. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul summaries this point very well when he says: 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. Believers may be unsure of some peripheral matters but should never be unsure about the foundational truths of the gospel, such as the person and work of Jesus Christ. True believers will not be fooled when false teachers invariably attempt to change the fundamental work of Christ by advocating some form of salvation by works or any other means to be reconciled to God. Contrary to God’s Word, false teachers and their followers cling to worldly ideas. They do this because “they are from the world; therefore, they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.” Although it is not always obvious, false teachers demonstrate that they are anything but genuine servants of Christ through what they say and how they live. On the other hand, true believers, resist worldly ideas because they have overcome the world. The last test for determining if a teacher and his message reflect the Spirit of God or the spirit of Satan is whether there is a … TRUE PROFESSION OF THE DIVINE LAW 1 John 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. In contrast to the false teachers, Truth teachers proclaim God’s revealed Word as the source of all truth. All Truth teachers accurately proclaim the Word of God, and the person who knows God listens to these true teachers. However, anyone who is not from God does not listen to their teachings. The Canon, comprising both the old and new testaments, is therefore the sole authority by which Christians must test all spiritual teachings. God’s Word is absolutely reliable and more sure than human experiences or senses. It is trustworthy in every jot and tittle. It is unchanging and eternal. In fact, in Matthew 24:34, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” According to John 17:17, it is the truth standard and by that standard, along with the help of the Holy Spirit, believers know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. APPLICATION/CLOSING Today, John has reminded us that we are commanded to live discerning lives and to test all things we see and hear against the truth of Scripture. We are to also test those who claim to be true teachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to test them to see if they profess Jesus Christ is God incarnate in the flesh and that God the Father sent Him to become Savior. We are to test them to see if these teachers manifest a righteous, God-like life. And lastly we are test them to see if they proclaim God’s Word as the divine law. In a world predominantly infiltrated with demonic false teaching, believers must constantly test the spirits, the false teachings of others, to discern what is from God and what is not. Using the tests that John has outlined here, we can discern true spiritual gems from doctrinal “fool’s gold.” Like the noble Bereans, we are called to compare every spiritual message we encounter to the revealed standard of Scripture. Only then can we obey Jude’s admonition in verse 3 to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” By faithfully guarding the truth in the present, believers will preserve it both for themselves and for future generations. John says… 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Let’s pray.

A denial of the eternal importance of living righteously is running rampant in many churches, but don’t be fooled! In these podcasts, we look at these truths with the Scripture. We give you many verses so you will not be deceived and drink the false “grace” Kool-Aid! Paul taught the exact opposite of what is heard in the hyper and pseudo grace books and by the ministers that promote it, and there are a smorgasbord of them! Many deny the words of Jesus, and some reject the doctrine of repentance from dead works as a foundational teaching of the church (Hebrews 6:1. 2) Some deny eternal judgment, and others reject the book of Revelation. Others think they are strictly living by Paul’s epistles, but they are not. They actually read only selected verses that appear to support their crazy and unsubstantiated doctrines, but worse than that, they reinterpret them in the light of their wrong ideas about grace. Repentance, confession of sins, and walking in holiness and righteousness are NEW TESTAMENT teachings, and never considered “works of the law” or as being “in the flesh” as many in the hyper-grace movement consider them.    Should we go on sinning because we are under grace?   What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow? … What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under [God’s] grace? Certainly not! (Romans 6:1, 15 Amplified Bible)  How should we live under grace? Again, Paul taught us exactly how we should live under grace.  That is the way we should live, because [For] God’s grace that can save everyone has ·come [appeared; been revealed]. It ·teaches [trains; disciplines] us to ·turn away from [reject; deny] ungodly living and ·the evil things the world wants to do [or worldly desires; sinful pleasures]. Instead, that grace teaches us to live in the present age in a ·wise [self-controlled] and ·right [upright; just] way and in a ·way that shows we serve God [godly manner](Titus 2:11, 12 Expanded Bible).  Many deny the significance of godly and righteous living, and some churches reject it vehemently even with verses like the above. Yet, they have no answer for the numerous Scriptures in the NEW Testament that command godliness, holiness, and living in righteousness. They have no answer for the numerous verses in Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John that insist Christians MUST live in godly and righteous behavior. Here is one good example out of many verses that teach that responsibility of the believer to live holy and righteous before God: Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:13-19 NASB).  Some have embraced the sinful ways of the world and downplayed the sins of homosexuality and lesbianism, and some churches have accepted same-sex marriage. They are like Sodom and Gomorrah. Some refer to a Christian man and woman sharing the same bed (living together without marriage) as a “problem” or something unimportant instead of calling it what it is: sin, sexual immorality, or fornication! The “s” word (sin) is almost forbidden in some churches. The same can be said about living in self-control and any teaching about eternal judgment of the wicked in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:7). Many will not address these issues.  It's time to check up on ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). We should judge ourselves so that we are not judged (1 Corinthians 11:31). This message goes down a path less traveled by modern churchianity. This is the path of the Lord, though unconventional, and we are doing our part to make His paths straight. Be blessed with Part 7!  Get A Call to Return: Restoring The Roots of Our Relationship With Jesus as an ebook, softcover, or hardcover book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook, Westbow Press, or order it through your favorite bookstore. From the Back Cover: A Call to Return—Restoring the Roots of Our Relationship with Jesus explores the depths of the Scriptures to excavate, refine, and lift up its words of power, revealing deep truths that will radically change the lives of believers. By tapping into this rich vein of biblical insight, Dan Alan Rodriguez offers Christians the insights to enable them to set out upon paths of discipleship that follow Jesus closely and that lead to profound experiences of His presence and power. Drawing upon the author’s study of first-century Judaism and Christianity and resting upon a diverse array of sources steeped in the foundational texts of these traditions, the twelve chapters of A Call to Return address a series of interlocking topics: a prophetic call to return; the revival of lawlessness; the revival, purpose, and preexistence of God’s commandments; the church’s commandments and their connections to faith, grace, and good works; the association of works of the law to Jewish tradition and ceremony; holiness; the fear of the Lord; each believer as a temple of the holy; and the meaning of loving the Lord Jesus. If you have a sense that Jesus’s message and ministry are calling you to embark upon a walk with Him that might take you away from all in Christianity that requires no accountability or responsibility before God, then A Call to Return—Restoring the Roots of Our Relationship with Jesus is the right book for you to read. It will give you the keys for understanding and responding to the Lord’s call to return to Him and to follow where He leads. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:29 NASB). The PDF of the entire book is free of charge! Use this link to go to the page and download it. Be mightily blessed!   Documento portátil (PDF) es completamente gratis.     More books have been published and they will become available again in the process of time.  

James 4:1-10 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.” -G.K. Chesterton

You are valued God is jealous for you! You are Desired! Have you committed adultery in your relationship with God? Have you turned your back on Him for other things? He wants that relationship with us! James 4:4-5 "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" #jealous #God #jesuschrist #bible #dailydevotional #desired #valued #relationship https://www.dailychristianpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/dailychristianpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/dailychristianpodcast/

On the 50th Anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Jim Aallis gathered with other faith leaders on the National Mall in Washington DC to give this call to action:"Let us confess our sins, repent of them, and turn this nation around."In recalling the life of Rev. King, we must remember that he was not just a civil rights leader; first and foremost King was a faith leader. As people of faith we must make an act of confession. Confession is telling the truth to God and the world about ourselves. Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Without confession to the sin of white racism, white supremacy, white privilege, people who call themselves white Christians will never be free — free from the bondage of a lie, a myth, an ideology, and an idol.White racism is our great sin, that it is America's original sin — foundational to our country. But we have yet to fully name it as the great and founding sin that white supremacy is. A group of elder church leaders just named it in a declaration called “ Reclaiming Jesus” by saying this: “We believe each human being is made in God's image and likeness. Racial bigotry is a brutal denial of the image of God … Therefore we reject the resurgence of white nationalism and racism on many fronts, including the highest levels of political leadership.”It is time to apply our theology to our public life.

James 4:1-121 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?SERMON NOTES

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. James 4:1-12 (ESV) 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbour? Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

Fr. Patrick shares different stories from the bible where the enemy is hidden among the faithful. “Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4

Fr. Patrick shares different stories from the bible where the enemy is hidden among the faithful. “Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4

Neutrality is a myth. But the world wants you to believe the lie that there is middle ground, a safe zone, a compromise. Tomato Tomato - But that’s all a lie and today we are going to unravel this myth and talk about three essential things in developing a biblical worldview.     HOSPITALITEA is in the HOUSE She Proves Faithful is excited to offer two organic loose leaf tea blends! These are perfect to brew up for friends that come for a visit, or to give as gifts, or to enjoy as you read the Word of God. As a thank you for listening to the SPF Podcast, I'm offering 10% off with the code SPFPODCAST at check out. Order quick! Inventory is limited :)  Go to sheprovesfaithful.com/shop Stay Well Tea Blend - sheprovesfaithful.com/shop/staywell Neutrality is a Myth There is no one neutral. We know this because Jesus says in Matthew 12:30, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” James 4:4 says, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." There is a for God and against God. There is fearing the Lord and not fearing the Lord. Everyone has a worldview Everyone has a worldview - it’s the lens through which we interpret and understand the world and our lives; it’s the reason behind what we do; it’s our belief system that is they why behind our what. Our worldview is either biblical or worldly. The Worldly Worldview rooted in Secular humanism: secular humanism is by definition "an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems." (merrium webster dictionary) Secular Humanism seen in the Bible - Romans 1:18-32 We need to heed Colossians 2:6-8: "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. We are either rooted in Christ or rooted in empty deceit and human tradition." Three Essential Truths to Develop a Biblical Worldview It starts with knowing God. God is Creator - Genesis 1,2, Isaiah 40, Romans 1 God is Most High - Romans 11 God is the Divine Providence - Eccl 3:14 Write those three beliefs out - teach them to yourself - and to your children. Find verses that correspond with them. They are foundational to our worldview. From those truths found in scripture will begin to flow the reason for the life we live and have implications on ETERNITY. Voddie Baucham said in regards to worldview: "Scripture overrides and over arches everything unless we are actively intent on conforming our worldview to Scripture, what happens is we allow scripture to be conformed by our worldview. and we re-read things and try to make them fit instead of asking ourselves “why am I committed to this position in the first place? what is it that’s making me committed to this position in the first place?” Recommended Resources   Total Truth - Nancy Pearcy An incredible tool in understanding and developing the Biblical Worldview. Total Truth (Study Guide Edition): Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity $12.57 By Nancy Pearcey   Voddie Bauchum Sermons on Worldview: Sermon Audio Biblical Worldview Sermon Audio The God Who Created Everything The Gospel Centered Life - Thune / Walker This is my favorite study to help develop our foundational beliefs about sin, repentance, Jesus and purpose. I love it. The Gospel-Centered Life: Study Guide with Leader's Notes $13.12 By Robert H. Thune, Will Walker      

Episode 40 - Week of 12/18/16: Weekly Bible Reading with Kwas invites all to join as one to hear selections of the Word of God. A thoughtful reading before attending Sunday worship services or for anyone unable to attend. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it! All are welcomed! Contact us at WeeklyReading@outlook.com with questions, comments or feedback, or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the podcast. Be sure to rate us on iTunes and May you enjoy God's blessings! Thank you to our sponsor, Digital Marketing Partner “Be Seen. Get Noticed.” More information at D-M-P.us. The music heard on our podcast is provided by Apple and Digital Marketing Partner. ------------- IS 7:10-14 The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. ROM 1:1-7 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. MT 1:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia. The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel. R. Alleluia, alleluia. MT 1:18-24 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

FOR OUR PRESENT TROUBLES ARE SMALL AND WON'T LAST VERY LONG.  YET THEY PRODUCE FOR US A GLORY THAT VASTLY OUTWEIGHS THEM AND WILL LAST FOREVER! SO WE DON'T LOOK AT THE TROUBLES WE CAN SEE NOW; RATHER, WE FIX OUR GAZE ON THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SEEN.  FOR THE THINGS WE SEE NOW WILL SOON BE GONE, BUT THE THINGS WE CANNOT SEE WILL LAST FOREVER.  OH THE PROMISES OF GOD, AREN'T THEY WONDERFUL?  2 CORN. 4, 5 ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD, IF NOT COME TO THE FEAST, WITH US WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS WELCOME, COME, COME, COME,  I'M PRAYING YOU YA'LL, AII YA'LL YEP COME EVANGELIST LACEY KAY GREEN   find me @ www.laceykayministries.org   contact me leave me a e-mail  donate all info is there.  Blessings and Shalom, PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM, ELDERLY, WIDOWS ORPHANS,  ALL NATIONS, WHAT GOD WANTS YOU YES YOU TO DO.    

July 10, 2016 James 4:1-6 Warning Against Worldliness [1] What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? [2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ________________________________________________________________ The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV) The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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. Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV) Peace = a consistent calm unaffected by personal rage and situational chaos Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV) Peace has nothing to do with your OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES, but it has everything to with your INWARD CONDITION. Message title: “Pathway to Peace” Peace with GOD Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) Peace with OURSELVES So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus… Romans 8:6 (NLT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NLT) If your past keeps resurfacing, you can rest assured that it's not God bringing it up. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 (NIV) Peace with PEOPLE Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)  Too often we judge other based off their actions, but judge ourselves based off our intentions.  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NLT) Change our approach to EVERYDAY LIFE Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good… 1 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV) …they must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV) Peace is not a feeling based on external conditions… but an internal condition that will produce a feeling you can trust. Come to grips with UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)  Confront the CHAOS  Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)  Jesus didn't call us to be PEACEKEEPERS but PEACEMAKERS.  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Mark 4:36-41 (NIV)  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” Mark 4:36-41 (NIV) He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:36-41 (NIV)  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:36-41 (NIV)  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:36-41 (NIV) If you need peace in your life… stop looking at the chaos AROUND you and start speaking to the storm WITHIN you. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made […] The post Thrive appeared first on City Church Boise.

Question: What have Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Barack H. Obama, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, The (14th) Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Kofi Annan all got in common? Add John Hume’s name to that list and it should be a bit easier. Answer: Over the years, they were all awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Peace: absence of conflict According to Wikipedia; Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. Those who make peace between people, or between nations, perform a great service to mankind. However, as good as the absence of violent conflict is, there is hardly a country in the world where the harmony described above is perfectly in place. Even in the best families or nations, there are issues that minority (or even majority) groups struggle with. Below the surface, there are many causes of discontent. The riots in England last year are an example of the unrest that generally lies dormant, but which can come to the forefront with dramatic effect at times. The absence of violent conflict does not necessarily mean that there is the harmony or peace that we desire. Inner peace Many people strive for inner peace. It might be peace of mind from worrying about the future such as job security, pension provision, safety of grandchildren, health, etc. Others cannot have peace because their conscience knows at them because of things that they did in the past. Peace with God People try to find inner peace through all kinds of methods, from retail therapy to relationships. But as the African theologian Augustine said about God long ago; “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” James tells us that the lack of harmony and peace that we experience is due to sin: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:1–2 NLT) Sin brings disharmony and robs us of peace, from the relatively trivial sins to the most significant evils. The Bible tells us that peace and righteousness go hand in hand, and that the absence of peace is due to sin: Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:10, ESV) “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22, ESV) Everywhere that there is lack of peace is in one way or another, directly or indirectly, the result of sin. Jesus is the Prince of Peace The solution, according to the Bible, is to have our sin problem resolved. Our sin problem is primarily between us and God, so we need to be at peace with God. Peace between people will naturally follow from being at peace with God. Jesus calls us to come to him, in order to have rest for our souls. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV) Paul tells us that through faith in him, we can have peace with God. “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19–20, ESV) When people turn to Jesus, they are at peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1, NLT) And we look forward to the fullness of our peace, our rest, with him for eternity, when we go to be with him. If you don’t know this peace, trust in Jesus, believing that he makes peace between you and God the Father, through his death on the cross. You could pray this prayer to receive this forgiveness and be at peace with God. Be peacemakers God is the ultimate peacemaker. He loved us while we were still his enemies, and he started the biggest peace process in the history of mankind. Christians too should similarly have a desire for making peace, loving their enemies, and doing good to those who hurt them. We ought to live at peace with others, as much as possible: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV) “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.” (Romans 14:19, ESV) ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, ESV) Experiencing peace Trusting in God can provide inner peace of mind as we do not worry but cast all our concerns to him in prayer, as we know forgiveness from our sins and have a clear conscience before him, and as we know that he is the rock of stability in our lives, as we eagerly look forward to eternity with him. If anyone ought to get the biggest peace prize going, it ought to be the God of the Bible!

Question: What have Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Barack H. Obama, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, The (14th) Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Kofi Annan all got in common? Add John Hume’s name to that list and it should be a bit easier. Answer: Over the years, they were all awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Peace: absence of conflict According to Wikipedia; Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. Those who make peace between people, or between nations, perform a great service to mankind. However, as good as the absence of violent conflict is, there is hardly a country in the world where the harmony described above is perfectly in place. Even in the best families or nations, there are issues that minority (or even majority) groups struggle with. Below the surface, there are many causes of discontent. The riots in England last year are an example of the unrest that generally lies dormant, but which can come to the forefront with dramatic effect at times. The absence of violent conflict does not necessarily mean that there is the harmony or peace that we desire. Inner peace Many people strive for inner peace. It might be peace of mind from worrying about the future such as job security, pension provision, safety of grandchildren, health, etc. Others cannot have peace because their conscience knows at them because of things that they did in the past. Peace with God People try to find inner peace through all kinds of methods, from retail therapy to relationships. But as the African theologian Augustine said about God long ago; “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” James tells us that the lack of harmony and peace that we experience is due to sin: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:1–2 NLT) Sin brings disharmony and robs us of peace, from the relatively trivial sins to the most significant evils. The Bible tells us that peace and righteousness go hand in hand, and that the absence of peace is due to sin: Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:10, ESV) “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22, ESV) Everywhere that there is lack of peace is in one way or another, directly or indirectly, the result of sin. Jesus is the Prince of Peace The solution, according to the Bible, is to have our sin problem resolved. Our sin problem is primarily between us and God, so we need to be at peace with God. Peace between people will naturally follow from being at peace with God. Jesus calls us to come to him, in order to have rest for our souls. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV) Paul tells us that through faith in him, we can have peace with God. “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19–20, ESV) When people turn to Jesus, they are at peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1, NLT) And we look forward to the fullness of our peace, our rest, with him for eternity, when we go to be with him. If you don’t know this peace, trust in Jesus, believing that he makes peace between you and God the Father, through his death on the cross. You could pray this prayer to receive this forgiveness and be at peace with God. Be peacemakers God is the ultimate peacemaker. He loved us while we were still his enemies, and he started the biggest peace process in the history of mankind. Christians too should similarly have a desire for making peace, loving their enemies, and doing good to those who hurt them. We ought to live at peace with others, as much as possible: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV) “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.” (Romans 14:19, ESV) ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, ESV) Experiencing peace Trusting in God can provide inner peace of mind as we do not worry but cast all our concerns to him in prayer, as we know forgiveness from our sins and have a clear conscience before him, and as we know that he is the rock of stability in our lives, as we eagerly look forward to eternity with him. If anyone ought to get the biggest peace prize going, it ought to be the God of the Bible!

Question: What have Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Barack H. Obama, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, The (14th) Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Kofi Annan all got in common? Add John Hume’s name to that list and it should be a bit easier. Answer: Over the years, they were all awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Peace: absence of conflict According to Wikipedia; Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. Those who make peace between people, or between nations, perform a great service to mankind. However, as good as the absence of violent conflict is, there is hardly a country in the world where the harmony described above is perfectly in place. Even in the best families or nations, there are issues that minority (or even majority) groups struggle with. Below the surface, there are many causes of discontent. The riots in England last year are an example of the unrest that generally lies dormant, but which can come to the forefront with dramatic effect at times. The absence of violent conflict does not necessarily mean that there is the harmony or peace that we desire. Inner peace Many people strive for inner peace. It might be peace of mind from worrying about the future such as job security, pension provision, safety of grandchildren, health, etc. Others cannot have peace because their conscience knows at them because of things that they did in the past. Peace with God People try to find inner peace through all kinds of methods, from retail therapy to relationships. But as the African theologian Augustine said about God long ago; “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” James tells us that the lack of harmony and peace that we experience is due to sin: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:1–2 NLT) Sin brings disharmony and robs us of peace, from the relatively trivial sins to the most significant evils. The Bible tells us that peace and righteousness go hand in hand, and that the absence of peace is due to sin: Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:10, ESV) “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22, ESV) Everywhere that there is lack of peace is in one way or another, directly or indirectly, the result of sin. Jesus is the Prince of Peace The solution, according to the Bible, is to have our sin problem resolved. Our sin problem is primarily between us and God, so we need to be at peace with God. Peace between people will naturally follow from being at peace with God. Jesus calls us to come to him, in order to have rest for our souls. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV) Paul tells us that through faith in him, we can have peace with God. “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19–20, ESV) When people turn to Jesus, they are at peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1, NLT) And we look forward to the fullness of our peace, our rest, with him for eternity, when we go to be with him. If you don’t know this peace, trust in Jesus, believing that he makes peace between you and God the Father, through his death on the cross. You could pray this prayer to receive this forgiveness and be at peace with God. Be peacemakers God is the ultimate peacemaker. He loved us while we were still his enemies, and he started the biggest peace process in the history of mankind. Christians too should similarly have a desire for making peace, loving their enemies, and doing good to those who hurt them. We ought to live at peace with others, as much as possible: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV) “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.” (Romans 14:19, ESV) ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, ESV) Experiencing peace Trusting in God can provide inner peace of mind as we do not worry but cast all our concerns to him in prayer, as we know forgiveness from our sins and have a clear conscience before him, and as we know that he is the rock of stability in our lives, as we eagerly look forward to eternity with him. If anyone ought to get the biggest peace prize going, it ought to be the God of the Bible!

Submit Yourselves to God4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[c]7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?Boasting About Tomorrow13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Main points 1. Faith is foundational 2. Faith is faith 3. Faith is believing 4. Faith is trusting 5. Faith starts in God 6. Faith continues in God Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, […]