Breaking the Circle of Sin
VIDEO CLIP From The Chosen Jesus Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
John 5:1-2NKJV
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
John 5:3-4 NKJV
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
John 5:5 NKJV
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
WARNINGS FROM ISRAEL’S HISTORY
1 Corinthians 10:11
“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…”
Deuteronomy 2:14
“Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley.
ZERED: Trap
CHART OF ISRAEL WALKING THE CIRCLE OF SIN
FROM EYGPT TO THE PROMISE LAND
1. SUCCOTH: Tent town
2. PI HAHIROTH: Mouth of freedom
3. RED SEA: God alone delivers me
4. ETHEM: with you. (Cloud by day, fire by night)
5. MARAH: Bitter (cast the tree upon your bitterness)
6. ELIM: 12 Wells.
7. Wilderness of Sin-Manna: what is it?
8. REPHIDIM: Rest stop (of Grace)
BREAKING THE CIRCLE ⭕️F SIN
1. SUCCOTH: I’m just passing through
2. PI HAHIROTH: I am free!
3. RED SEA: God alone delivers me
4. ETHEM: God is always with me ☁️🔥
5. MARAH: Bitter The cross is my cure
6. ELIM: I can now draw living water
7. Wilderness of Sin: Christ is in me
8. REPHIDIM: His Grace is sufficient
Numbers 13:1-2 NKJV
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”
Deuteronomy 1:22-26 NKJV
And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’ “The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.’ “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God;”
Numbers 13:25 NKJV
“And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.”
Numbers 13:27-28, 32-33 NKJV
“Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Isaiah 40:22 NKJV
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”
SPIRITUAL P.T.S.D.
1. disappointments
2. Abuse /physical, mental, emotional
3. Abandonment/Betrayal
4. Insecurities
5. Bitterness
John 5:14 NKJV
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.
John 5:6 NKJV
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
John 5:7 NKJV
“The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
John 5:8-9 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked…”
I John 4:4 NKJV
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you 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.”
BREAKING THE CIRCLE ⭕️F SIN
1. SUCCOTH: I’m just passing through
2. PI HAHIROTH: I am free!
3. RED SEA: God alone delivers me
4. ETHEM: God is always with me ☁️🔥
5. MARAH: The cross is my cure
6. ELIM: I can now draw living water
7. Wilderness of Sin: Christ is in me
8. REPHIDIM: His Grace is sufficient
I am a citizen of the kingdom of God. This world is not my home, I am just passing through. I declare out loud that I am forgiven and set me free from slavery to sin. The Son of God has delivered me and will continue to deliver me from every evil attack.
I have been given the Holy Spirit and the ability to listen to His voice lead me through every step of this life. He will never leave me. I am never alone.
As I daily carry my cross, the healing power of God sets me free from unbelief, fear and bitterness. I have received the promised fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit as an inheritance as a child of God. Christ in me is my identity and authority to pray and believe for all the promises of God, to the glory of God.
By the grace of God alone I am fully protected, provided for and satisfied in this abundant life that I now claim by faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ.
AMEN
John 6:28-29 NKJV
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
Hebrews 12:28-29 NKJV
“…since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Luke 11:14-20 NKJV
“And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Acts 1:4-6 NKJV
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
(Taking America back for God)
"America has been and should always be distinctively 'Christian' from top to bottom—"
Christian Nationalism
1.The Scriptures
2.The Sabbath
3.Marriage (biracial)
4.Birth control
5.Divorce
6.Capital punishment
7.Prayer(without ceasing)
🔥CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS
TALK LITTLE ABOUT LIFE WITH GOD BUT A LOT ABOUT BLESSINGS FROM GOD 🔥
🔥DON’T EXALT THE MORALITY OF GOD
ABOVE THE PERSON OF GOD🔥
Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Revelation 13:3-4 NKJV
“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
PIC
GOD HAS CALLED US TO SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
SATAN SEEKS TO DIVIDE THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Micah 6:1-8 NLT
“Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Psalms 2:1-12 NKJV
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
Philippians 3:18-21 NKJV
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
James 4:1-10 NKJV
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit 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. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
I Peter 2:9 NKJV
“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;”
Psalms 33:12-22 NKJV
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.”
Psalms 20:7 NKJV
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
MATTHEW 6:33
SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ that lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
II Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV
“… endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
PIC
MALE & FEMALE pt2
Galatians 3:26-28 NKJV
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply…”
Genesis 5:2 AMPC
“He created them male and female and blessed them and named them both Adam [Man] at the time they were created.”
I Corinthians 11:7-9 NKJV
“…he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.”
Genesis 2:18-25 NKJV
“And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
Genesis 3:20 NKJV
“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”
Genesis 3:16 NKJV
“To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
I Timothy 2:8-15 NKJV
“….women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.”
John 4:4 NKJV
“…He needed to go through Samaria.”
Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
John 4:7-9 NKJV
A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
John 4:10-12 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?””
John 4:13-15 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.””
John 4:16-26 NKJV
“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
MALE & FEMALE pt1
Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
I John 5:19 NKJV
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
1 Corinthians 11:3
“…I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
MALE & FEMALE: The Man of God
BOY VS MAN
A boy is passive. A man is assertive.
A boy talks. A man acts.
A boy thinks of himself first.
A man’s carries the burdens of others.
A boy boast that he is a man.
A man quietly lives it out.
A boy blames others.
A man takes responsibility.
A boy is empowered by anger
A man isn’t afraid of his emotions
A boy seeks popularity
A man wins respect
A boy makes excuses.
A man makes progress.
A boy stays up late watching TV
A man goes to bed early and tired
A boy makes babies
A man rears children
A boy tolerates his wife’s disrespect
A man seeks to understand his wife’s heart
A boy lives for the moment
A man plans for the future.
A boy lives to please his fleshly nature
A man lives by to please The Spirit
A boy reasons with his feelings.
A man of God walks by faith in The Word of God
WHY MEN HATE GOING TO CHURCH
David Murrow
The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.
This Sunday almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands.
Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants.
Over 70 percent of the boys who are being raised in church will abandon it during their teens and twenties. Many of these boys will never return.
Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every adult man in attendance.
Christian universities are becoming convents. The typical Christian college in the U.S. enrolls almost 2 women for every 1 man.
Fewer than 10% of U.S. churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men’s ministry.
“Freedom is only one generation away from extinction”
- Ronald Reagan
I Timothy 6:11-12 NKJV
“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…”
SATURDAY MORNINGS MEN OF GOD SLIDE 8:30AM
MAN OF GOD
1. Moses
2. Samuel
3. Elijah
4. Elisha
5. David
6. Timothy
FLEE
Lust of the flesh (fornication-1Cor 6)
Love for money
WE WILL PURSUE
1. righteousness (practice)
2. godliness (relationship with God)
3. faith (obedience, trusting)
4. love (sacrificing in service, fruit)
5. patience (endurance)
6. gentleness (meekness/ power under control)
“There are no great men of God... Only weak, little men of a great and merciful God.”
Paul Washer
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God
Matthew 3:16-17 NKJV
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT RESTS UPON THE REVELATION OF SONSHIP
EVERYONE NEEDS 3 FATHERS
HEAVENLY FATHER
EARTHLY FATHER
SPIRITUAL FATHER
I John 3:1-3 NKJV
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
John 17:23 NLT
“I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
Prayer
In the strong authoritative name of my Messiah Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and earth, I stand against the world, the unbelief of my heart, the desires of my flesh, and the plan of Satan.
I resist and reject every dark force that would seek to distract me from the abundant life that is God's gift to me in my Savior Jesus.
I repent from all the lies that say sin will satisfy me.
I reject all compromise that leads me to see disobedience as plausible and desirable.
I repent of my self-righteousness and forgive those who have hurt me.
I oppose every dark spirit that attempts to keeps me from knowing full abiding fellowship with my LORD Jesus and bearing much kingdom fruit in my life.
By the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me, I speak directly to the thoughts, emotions, and desires of my heart and command you to find your satisfaction in the infinite wonder of God's love in my Messiah Jesus.
I call upon You, Holy Spirit that reflects Christ, to rise up within me; to any darkness within me that opposes the perfect will of God, I command in the name of Jesus to be silent, to let go, and to leave now!
I ask for and receive the increase of love, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit to direct every step of my life. I give over control of my life to you, my Lord and my God.
By the infinite authority of my resurrected King Jesus and the power of HIS sacrificial blood, I tear down Satan's strongholds in my mind.
I choose to now walk in my inheritance of dominion over darkness.
I choose NOW, to walk in my inheritance of dominion over darkness.
I take into myself the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation and the Word of God. I receive the baptism of The Holy Spirit and the power of God upon my life today.
I command every dark influence to leave! You have no rights here and have been defeated at the cross of Calvary and by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.
To any darkness that works in my will and or in my body, I reject your presence for you have no right of operation here!
Every unclean spirit must let go and leave now in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
I speak the blood of Messiah Jesus over my spirit, my body, my soul, my spouse, my children, and the disciples whom you have entrusted to me.
I am the temple of The Holy Spirit, set apart for only that which is pure and holy.
I call down every idol thought, and renounce every dark covenant.
All shame and fear are now evicted from me by the perfect Love of Christ Jesus.
The LORD is my refuge and fortress.
I am now free and safe in the light of The Truth of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I declare an increase of faith, love and hope by the power of God that is found only in Jesus’ Name.
As I decrease and You increase within me, expand my capacity to know and experience Your perfect love.
I am now a bright light, like a city on a hill, causing truth and justice to flourish as darkness is displaced wherever I set my foot and speak the light of God.
O Lord my God, grant me eyes to see You in Your glory. Daily soften my heart to love You without fear. Saturate my every thought, word and deed with Your gift of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, You are my very breath and my first love in this life, and life eternal.
My Father today by grace through faith, I receive my calling as a son.
AUTHORITY & POWER Part 3
Matthew 12:22-29 NKJV
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 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. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”
Ephesians 4:27
“and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Genesis 1:1-3 NKJV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
II Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
What is a stronghold?
A fortress of lies that the enemy builds within our minds expressed and manifested in our emotions and actions. It’s a place of arrest, captivity, detention, and imprisonment within your thinking that keeps you resistant from experiencing the life paid for and promised by God.
🔥Demons are cast out by the power of God.
Strongholds are cast down by the truth of God 🔥
7 MINDS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
Right mind (Mark 5:15)
Sober-mind (Titus 1:8)
Sound mind (2 Tim 1:8)
Spiritual mind (Rom 8:6)
Anxious mind (Luke 12:29)
Debased mind (Rom 1:28)
Carnal mind (Rom 8:6)
BRAIN SCANS
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
II Timothy 1:5-7 NKJV
“…I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Joshua 1:1-3 NKJV
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you…”
Joshua 1:4-5 NKJV
“From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:6-9 NKJV
“Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV
“A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Isaiah 54:14-17 NKJV
“In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. “Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Romans 16:20 NKJV
“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
AUTHORITY & POWER pt2 “ Obedience & Submission”
AUTHORITY & POWER pt2 “ Obedience & Submission”
AUTHORITY & POWER pt2 “ Obedience & Submission”
Isaiah 1:18-20 NKJV “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. IF you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Romans 5:19 NKJV “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Genesis 1:28 NKJV “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Luke 4:5-8 NKJV “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Philippians 2:8 NKJV “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Matthew 28:18 NLT “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
I Peter 3:1 NKJV “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,”
Hebrews 13:17 NKJV Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Acts 4:18-19 NKJV “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.”
Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Zechariah 3:1-5 NKJV “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
Zechariah 3:6- 7 NKJV Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.”
Zechariah 3:7 NLT “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.”
Luke 10:19 NKJV “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:20 NKJV “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
The Fight is The Gift
I Timothy 6:12 NKJV
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…”
Romans 7:15-25
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
Romans 7:25 NKJV
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I Samuel 17:1 NKJV
“Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped…”
I Samuel 17:26 NKJV
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?
I Samuel 17:28-37 NKJV
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
I Samuel 17:45-47 NKJV
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
I Samuel 17:48-51 NKJV
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.”
Psalm 18
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the
Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him
from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:
Psalms 18:1-6, 17-19 NKJV
“I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.”
Psalm 139:1-16 NLT
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
REVELATION DEMANDS REVOLUTION
John 3:16 AMPC
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”
John 13:1 AMPC
“[NOW] BEFORE the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.”
John 13:34-35 AMPC
“I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Ephesians 6:12-14 AMP
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground…”
Matthew 24:6-13 NKJV
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Ephesians 3:7, 10
“By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
I Corinthians 5:12-13 NKJV
“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.””
Numbers 16:1-3 NKJV
“Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
Numbers 16:4-7 NKJV
“So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”
Numbers 16:8-10 NKJV
Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?”
Numbers 16:11 NKJV
“Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?”
Numbers 16:12-15 NKJV
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up! Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!” Then Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”
Numbers 16:16-26 NKJV
And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the Lord—you and they, as well as Aaron. Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.”
So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ ” Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”
Titus 3:10-11 NKJV
“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”
Luke 14:26 NLT
“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”
Numbers 16:27-35 NKJV
So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.” Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
Numbers 16:8-10 NKJV
Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?”
Psalm 133:1 NKJV
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV
“….be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
John 13:34-35
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
TAKEN WHERE YOU DON’T WANT TO GO
Philippians 1:6 NLT
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 AMPC
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
John 21:18-19 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
STRETCHING (Mayo Clinic)
1. Improves range of motion (flexibility)
2. Corrects vertebrae alignment (breathing, and walking balance improve)
3. Prevents injury
4. Increases proper blood flow and circulation (better sleep) cortisol levels drop)
5. Releases endorphins in the brain (stress relief, dopamine, rush)
Acts 12:1-6 NKJV
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.”
Acts 12:7-8 NKJV
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.””
John 21:20-22 NKJV
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP
“Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”
1 Peter 5:10-11 AMPC
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion power, authority, and rule forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”
BREAKING GROUND
Revelation 21:1-4
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Hebrews 11:8, 10 NKJV
By faith Abraham, “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Genesis 2:7 NKJV
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
I Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
“…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Hosea 10:12
“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”
Hebrews 3:7-15 NKJV
…as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Ezekiel 36:26-29 NKJV
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses…”
I Corinthians 3:10-13 NKJV
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Ezra 3:10-11 NKJV
“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”
Haggai 1:2-8 NKJV
“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.”
Haggai 2:1-9 NKJV
“…the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:1-6 NKJV
“Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my Lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my Lord.” So he answered and 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.”
Psalm 127:1
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…”
A CHANGE OF MIND
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”
Philippians 4:8 AMP
“…believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things, center your mind on them…”
Romans 7:18-25 NLT
“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
1. Nicholas Copernicus
2. Ignac Semmelweis—Father of Hand Hygiene.
3. Frank Pantridge
Philippians 2:5-7 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Colossians 3:22-24 NKJV
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Nehemiah 4:6 NKJV
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Matthew 5:38-42 NKJV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Luke 24:13-17 NKJV
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Luke 24:21 NKJV
“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.”
Luke 24:25-27 NKJV
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Luke 24:28-35 NKJV
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.”
Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Learning to lament
Lamentation, a prayer for help coming out of pain, is very common in the Bible. When we hurt physically, we cry out in pain; when we hurt spiritually, we cry out in lament. A Psalm of Lament is an address to God: a complaint, a request, and usually an expression of trust. Types of complaints include: concerns with the psalmists own thoughts and actions, concerns with the actions of an enemy or prevailing attitude, and concerns with God’s action or inaction. They are cries of despair, anger, protest and doubt. They are the largest class of psalms and were a normal part of Israel’s praise and worship. There are communal psalms of lament and individual ones.
They follow this general structure:
Address and introductory cry: Identify the Lord as the person to whom the Psalm is addressed.
Complaint or Lament : Articulate the problem and ask the Lord for help. Express the emotions and struggles of heart
Confession of Trust: Verbalize your trust in the Lord. Preach the gospel to yourself and tell yourself the promise of God.
Prayer for Deliverance: Request deliverance, or God’s intervention in the problem. Seeking wisdom and surrender to God’s will.
Praise: Offer praise and thanksgiving to God for God’s many blessings. Renewal of faith and trusting God in the dark (Isaiah 50:10)
Not all the Psalms complete this process. See Psalm 88 for example. The life of faith is messy. Also read the whole book of Job.
Psalm 4
Address and introductory cry – Turning to God
1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Complaint or Lament – Frustration, anger, questions, doubts, and struggle
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Confession of Trust – Sometimes following the request for help and sometimes before, or both. Also sometimes self-talk reaffirming faith.
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Prayer for Deliverance – Request for help and understanding
4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
Praise – Affirmation of renewed trust in the Lord
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Application
Take some time and reflect on how the last week (or a time frame of your choice) has been for you. Make note of the predominant emotions you have been feeling during this time, in particular the more negative ones. Reflect on a particular situation or recurring theme that you know has been causing you distress, pain or anxiety and that you feel is beyond your control. Imagine that God is with you and that He has given you complete freedom to lay it all out, to complain fearlessly without judgment, in order to get it all off your chest.
With a piece of paper and pen, invite God’s presence and follow the steps outlined below.
Address and introductory cry: Identify the Lord as the person to whom you are addressing your complaint. Request for His presence as you express what is on your heart. Turn towards the Lord in sincere prayer!
Complaint or Lament: Articulate the problem you are wrestling with. Detail how it is affecting you, the pain it is causing, and ask the Lord for His help. Express any doubts you have, confusion, questions, frustration, or anger.
Confession of Trust: Verbalize your trust in the Lord. Share your hopes that He will come to your aid, that He will be present with you in your situation. Talk to yourself about the character and promises of God. Preach the gospel to yourself.
Prayer for Deliverance: Request deliverance, or God’s intervention in the problem. Ask for wisdom to understand what you are going through. Ask for strength to endure. Surrender to the will of God.
Praise: Offer praise and thanksgiving to God for God’s many blessings and faithfulness in the past. Renew your confession of faith. Tell the Lord you will trust HIM in the dark. [1]
Great Book on learning to Lament.[2]
Dark Clouds and Deep Mercies. By Mark Vroegop
[1] Individual psalms of Lament include: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9-10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 36, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42-43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 70, 71, 77, 86, 88, 89, 120, 139, 141, 142.
Corporate psalms of Lament include: 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129.
[2] Dark Clouds and Deep Mercies online - https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/private/Dark-Clouds-Deep-Mercy.pdf
Signs in the Heavens
Jonah preached to Nineveh just before June 15, 762 BC – date of a total solar eclipse
SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS ASSOCIATED WITH JUDGMENTS
Revelation 6:12–13 (ESV)
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
UNITED STATES HAS A TOTAL ECLIPSE COMING UP NEXT MONTH! IS IT A SIGN OF COMING JUDGMENT?
4 eclipses in 2024 -1 total
Devils comet late July 2023
April 11 planetary conjunction
Aug 14 mars Jupiter conjunction
3 super moons
BACKDROP – God’s Calendar
Genesis 1:14–15 (ESV)
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Our Calendar – Gregorian based on sun (1 trip around the sun)
Hebrew calendar based on moon
Gregorian imperfect – Leap Day – add one day every 4 years (except on days end in 00 – century)
THIS WEEK was a unusual week – because Feb 29
Luni-solar calendar – based on moon
New moon vs. full moon
New Moon – 1st day of Jewish calendar month
Full moon – 15th day of calendar month
Moon 400x smaller than sun, but sun 400x further away – so appear the same size
Tav means “a sign or a mark”
ROMAN NUMERALS – X = 10, V= 5, C= 100, D=500
Tav = 400
Blood moons during Jewish Feast Days
May 14, 1948 – Israel re-born as a Nation
April 13, 1949 – Passover
October 7, 1949 – Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacles)
April 2, 1950 – Passover
September 26, 1950 – Sukkoth
Passover beginning of religious year, Sukkoth marks begins of civil year
June 5, 1967 – Six Day War
April 24, 1967 Passover
October 18, 1967 Sukkoth
April 13, 1968 Passover
October 6, 1968 Sukkoth
Shemitah – 7 year cycle; means “release”
Year of Jubilee - Year after 7 Shemitah cycle (proclaimed on Yom Kippur)
Same as blood moons in 1966-67 warning for 1973 yom kipper war (started on first day of jubilee cycle)
Year of Jubilee – 1973
October 7, 2023
First day of jubilee 1973 began him kipper war and last day of jubilee cycle began Swords of Iron War
RELEASE – land freed!
Blood Moons of 2014-2015
April 15, 2014 - Passover
October 8, 2014 – Sukkoth
April 4, 2015 – Passover
September 28, 2015 – Sukkoth
Blood moons 10 years ago
Since then many hurricanes, Covid
2014 blood moons warning for Swords of Iron war- hamas (began on last day of that shemitah cycle)
Same as blood moons in 1966-67 warning for 1973 yom kipper war (started on first day of jubilee cycle)
Year of Jubilee – 1973
First day of jubilee 1973 began him kipper war and last day of jubilee cycle began Swords of Iron War
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
2017 – August 21, 2017
Nearly $300 Billion in damages from Hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Maria)
Harvey – most rainfall ever dropped by hurricane in US (9 trillion gallons) 4 days after the eclipse
Irma – strongest hurricane on record up to that time
2018 – Trump and Jared Kushner working on Trump’s mid-east peace plan, 2 state solution for Israel (finally revealed in January 2020)
COVID – 2020
SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 – Revelation 12:1-2 Sign
see message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5xTXPnzbdM&t=82s
2023 – October 14, 2023 Annular Eclipse over US (ring of Fire)
2024 – April 8, 2024
April 8 eclipse – totality over more people than any other eclipse in Western Hemisphere in history (30+ million)
As eclipse begins in Texas (Rosita, TX) – same moment sun setting in Israel.
Nisan 1, 5784– first day of the religious calendar;
Inaugurated tabernacle
Nadab abihu die
Clean house and get ready to come out of Egypt
Eclipse takes place on the same day the 3 days of darkness take place in Exodus\\
Eclipse will cross in Little Egypt – Illinois
X SPOT – Little Egypt - Cairo, IL, Thebes, IL
College – with pyramid and god Horace?
Letter x in ancient Hebrew (paleo letter) tav- signature of God where we get leave your mark
HEBREW LETTERS
Aleph and tav – first and last letters of Hebrew (alpha omega Greek)
Aleph tav – occurs about 7000 times in bible and never translated, just glossed over (appears in Gen 1:1 – KJV never translates, but some translations do)
Numerical value
Tav = 400
Tav means “a sign or a mark”
Put a “mark” (tav) on the forehead of righteous people
Aleph – oxhead – triangle A
Tav – x (or cross)
To mark the righteous with a cross!
NEW MADRID FAULT LINE –
1811-1812 2000 earthquakes that could be felt as far away as Washington, DC.
Mississippi River ran backwards for a few hours
After Alaska – strongest earthquakes in the US in New Madrid, MO – 7.9
PLANET ALIGNMENT NEXT MONTH
Yes, the planets are always in the same plane (solar system is flat like a pancake BUT All the planets gather in one quadrant only 7 times in the current millennium)
(in spite of what Neil de Grasse Tyson says)
February 28, 2025: a full evening alignment of Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars. This is the next time 7 planets will be visible in the sky at once!
https://m.nakedeyeplanets.com/north-american-eclipse-2024.htm (on planetary alignment on April 8, 2024)
NEXT MONTH’S ECLIPSE – NINEVEH!
Will pass over 7 Nineveh’s (SLIDE)
Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia
(last total solar eclipse passed over bunch of Salem’s)
SO IS IT A WARNING?
Don’t know, not a prophet
Nation – we have departed from God
Calling darkness light and light darkness
Gender confusion
Wrestling with abortion
WHAT COULD THE JUDGMENT LOOK LIKE?
War?
Russia
China
North Korea
Iran
SUN ACTIVITY -
Sun has 11 year cycle – 2025 the peak of that cycle – lots of sun spots, solar flares
CME – coronal mass ejection (sun burps)
Carrington Event (1859) – Northern lights seen in the tropics, telegraph (SLIDE)
Where is US in prophecy?
1. Hands tied? (unable/unwilling to intervene)
2. Daughter of Babylon?
Isaiah 47:1, 3-5 (ESV)
1 Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate… 3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one. 4 Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name— is the Holy One of Israel. 5 Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.
Isaiah 47:9-11 (ESV)
9 These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments. 10 You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” 11 But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.
Revelation 18:1–3 (ESV)
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 3For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
Revelation 18:4-8 (ESV)
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. 7As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ 8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
Proverbs 22:3 AND 27:12 (ESV)
3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
CLOSE
Luke 21:25–28 (CSB)
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Revelation 19:6–10 (NKJV)
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
APPLICATION:
Are you making yourself spiritually ready for the Lord’s return?
Are you preparing for what may be a bumpy ride?
Physical preparation – food, shelter, finances
Spiritual preparation – satisfied in Jesus alone, identity in Christ, not taken captive by the spiritual forces of this world
A CHANGE OF MIND
Philippians 2:5-7 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Colossians 3:22-24 NKJV
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Matthew 5:38-42 NKJV
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Nehemiah 4:1-6 NKJV
But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.”
Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Mission 4-14
Matthew 18:1–6 (CSB)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.
6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
Will We Lose This Generation?
The world is working overtime to steal the hearts of kids. Their minds are saturated with screens that preach a godless, secular worldview that is focused on pleasing one thing: themselves. Relativistic values, gender fluidity, cancel culture, and socialism are today’s “truths” being taught as early as kindergarten. In a world flooded with ideas and information, the only consistent message kids are receiving is that Christianity is bigoted and dangerous.
Nearly 70% of the students in high school youth groups “graduate” and never come back to church. Most church kids know about God but have never experienced Him.
Growing up we had 3 channels; today they have 300+
Social Media – movie: The Social Dilemma
2 weeks ago the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee
#1 desire is to be an influencer (social media influencer)
54% spend 4+ hours/day on social media (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)
Popularize negative trends
SUICIDE
Last year, suicide rates in the U.S. were the highest they had been since 1941, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the last two decades, youth suicide has increased significantly. From 2007 through 2021, suicide rates for Americans ages 10 to 24 rose 62%, according to the CDC.
In 2021, 9% of high school students reported attempting suicide during the previous 12 months
3 out of 5 teen girls felt “persistently sad or hopeless”
30% of teen girls seriously considered suicide
18% of teen girls experienced sexual violence in the last year
LGBTQ+
According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 20.8% of Gen Z identifies as a member of the
LGBTQ+ community
Transgender
Gender affirming care
Body integrity dysphoria — feeling like one’s limb doesn’t belong or is disconnected. We wouldn’t encourage someone to have the limb amputated because it doesn’t fit - paraphrase
ROGD- rapid onset gender dysphoria. Littman study - avg age 16; 80% female
Key factors for girls:
1. Influence of girls friend group
2. The tendency to manifest gender dysphoria as a coping mechanism for other issues.
3. Increased social media consumption
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
INSTEAD OF BEING TAKEN CAPTIVE – WE NEED to TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT
2 Corinthians 10:5
“…take every thought captive to obey Christ”
EVERY MOVIE YOU WATCH, EVERY YOUTUBE/FB REEL IS A SERMON - Worldview
2011 Swedish study - considered prior psychiatric illnesses.
Among post operative transsexuals suicide attempts 5x more likely
Hospitalized for psychiatric care 3x more likely
People who transitioned 19x more likely to commit suicide
BBC investigative journalist Hannah Barnes, “ withholding transgender medical interventions for minors has never never been shown to cause a higher rate of suicide” - Barnes embraces transgender ideology But says, “common therapies like puberty blockers and cross sex hormones Do not improve outcomes. Puberty blockers like lupron have known and frequent Noside effects such as depression, anxiety, arthritis and bone fractures.
Sweden, UK, Norway, France – rethinking puberty blockers and cross sex hormones because of so many side-effects. Once avante garde, now they are pulling back and saying is this what’s best
Eventually the truth will win out and we will look back on this phase like we do on lobotomies and such.
BUT PARENTS PREVENTED FROM PROTECTING KIDS!!!!
TRANS SANCTUARY STATES: Colorado, California, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico and Minnesota, New York -
prevent state courts or officials from complying with child removal requests, extraditions, arrests or subpoenas related to gender-affirming health care that a person receives or provides in Minnesota.
Our world is more interested in affirming feelings than confirming facts - Ryan Baumberger (World Magazine)
RESOURCES
– Katie McCoy - To Be A Woman (book)
Rosaria Butterfield (former lesbian professor and women’s activist) - 5 Lies
AXIS.ORG
EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOLER FEELS THEY DON’T FIT
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (ESV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
SINGLE PARENTING
Most growing up with one parent, or split time between 2 or with step siblings/blended family.
DISRESPECT OF PARENTS – cultural
Sitcoms, YouTube, movies
Ephesians 6:1–3 (ESV)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Deuteronomy 6:5–9 (CSB)
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
SOLUTION:
(Mission 4-14)
THERE ARE MORE CHILDREN ALIVE TODAY THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY.
nearly 2 BILLION LIVES are preparing to inherit the earth from us.
63% OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO FAITH IN CHRIST DO SO BETWEEN THE AGES OF 4 AND 14
As teens get older, they become captivated by the world and their hearts begin to harden
toward God. Only 3% of evangelical Christians came to faith after age 29.
VISION
•To see children of light empowered and equipped to share their faith, prophesy, and reach their generation with the love of Christ
•To see young people that walk with the integrity of Daniel, the courage of David, and the power of God!
R-KIDS WORSHIP CENTER (Mission 4-14) SLIDE
Kids worship
Expand summer music camp
After school tutoring
Additional counseling offices
Expand to day care
ALSO going into schools – First Priority to love kids and share the gospel.
RESOURCES –
RightNow Media (free!) https://www.revealfellowship.com/rnmedia
World Watch - 10 minute Christian video program for kids
The World and Everything In It Podcast - for adults/teens
WHO I AM
Isaiah 43:1-4 NKJV
“…thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you...’
Acts 7:20 NKJV
“…Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months.”
Acts 7:20 ESV
“…Moses was beautiful in God's sight…”
Exodus 3:1-3 NKJV
“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
Acts 7:23-31 NKJV
“Now when he (Moses) was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons. “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,”
Exodus 3:4 NKJV
“So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:5 NKJV
Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
James 4:8-10 NKJV
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Exodus 3:6-10 NKJV
Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:11-14 NKJV
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
John 8:58 NKJV
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
🔥I AM🔥
(The Gospel of John)
1. I AM the bread of life (6:35,48)
2. I AM the light of the world (8:12,3:5)
3. I AM the gate (10:7)
4. I AM the good shepherd (10:11,14)
5. I AM the resurrection and the life (11:25)
6. I AM the way and the truth and the life (14:8)
7. I AM the true vine (15:1,5)
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
HOW I SEE GOD
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jude 1:20-21 NKJV
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
I John 3:1-2 NKJV
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:1-2 NKJV
Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia…”
Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19 NKJV
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
Exodus 11:1, 4-6 NKJV
And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.”
Exodus 13:1-2 NKJV
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”
Colossians 1:15-17 NKJV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist
Genesis 22:1-2 NKJV
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Genesis 22:3-4 NKJV
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
Genesis 22:5 NKJV
And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
Genesis 22:6-8 NKJV
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
John 14:7 NKJV
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 8:56-58 NKJV
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Genesis 22:9-12 NKJV
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Genesis 22:13-14 NKJV
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
John 3:16 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Heaven – A New Year Resolution
2023 Year in Review – What Happened?
From Chinese Spy Balloons, Russia Ukraine War - Israel Hamas war – Titan submersible implosion, Maui wildfires, lots of political stuff with Biden, Trump, Speakers of the House
Notable deaths –
PASTORS: Pat Robertson, Charles Stanley, Jack Hayford, Mylon LeFevre
Sandra Day O’Connor, Sinead O’Connor, Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Buffet, Tony Bennet, Tina Turner, Henry Kissinger, Norman Lear, Rosyln Carter, Bobby Knight, Suzanne Summers, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Raquel Welch, Lisa Marie Presley
DRUG OVERDOSES
Matthew Perry (54)
Dex Carvey (32)
Evan Ellingson (35)
BUT - you probably also lost someone or even multiple friends or family members in 2023.
Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 (NLT)
2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
LORI AND TYE – 30 YEARS –
Wedding Picture – thought that a black and white theme wedding would be classic and timeless – but the style of dresses certainly wasn’t!
BUT 30 years – reflected on what we have done, where we have been, where did the time go?
Unless we plan, we are likely to continue the trajectory that we are on.
Are we on the right trajectory? Are we on the right path?
going to Australia?(illustration of Heaven) – Go through Seattle – 3200 miles direct or 3800 miles if visit Yosemite National Park, regardless need a plane or boat to get there. Can’t get there by walking, swimming, driving, riding. Like Heaven - must go through Jesus Christ.
ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD – through Jesus Christ
BUT the path God has for you can have many twist and turns.
John 14:6 (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world… earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. ... I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and help others to do the same. – C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity
Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
HEAVEN AMAZING –
God dwelling with man, wiping away every tear
Making all things new
NEW HEAVEN
NEW EARTH
NEW BODY!
Spring of water of life – free!
HEAVEN ALSO DEFINED BY WHAT’S NOT THERE
No more death
No more mourning
No more crying
Who is not in Heaven?
Revelation 21:8
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
Ouch –
Detestable
Murderers
Sexually immoral – pornos/porneia (all forms of sexual immorality, homosexuality, pornography, bestiality, fornication, adultery, pedophilia, hooking-up, friends with benefits)
Sorcerers – pharmakia – drug use, witchcraft,
Idolaters – any idols, any thing above God
Liars –
Notice also:
Cowardly
Faithless
WENT TO BIRTHDAY PARTY YESTERDAY –
I was content to talk to the friends and people I knew, believers, throw the ball, eat hotdogs and cake. But there were others there who weren’t believers.
The waitress at the restaurant we went to Friday night – I often ask if I can pray for them. I thought about, but didn’t feel “in the mood.”
I HAD LOST SIGHT OF HEAVEN AND HELL!
I don’t need to share the gospel with everyone I meet, but I need to be listening to the Holy Spirit and asking, “Lord, do you want me to say something? If so, what?”
Plant seeds, water seeds, harvest!
Satan wants us to think that Hell is unthinkable.
Those family parties – your Christian friend is likely longing and praying SOMEONE will talk to their sister, cousin, mother, father, aunt, uncle about Jesus because they may have been shut out.
I wasn’t being a good friend.
I need to be spiritually aware and listening to Jesus to know what He wants me to do everyday.
BUT IF I MISSED GOD’S DIRECTION IN THOSE MOMENTS, AM I MISSING GOD’S DIRECTION IN THE BIGGER THINGS, TOO?
YEAR END IS A GOOD TIME TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES (can really do it anytime, but the world helps us).
News asks – what were the big stories of 2023?
Where are we headed in 2024?
Examine yourself
Did you live 2023 on mission, mindful of your final destination? Or we you primarily enjoying the journey?
Not wrong to enjoy the journey. But can’t lose site of the final destination.
APOSTLE PAUL had a great “spiritual resume” as a Pharisee.
Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Besides having heaven and hell stamped on our hearts,
Paul seeks to
1. Know Christ (know Him or about Him?)
2. Know the power of His resurrection.
3. Share in His sufferings (persecuted, afflicted, humbled)
4. Become like Him in His death (not my will but yours be done)
Philippians 3:12 (ESV)
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV)
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I MUST KEEP HEAVEN IN VIEW
So examine your life this past year…
Were you living with heaven in mind? Or just enjoying the journey?
Is the path you are on, the path God wants for you? Or the path you want?
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
GEN Z and Millennials most likely to make NY Resolutions; older less likely
PHYSICAL HEALTH - Fitness / Weightloss / Diet
FINANCIAL GOALS - Save $, Spend less
REDUCE STRESS / LESS TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
TOP ONES (ACCORDING TO FORBES) IS FITNESS
RESOLUTIONS FOR HEAVEN
1. PHYSICAL HEALTH - FITNESS/WEIGHTLOSS/DIET – top resolutions
Health is a good goal, be a good steward of the body God gave you.
IF YOU DON’T TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, YOU CAN’T COMPLETE YOUR MISSION
Some sickness is simply the result of poor eating habits. NOT ALL
2. FINANCIAL HEALTH –
Investors look at the return on their investment, monthly, quarterly, weekly? (daily?)
What’s the return on how you have invested your finances in 2023?
Would God say you have invested well or poorly?
Are you drowning in debt, trying to live beyond your means?
am I spending money in light of eternity?
Am I investing in heaven, or trying to make heaven on earth?
START BY PUTTING GOD FIRST IN YOUR FINANCES
Malachi 3:8–10 (NLT)
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
If your financial health is not good, is it perhaps because you have not put God first and returning the tithe to him? Tithe = tenth.
3. FAITH HEALTH
Are you growing your faith with food that inspires you, challenges you, and calls you to live in light of eternity?
Or are you scrolling through reels, burning time, desiring more of the WORLD?
Are you in an Acts 29 community – inspiring you, praying for you, encouraging you to stand strong in the Lord? Or are you a lone ranger?
4. MISSION HEALTH
Are you doing what God created you to do?
Parable of the talents (talent unit of weight = about 75-90 lbs)
Talents abilities
Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
AROUND 60 million people died in 2023 AROUND THE WORLD
Some new it was coming, many did not.
All stood before Jesus and went one of 2 ways.
Our faith is inspired by believers who lived all out for Jesus. The Hall of Faith in Hebrews is full of people who God used mightily. Many were flawed and made mistakes, yet they are listed in the hall of faith because of their trust in God.
PICTURE OF PASTORS WHO PASSED (Charles Stanley, Pat Robertson, Jack Hayford, Mylon Lefevre)
Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
JESUS HAD HIS EYE ON THE PRIZE – SO HE COULD ENDURE THE CROSS, THE SHAME
2024 IS LIKELY TO HAVE SOME BUMPS, SOME CHALLENGES, but if I’m focused on heaven and having Paul’s focus/mind?
1. Know Christ (know Him or about Him?)
2. Know the power of His resurrection.
3. Share in His sufferings (persecuted, afflicted, humbled)
4. Become like Him in His death (not my will but yours be done)
I’m not going to lose heart
Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
APPLICATION - What is your next step?
Are you living in the light of eternity, with a view of heaven? (Do you know for sure you are going to heaven?)
How is your physical health? Financial health? Faith health? Mission health?
Which of Paul’s desire do you need to grow in?
1. Know Christ (know Him or about Him?) – Rapid Overview
2. Know the power of His resurrection.
3. Share in His sufferings (persecuted, afflicted, humbled)
4. Become like Him in His death (not my will but yours be done)
Mission Trip?
CHOSEN BY GOD Part 4
John 1:29-34 NKJV
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Genesis 22:7-9
Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there…
Revelation 13:8 NKJV
“…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Isaiah 53:1-11
“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”
Romans 5:6-11 NKJV
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
I Corinthians 11:23-26 NKJV
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
CHOSEN BY GOD part 3
Psalm 139:1-2, 13-14 NKJV
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. For You formed my inward parts
You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Matthew 3:1-2 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Luke 1:39-41 NKJV
“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 1:67, 76-80 NKJV
Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
John 1:6-8 NKJV
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
Acts 1:4-5, 8 NKJV
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Zephaniah 3:9
“For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.”
Isaiah 40:3-5 NKJV
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Revelation 3:18
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
Matthew 11:11 NKJV
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:1-6 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 3:1-17 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
John 1:29 NKJV
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified
Jeremiah 1:4-5 NKJV
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”