Introduction When a child becomes ill with a virus or disease, they cannot see or comprehend what is happening internally on the microscopic level to make them sick. A child can only grasp what is perceived with the five senses—what they see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Those things are real to the child, while things like germs and bacteria do not seem real in comparison. Similarly, the spiritual realm can seem unreal to us because we cannot see or hear it. We might think that the devil and his demonic forces do not actually exist or seek to harm us, but that does not make them any less real. The devil (also known as Satan) is an angelic, powerful and influential being who seeks to accuse believers before God’s courtroom in the spiritual realm. He is our formidable and unrelenting accuser. With the help of his army of fallen angels, Satan attempts to deceive the whole world. His purpose for bringing legal cases against believers in the court of heaven is to deceive us and deny us the destiny that God has for us. Satan wants to thwart God’s plan for our lives. The great news is that the devil can and will be defeated. Ultimately, he will be defeated by Jesus Christ when he is cast down into the lake of fire. Until then, we as believers can defeat the devil in the heavenly courtroom by relying on the blood of Christ, agreeing with the Word of God and submitting to the will of Christ. When we rely on Christ’s blood, we are legally applying His blood to our case because it covers all our sins. Christ paid the penalty for our sin so that we did not have to pay it. We need to remind the devil of that fact! Satan may bring a legitimate case against us by pointing out our failures. However, we should remember and believe that the Bible says God forgives our sin and removes it as far as the east is from the west. Scripture says God has a plan for us and that He can turn evil into good. Finally, we can defeat the devil by aligning ourselves with the will of Christ. When we do that, the devil cannot deny us the fulfillment of God’s destiny for our lives. We can walk in God’s purpose and calling and thereby experience victory and blessing. Getting Started 1. What things are real but seem like they are not real, simply because you cannot see, hear, taste, smell or touch them? 2. What are some of the most successful lies that the devil and his army have used to deceive the world? Let’s Get Personal 1. How have you seen the devil attempt to interrupt God’s destiny for your life? 2. Are there any Scriptures that you struggle to believe will defeat the devil? Why? 3. What does opposition from the devil look like in our daily lives? If you are not experiencing opposition from the devil, why do you think that is? Take the Next Step 1. In light of this message, what areas of your life do you need to submit to the will of Christ? 2. What are some lies from the devil that you have believed? How does the Bible address those lies? Choose a passage of Scripture to memorize this week that addresses one of the lies you have believed. 3. In 1 John 1:9, it says that God forgives our sin when we confess our sin. How much has confession been a part of your spiritual walk with the Lord? How could you prioritize confession more? 4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Job 1:1-12; Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 1:9. Renew Your Mind “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11

The language in the Ten Commandments is countercultural, counterintuitive, offensive, and shocking to anyone who has not embraced the God-centeredness of God. We might summarize the first two commandments like this: Have nothing above me in your thoughts and affections and words and actions. Have no carved substitutes that steal away your thoughts and affections and words and actions. For I am jealous to have all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. Then comes the third commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). This command is no less countercultural, counterintuitive, offensive, and shocking. Yet if God were not this jealous for his own name, we would have no salvation and no joy. The call of the third commandment, then, is this: Turn away from taking the name of the Lord in vain. Repent, receive forgiveness, and then, by the power of God’s Spirit, be done with it. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Greatest Name Let’s press into the meaning of name and the meaning of in vain, and then let the flow of thought from commandment one to two to three help us define what it means to take the name of the Lord in vain. The name — what’s that? What is it that we should not take in vain? I Am Who I Am The first focus of God’s meaning is surely God’s proper name that he had revealed as Moses delivered the people from Egypt, Yahweh, which is built on the verb “I am” (Exodus 3:14) and signifies God’s absolute being: “I Am Who I Am” — no beginning, no ending, no becoming, no dependence on anything outside myself. That’s my name. Everywhere you see Lord with small caps, that’s what you should think — over six thousand times in the Old Testament. We know this is foremost in God’s mind because he has made it so prominent within the Ten Commandments themselves: § Exodus 20:2: “I am Yahweh your God.” § Exodus 20:5: “I Yahweh your God am a jealous God.” § Exodus 20:7: “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain.” So, the first and most obvious focus of name in verse 7 is Yahweh. “I Am Who I Am” — don’t take that name in vain. Naming Reality But the very fact that the name Yahweh has a meaning reminds us that, in the Bible, someone’s name tells decisive things about the person. They are not mere labels that help you distinguish one person from another. They are expressions of a person’s reality. For example, here in verse 5, it says, “I Yahweh your God am a jealous God.” So, jealousy is part of his reality. And when we get to Exodus 34:14, here is what we read: “You shall worship no other god, for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” It was a description of reality in Exodus 20:5. Now in Exodus 34:14, it is his name. And so it is throughout the Bible. Isaiah 57:15: “Thus says the One . . . who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.” That’s his reality, so that’s his name. Isaiah 9:6: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” That’s his reality, so that’s his name. Matthew 1:21: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” His reality is a Savior, so his name is Yeshua — Jesus, one who saves. Revelation 19:13, 16: “The name by which he is called is The Word of God. . . On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” That is who he is, his reality — Word of God, King of kings, Lord of lords — so those are his name. “God’s jealousy for his name — his jealousy to be supreme in our affections — is our salvation and our joy.” So, “Don’t take the name of Yahweh your God in vain,” means “Don’t take God, or anything that his name expresses about his reality, in vain.” God is I Am, absolute being, Jealous, Holy, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jesus, Word of God, King of kings, Lord of lords, “the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 21:6). That is who he is, his name, his reality, his God-ness. Don’t take him or any aspect of his being, his name, in vain. Taking in Vain Take in vain — what does that mean? What does it mean to take some revelation of the reality of God into our minds and to have thoughts about him in vain? To take some revelation of the way God is into our hearts and have feelings about him in vain? To take some expression of God’s reality into our mouths and speak words about him in vain? To take some revelation of God into our resolves to do actions in this name in vain? What does that mean — to treat God, his name, in our thoughts or our feelings or our words or our actions in vain? Futile, Pointless, Empty, Wasted The meaning of this phrase in vain in Exodus 20:7 is really quite plain when you just look up the uses in the Old Testament and then cap it off with a word from Jesus. Listen to these uses: Jeremiah 2:30: “In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction.” Jeremiah 4:30: “In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you.” Jeremiah 6:29: “In vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not removed.” Jeremiah 46:11: “In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.” Malachi 3:14: “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge?’” So, in vain means futile, empty, pointless, wasted: You spank the children, but there’s no correction. You put on makeup, but there are no lovers. You put the wicked through the refiner’s fire, but there’s no repentance. You take the medicine, but there’s no healing. You serve God, but there’s no profit. It all happens in vain. Hearts Far from God The question becomes, How do you take the name of God (expressions of his reality) into your thoughts, into your emotions, into your words, and into your actions in such a way that your thoughts and feelings and words and actions are futile, empty, pointless, wasted? Jesus gives us a double answer in Matthew 15:8–9. He’s quoting Isaiah 29:13: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. This is about worship. But what it teaches applies to all of life, because, for the Christian, all of life is worship (Romans 12:1–2). “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Emptied of Affections and Truth Jesus says two things cause the worship of God — the name of God — to be empty, futile, pointless, wasted. 1. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” The heart is emptied of affections for God, for his name — love, admiration, reverence, cherishing, treasuring. 2. The second thing that makes the worship “in vain” (Matthew 15:9) is that “they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Words, statements about God, have been emptied of God’s truth and replaced with human opinions. When the heart is emptied of affections for God, and words are emptied of the truth of God, all thoughts, all words, all emotions, and all actions are empty, pointless, futile, in vain. Therefore, to take the name of God in vain is to take up some expression of God’s reality into our thoughts or emotions or words or actions when the truth of God has gone out of them, and true affections for God are missing. “Fill your words with the weight of God’s truth, and fill your hearts with affections for his name.” If you thought I was going to address cuss words in this article, like “Goddamn!” and “Jesus Christ!” and “Oh my God!” well, I have — if you have ears to hear. The elimination of that kind of use of the name of God is kindergarten in the school of Christ. If you still have kindergarten behaviors, here’s the remedy: fill your words with the weight of God’s truth, and fill your hearts with affections for his name. Our Life in His Name Now, back to the first two of the Ten Commandments. Recall the countercultural, counterintuitive, offensive, shocking language of God: “Have nothing above me in your thoughts and affections and words and actions. Have no carved substitutes that steal away your thoughts and affections and words and actions. For I am jealous to have all your heart, and all your mind, and all your soul, and all your strength.” And now, therefore, Don’t treat me — my name — as empty, futile, pointless, trivial, inconsequential, insignificant. Don’t let your words be empty of my truth. Don’t let your hearts be empty of your affections. Revere me. Love me. Trust me. Treasure me. Satisfy your heart with me. What so many fail to see is that God’s jealousy for his name — his jealousy to be supreme in our affections — is our salvation and our joy. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11) Deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:9) He saved them for his name’s sake. (Psalm 106:8) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10) Don’t treat this tower like a crumbling shack. It’s not. It is your life.

“Dear Father, please bless this food to our bodies and help us to honor You in all that we say and do today. Amen” This would typically be a sweet prayer from my youngest son right before a meal. However, the moment it was uttered, he was to be praying for the ambulance that just went by as we were driving to our destination. Oops! How often do we utter words of prayer, almost out of rote performance? According to  Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary , prayer is “a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits.” This definition parallels so well with 1 Timothy 2:1-2. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” There have been many different acronyms written to remind and assist in how to pray. While helpful, they raise certain questions. Is there a correct order? Should we only pray for certain people or certain things? As we discern the application of the above definition, alongside 1 Timothy 2:1-2, we will have a better view of the importance of prayer. Understanding Who God Is Without an accurate view of God, we will never put prayer in its rightful place. Prayer is not just something we are called to do as believers. It is an act of worship to the Creator of the Universe. Prayer is an intimate conversation with our Father. It is a plea for help to the One who holds all things together. It is nearly impossible to solemnly address a Supreme Being if we do not understand what it means to be supreme. He is not just “a supreme being” but He is THE Supreme Being. He is the King over all kings and the Lord over all lords. God is the King of the Ages, existing outside of time itself. He spoke the world into existence, and all of creation declares His glory! If we understand this, along with the fact that He allows us to confidently approach the Throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), we would desire to speak to Him at every moment of every day. We would adore Him and long to pour that adoration from our hearts to His ears. He alone is worthy of our praise! Isaiah tells us that the Lord’s ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He is glorious and perfect. There is nothing He has ever said or done that has been sinful. Even in the moments on Earth when Christ was tempted, He never sinned. These truths alone should drive us to express our sense of awe for His glorious perfections. Confession, Supplication and Intercession Once we understand we are addressing the highest Being in all of creation and learn to express our deepest sense of adoration and awe, we move to the next part of the definition – the confession of our sins. In this culture, we are told it is wrong to confront and that everyone has their own definitions of Truth. This is contrary to Scripture. Many different places in the Bible remind us of the importance of confessing our sins, and even confessing them one to another. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins” (1 John 1:9). The Lord is faithful to forgive us, if we confess. What’s the Difference? As I began studying 1 Timothy for our Inductive Bible Study at church, this specific passage baffled me a bit (ch 2:1). Confession, supplication, and intercession all seemed to mean the same thing to me. As I began studying them more in depth, I learned they are nuanced a bit differently. While confession is admitting our sin and seeking forgiveness for reconciliation, supplication is a plea for something that is of deep need. God created mankind in His image. Our one purpose was to reflect His image and enjoy Him through it. We failed. Adam sinned and all of humanity was broken in relation to this perfect God. We are no longer able to have any type of relationship with God (even a poor one) without the mercy and forgiveness from the Savior who bore the wrath of God on our behalf. We need mercy. We need forgiveness. Through supplication, we beg God for both. Confession is an admission to God, supplication is a plea for His help, and intercession is a petition for a request – specifically for someone else. The church in Ephesus had lost their desire and passion to pray for others. They were listening to false teachers tell them that only Jews could be saved. Paul was urging Timothy to help the church get back to the priority of prayer. Each of these types of prayer are very important. And we must be careful not to overemphasize the words themselves, but to stress the importance of prayer – for ourselves, our families, and others. Giving Thanks The final phrase of the definition of prayer says, “giving thanks, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits.” Every day we wake up is a gift of grace from the Lord. Each breath we breathe, each step we take, all of our possessions, are His blessings to us. When we understand who God is and all of the ways He allows us to approach Him as our Father, Savior, Redeemer, and our Lord, the overflow of our heart should be thankfulness. He owes me nothing. He needs me for nothing. Yet, in His mercy and grace, He calls me His child. It is my reasonable worship to respond in thanks and communication with Him.

The Festival of Lights For many people in the diaspora – both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration – Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. However, if you happen to be in Israel during Hanukkah, go to a children’s party in a kindergarten or elementary school. You would be amazed, as was I many years ago, that it is all about light and lights! Many Hanukkah celebrations begin in full darkness, then the light of a candle – the first Hanukkah candle – pierces the darkness, and then – more candles and more lights! It’s very beautiful and very impressive! One of the central songs sung during Hanukkah is called BANU CHOSHECH LEGARESH – “WE CAME TO DRIVE AWAY THE DARKNESS” – and this is indeed the overwhelming feeling one gets during these celebrations: The light came to overcome the darkness! In this sense, one can’t miss the connection between Hanukkah and Christmas. I don’t believe that Yeshua was born on December 25 (see the article here, on this blog: “When Was the Silent Night?”), but in a sense, it doesn’t matter. For millions of true believers, Christmas is a celebration of the true Light coming into the world! One thing that seems to me absolutely amazing about Christmas, is the fact that it happens in the darkest time of the year (at least, in the northern hemisphere). This is so beautiful and symbolic: In the world’s darkest hour, the light comes! And the same is true about Hanukkah: BANU CHOSHEKCH LEGARESH – Light comes into the world, and darkness cannot overcome it! Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah We read in the Gospel of John: And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. What is this winter “Feast of Dedication”? It’s not mentioned in Leviticus 23, where all the biblical feasts are described and their observance is commanded. So what did Jesus celebrate in the Temple? Of course, John is referring to Hanukkah. The story of Hanukkah is preserved in the books of the Maccabees. However, these books are not part of the Tanach (Hebrew Bible), and therefore, surprisingly, we find the clearest mention of Hanukkah in the Bible, in the New Testament! Not only did Yeshua celebrate Hanukkah, according to the Gospel of John, but he observed it in the same Temple that had been miraculously rededicated by the Maccabees just a few generations earlier. In order to understand it, let’s turn to the history. History of Hanukkah Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It happened in the 2nd century BCE – the intertestamental period – which is why Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Tanach. The Jewish people were then living under the oppression of King Antiochus IV and Hellenistic pagan practices. The ruling Syrian dynasty of the Seleucids required full assimilation in all aspects of life: language, arts, lifestyle – everything was to conform to the Greek way of life. Antiochus enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Jewish worship was forbidden; the scrolls of the Law were confiscated and burned; Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited under penalty of death. In 164 BCE, Antiochus even desecrated the Temple: the altars, the utensils, the golden Menorah were all defiled. Antiochus’s men went from town to town and from village to village to force the inhabitants to worship pagan gods. One day they arrived in the village of Modiin where an old priest, Mattityahu, lived. There they built an altar and demanded that Mattityahu offer sacrifices to the Greek gods. Mattityahu replied, “I, my sons and my brothers will remain loyal to the covenant which our God made with our fathers!” After that, Mattityahu left the village of Modiin and fled, together with his sons, to the hills of Judea and all loyal and courageous Jews joined them. Thus, the uprising began. After Mattityahu’s death, his son Judah became leader. Judah was called “Maccabee” – a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew words Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem, “Who is like You, O God” – and therefore it is called the Maccabean Revolt. Realistically, the Maccabees had absolutely no chance of winning. The Syrian army consisted of more than 40,000 men – it was another David vs. Goliath scenario – but, as in the story of David, God performed a miracle, and after a series of battles, the war was won. When the Maccabees, miraculously, recaptured the Temple, they had to cleanse and restore it. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrians. They wanted to light Menorah, as it is commanded in the Torah: Bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.<1> However, according to the Talmud, they found only a single jar of undefiled oil, and that was only enough to last a single day. Taking a leap of faith, they relit the Menorah , and by a miracle of God, it continued to burn for eight days, till new oil was made available. In memory of this, Hanukkah, an eight-day celebration, was established. On each day, an additional branch of the nine branched Hanukkiah is lit with the shamash (“helper” candle), which sits on the middle branch. The Light Shines in the darkness This is the traditional story – but there is something more to be aware of. Not many people realize that the Maccabees had not won their independence when they proclaimed the Festival of Hanukkah. Antiochus was still their ruler, and Syrian troops still occupied Eretz Yisrael and even most of Jerusalem. The light of the first Hanukkah truly shone in the midst of the darkness! In this sense, the light of Hanukkah, shining in the darkness, prophetically foreshadowed this Light of the Messiah! This reminds us of the words of John about Yeshua: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. <2> According to the Gospels, the Light of Yeshua also came at a time of the darkness and foreign oppression; the hand of Rome was heavy upon Israel, the nation could hardly bear this oppressive yoke. No wonder everybody waited for a deliverer – hoping and believing the footsteps of this deliverer had already been heard! Thus, we may say that both celebrations, Hanukkah and Christmas, look to the Messiah, but from two different perspectives – like two olives on each side of the Menorah in the beautiful vision of Zechariah that is read in synagogues on the Sabbath of Hanukkah: “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. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts<3>. <1> Exodus 27:20 <2> John 1:5 <3> Zech. 4:2-6 www.eteacherbiblical.org.

Introduction Whenever a teacher in school gave you a test, they never had much to say during the test. The teacher had nothing to say because the test was designed to show what you knew based on what the teacher taught you. Often, God uses Satan to bring difficulties into our lives to test us and deepen our experiences with God. What we sometimes fail to realize, though, is that the devil is not just the devil—he is God’s devil. So while God is awesome and holy in nature, He can use evil to bring about good, as demonstrated in Paul’s experience. God allows you, much like Paul, to be needled by thorns to keep us dependent on Him and to address actual and potential sins. Like Paul, we must endure tests from God in the form of satanic thorns. But like the master teacher He is, God has already gone before us and given us the provision we need to deal with these thorns. Because of the gift of sufficiency and empowerment of grace, God has already equipped us—just as he did Paul—to drive us in the right direction when confronted with thorns. Therefore, whatever is needling you, God gives you all that you need to handle it and deal with it until He decides to remove it if he removes it at all. When we shift our mindset to what provision we have in Christ, we drive ourselves to prayer, praise and peace in our circumstances. God never allows us to have pain without purpose. Thus, when God allows Satan to attack you, it is an opportunity to grow in your dependence on and trust in Jesus; thus, the devil becomes a benefit to you! Getting Started 1. Have you ever received a painful hangnail or paper cut? How did it feel? 2. Are you more attentive to your hand and finger once you have a hangnail or paper cut? Why? Let’s Get Personal 1. When has God allowed Satan to bring a thorn in your life? 2. How would you describe your perspective of the thorns in your life prior to this message? 3. In light of this message, how do you now view the thorns in your life, past or present? Take the Next Step 1. Do you know someone who is being needled by a thorn? How can you demonstrate God’s gift, sufficiency, and empowerment of grace to them? 2. What satanic thorns can you commit to prayer this week for yourself or others? 3. What is your go-to praise song when you feel the needling of your thorn? 4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Psalm 119:67, 71, 75; Isaiah 40:29-31; John 11:4-6; Philippians 4:10-13; James 1:5; 1 John 1:5-10. Renew Your Mind “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Introduction The answers on multiple-choice tests are typically A, B, C or D. Sometimes, however, the true answer lies outside the list of the options offered. When Jesus faced a test in John 8, He knew the truth was not found in either of the options presented to Him by the Scribes and Pharisees. They attempted to trick Jesus by bringing before Him a court case against a woman caught in adultery. They offered Jesus two choices: condemn the woman or release her. If Jesus chose to release her, they would accuse Him of disobeying the Mosaic Law. However, if Jesus decided to condemn her, He would disobey Rome by calling for capital punishment, a punishment that Jews were not permitted to practice under Roman rule. It seemed that the Scribes and Pharisees had Jesus in a no-win situation. Likewise, Satan tries to put God’s truth—and thus God’s people—in no-win situations by creating contradictory scenarios. Jesus revealed the contradiction in the case and corrected the misapplication of the Law. According to the Mosaic Law, both parties should have been brought forward for judgment. However, the Scribes and Pharisees brought only the woman and not the man, exposing their lack of sincerity in their alleged pursuit of justice. Jesus then revealed Himself to be the author of the Law by writing on the ground, visually referencing the creation of man out of the dirt and when God wrote the Ten Commandments for the Israelites. God designed the Law to reveal man’s fallen state and thus lead them to turn away from their sin. Sinful men cannot outsmart God regarding His own Law. Instead, Jesus comes to the defense of those who others have condemned through the misuse of God’s Word. The answer to this case is not condemnation but compassion. Jesus removed the woman’s accusers by reminding them of their own sin and canceling their consequences. He showed her great compassion and mercy, but He also charged her to sin no more. When we receive God’s compassion and mercy, our response should be to stop doing what caused us to sin in the first place. Mercy is not an encouragement to sin even more; it is a reason to live righteously for God’s kingdom! We should never abuse the mercy of God by continuing in the things for which He has forgiven us. Show God how grateful you are for His mercy by living a life characterized by forgiveness, compassion and freedom from sin. Getting Started 1. Have you ever been in or witnessed a no-win situation? How did you or the other person solve the problem? 2. What is the difference between compassion and mercy? What are ways that people can show mercy? Let’s Get Personal 1. How have you personally experienced God’s compassion and mercy? Have you fully embraced God’s compassion, or do you find it hard to believe that He can be so merciful to you? 2. How would others describe you? Would they say that your life is marked by compassion, mercy and forgiveness? Why or why not? 3. What sins have you overcome? What sins do you still go back to even though God’s Word has told you to sin no more? Take the Next Step 1. Do you know someone who needs compassion? How can you demonstrate God’s compassion to them this week? 2. What sins are still a trap for you? Develop a plan with your accountability partner this week for how you can loosen the stronghold that sin has in your life. 3. How should you demonstrate your gratitude to God for His compassion daily? 4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Exodus 31:18; 34:1; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; Jeremiah 3:24-25; Matthew 7:1-6; John 10:10; Romans 6:1-7; 8:1, 32-34. Renew Your Mind “Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.’” John 8:10-11

Introduction Some people have a compulsion to hoard things like collectibles, sentimental items or even garbage. When someone accumulates garbage, that waste attracts insects and rodents, making a bad situation worse. In the same way, many problems people experience are caused by uncleanness and sin in their lives. The uncleanness and sin attract demons (i.e., fallen angels), and the demons take up residence in those individual’s lives. The demons amplify the sin, leading to a crisis or disintegration—depending on the scope of the uncleanness and the number of demons present. The demonic amplification develops into oppression, and the oppression causes the person to feel trapped. The only way to resolve the demonic oppression is through a confrontation with Jesus Christ. Demons are confronted with Jesus when we worship and exalt Jesus’ person as the Son of God. Demons flee when we recognize Jesus Christ as the only One who can exercise authority over demonic influences in our lives. While demonic oppression can only be overcome when addressed spiritually, when the oppression has been overcome, there are spiritual as well as physical and ministerial transformations. When Jesus frees us from demonic oppression, our lives will be ordered and no longer chaotic. We will be able to function and communicate properly, and we will find mental stability. We will also have desire to tell others about Jesus and exalt Him as a lifestyle. If we need relief from demonic attacks and influence, we should look no further than Jesus because only He can remove demonic oppression and bring us the transformation we so desperately need in our lives. Getting Started 1. Have you ever received a painful hangnail or paper cut? How did it feel? 2. In what ways can collecting or hoarding be harmful? Let’s Get Personal 1. How has this message changed your perspective of demonic oppression? What new things did you learn? 2. Are there areas in your life that are chaotic or disintegrating? What led to the chaos or disintegration in those areas? 3. After hearing this week’s sermon and understanding the impact demonic oppression can have, do you think there has been a time you experienced or witnessed demonic oppression? How did the demonic oppression affect you or the another person? Take the Next Step 1. How can you begin to turn over the chaotic areas of your life to God to be transformed? 2. How should worship and exaltation of Jesus be a part of your lifestyle? What can you do this week to incorporate this lifestyle of worship? 3. What are some ways you can proclaim Jesus this week and witness to others about how Jesus has transformed your life? 4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Matthew 12:22-28; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Luke 11:24-26; Acts 16:14-21; 19:11-16; 1 John 4:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Renew Your Mind “The demons implored Him, saying, ‘Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.’ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.” Mark 5:12-13

Introduction In our culture today, many philosophies and worldviews based on human wisdom compete for our attention. These ideas, however, are marked by deception and the absence of Christ. If we, as believers, are taken in by the lies of the secular world, we will stray from Christ and fall victim to the strategies and lies of the devil. Therefore, we need Christ operating on our behalf from heaven so that our enemy, the devil, fails in his prosecutions against us. The person of Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross gives us a victorious legal standing in the courtroom of heaven. The cross is the most significant legal transaction in history because our sins were placed on Jesus at Calvary. Thus everything the devil brings against us has already been defeated. We have been blessed with a unique identity in Christ. To walk in victory and receive spiritual authority, we must be connected to Christ and remain unified with Him. Just like people defending themselves in court without legal representation, we lose all authority when we work independently from Christ. Christ has forgiven us, canceled the debt of sin we owed, and brought us back to life. He triumphs over the devil on our behalf again and again when we follow His lead. Embrace the forgiveness and the victory that He is offering you. Realize that you are in a battle, but be comforted by the knowledge that you are already on the winning side as a Christian. Getting Started 1. Can you think of a time when someone protected or defended you? 2. How does it feel when someone stands up for you or when you stand up for someone else? Let’s Get Personal 1. In what ways have you trusted the wisdom of the world rather than the wisdom of Christ? 2. In what ways have you defended your sin in an attempt to win your own heavenly court case rather than trusting in the victory that Christ has already won for you? 3. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to Christ where you have been working independently from Him? Take the Next Step 1. What is one deception that you need to remove from your thinking? What verse in the Bible replaces that deception with the truth? 2. What would it look like this week if you were able to move forward in living a victorious Christian life? What do you need to do to fully surrender to Christ and experience the victory he provides? 3. What are some practical and creative ways you can share this truth of Christ's forgiving work on the cross and His victory with others this week? 4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Isaiah 53:1-6; Psalm 105:36-37; Matthew 27:37; John 19:30; Romans 5:8-21; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 5:21; 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 2:7-8; 12:24; James 2:10; 1 Peter 3:18-19. Renew Your Mind “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

As a child of God, you have a very special relationship with other Christians. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians pictures this relationship in two different ways. First, every believer is a member of the Body of Christ. His Body has many members, each of which is essential. Paul says that every member of the Body must grow up and work together. We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. ( Eph. 4:15–16 ) Second, the people of God are growing into a temple for the habitation of God. [You are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. ( Eph. 2:20–22 ) If the Body of Christ is to become mature and the temple is to be built as a dwelling place for God, every individual Christian must be committed to building up each other.  Edification is the biblical term for this process ( Eph. 4:12 ), which results in spiritual growth. The goal of edification is spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness. As each individual member does his part to build up the others in the Body, the entire Body grows up and becomes mature and healthy. There are different ways to edify the Body of Christ. Many New Testament phrases with the words “one another” or “edify” suggest specific ways to build up one another. Let’s look at some examples. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” ( Eph. 4:29 ) We so easily speak to one another words that hurt, criticize, or tear down, or that are just plain useless. Rather, we ought to build each other up with words of grace—the right choice of words spoken at the right time with the right spirit. Words of grace minister to others and meet their needs. These words express love, encouragement, acceptance, and affirmation. Which of us is not built up in our spirit when we hear genuine words like these? “I appreciate you.” “I love you.” “God has used you to minister to me.” “Thank you for your selfless ministry.” “I have noticed the way God is changing this area of your life and I am rejoicing with you about it.” 2. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ( Eph. 4:32 ) Genuine love is not easily offended; it does not hold a grudge; it does not place expectation or demands on others; it is not conditional. As those who have received His infinite mercy and kindness, God expects us to extend the same kind of love toward each other. This kind of love puts others first and is clothed in a spirit of humility. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” ( Rom. 12:10 ). “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” ( Phil. 2:4 ). This kind of love demonstrates the spirit of Christ by seeking for ways to serve others and being willing to be inconvenienced in order to meet the needs of others. “Through love serve one another” ( Gal. 5:13 ). And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works . . . encouraging one another. ( Heb. 10:24–25 ) The Christian life is a battle; it is a race. It is not always easy. Sometimes soldiers get discouraged. Sometimes runners get tired. They need to be encouraged. They need to be cheered on. Paul told the Hebrew Christians, who were suffering persecution and discouraged, “Let us consider how we can spur one another on to love and serve Christ more faithfully. Let’s cheer each other on!” I remember watching a junior high basketball game one day. The home team was trailing badly. The boys were exhausted and discouraged. But instead of encouraging one another, they began to pick on each other. They began to compete against each other instead of against the other team! We are a team owned, selected, and coached by God Himself. Rather than constantly taking pride in our own achievements, we need to discover ways to encourage others to be effective for Christ. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ( Col. 3:16 ) Every believer needs to personally know the Word of God, not only for his own growth, but that he might minister to others as well. Each of us needs the teaching and admonishing ministry of Spirit-filled believers. And each of us must be actively engaged in building the lives of others with biblical truth that has been “put to work” and validated in our own lives. Sometimes this means we must be willing to confront a brother or sister about an area of his or her life that doesn’t conform to Scripture ( Rom. 15:14 ;  Gal. 6:1 ;  Matt. 18:15 ). Such admonition must always be gentle, loving, and humble, as we recognize that only the grace of God has given us victory in that particular area. It is not easy to build up one another in this way, for admonition is often painful. But it is also one of the greatest evidences of genuine love. I thank God for those believers who love me enough to point out areas of my life that are not pleasing to Him. Such individuals are essential in helping me to become more like Christ. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ( Gal. 6:2 )  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ( Rom. 12:15 )  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. ( 1 Cor. 12:26 ) One of the privileges of membership in the Body of Christ is that we need never carry a burden alone. When one of us is hurting, we all suffer together. When my dad went to heaven, many of God’s people shared that burden with me. God used their prayers, tears, and words of encouragement to sustain me and remind me of His love for me. We must learn how to be sensitive to those who are carrying burdens. We need to practice expressing care and concern through listening, praying, encouraging, and shouldering the burden ourselves whenever possible. There are many more “one anothers” in Scripture. “Do not speak evil against one another.” ( James 4:11 ) “Do not grumble against one another.” ( James 5:9 ) “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” ( James 5:16 ) None of us can become spiritually mature if we are not committed to let others build our lives and to build the lives of others. God gave Jonathan a special ministry of edification in David’s life. Jonathan loved David as his own life. They exchanged a lifetime commitment to meet the needs of each other’s families. When King Saul was searching for David in order to take his life, Jonathan came to David and helped him find strength in God ( 1 Sam. 23:16 ). Years later, in the absence of Jonathan, David once again faced a very difficult situation. This time, “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God”( 1 Sam. 30:6 ). You see, Jonathan was a life-builder. God used him to develop David to spiritual maturity. Whose life are you committed to build up with the “one anothers” of Scripture?

People can be perturbing. Marriage and family life would be a lot less stressful if husbands and children didn’t sometimes act irresponsibly or disregard our feelings or instructions. Ministry would go more smoothly and be less demanding if people weren’t so needy or would just get their act together. Many of the issues we face in our jobs would go away if it weren’t for inexperienced coworkers, demanding clients, or impatient customers. Yes, people may cause the lion’s share of our headaches. But when we serve people, we serve Christ. And when we treat people with kindness rather than indifference or impatience, we become channels of blessing, dispensing gracious words and actions that can’t help but adorn the gospel of Christ. The Proverbs 31 Example The woman whose description we know so well from Proverbs 31 is a lovely, biblical model of kindness in action. Wherever this strong, gifted, diligent woman goes, she leaves a trail of goodness, and she ministers grace to everyone around her: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” ( Prov. 31:26 ). But note who benefits first from this woman’s industry and goodwill. For her, kindness begins at home. With her family. With her inner circle. With those who share her daily life. Her kindness toward her husband, for example, is displayed in a daily commitment that remains undiminished with the passing of time or when their relationship may be in a hard place: “She does him good, and not harm,  all the days of her life ” ( Prov. 31:12 ). Not a day is wasted by lashing out in frustration and anger or being passive-aggressive. Every day is seen as an opportunity to do her husband good with her attitude, words, and actions. This is a huge gift she gives to him—and to herself, as her husband responds with the highest of praise for his wife. The Proverbs 31 woman’s selfless, thoughtful deeds also bless her entire family as she labors tirelessly and faithfully to ensure their needs are met. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. . . . She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed (vv. 21, 27–28). Those Closest to Us The fact is nowhere am I more tempted to be selfish and lazy than in my home and my closest relationships. And I fear this is true for most of us—wives and moms, as well as those who live with other family members or friends. Too often, I’m afraid, we show more concern and kindness for neighbors, colleagues, store clerks, or complete strangers than for those who live under the same roof with us or who are related to us by blood or marriage. If a couple were staying at our house for the weekend, we’d be sure clean towels were in the bathroom, their linens were freshly washed, dinner was flexible to their schedule, and a fresh pot of coffee was brewing in the morning. But when our own kids and husband need something—well, they know where the refrigerator is and how to turn on the oven. Right? Managing a busy household, dealing with the daily tasks related to serving husbands and kids—or whatever other responsibilities you may have—requires diligence and discipline day in and day out. It requires hard work, sometimes exhausting work. But it also requires kindness—or as one commentator put it, “a lack of irritability in light of the nagging demands of mundane and routine household duties.” 1 And that’s where things can get challenging. It’s so easy for us to be like the woman who once lamented to me with refreshing candor, “I’m only good enough to look good to the world.” At home, it’s often another story. When I’m out speaking at a conference, I can be exceedingly gracious, kind, and patient with long lines of women who want to share their burdens and their (at times long, detailed) stories, looking them in the eyes, never complaining about my tired, aching back and feet. But when those closest to me—in my home, my family, or our ministry—need a listening ear, an attentive heart, or a thoughtful act, I can be preoccupied, unfeeling, or just too busy. Who among us hasn’t had the experience of being in the middle of a tense, unkind exchange at home, only to instantly change our tone and talk warmly with a outsider who calls or stops by? What does that say to our loved ones about how we value them and about the authenticity of our “kindness” to others? Extra Helpings of Grace Yes, kindness at home takes extra effort. Home is where we experience most acutely those daily annoyances and disappointments that tempt us to develop an attitude. So kindness at home also requires extra helpings of grace, which in turn requires daily dependence on God and the support of our Titus 2 sisters. Already, in the short time I’ve been a wife, I’ve witnessed at moments the distance-creating, intimacy-killing impact of a lack of kindness on my part toward my husband. Unkind words spoken thoughtlessly, kind words left unspoken, inconsiderate actions; being too self-absorbed to notice and celebrate an accomplishment in my husband’s business; wounding him in sensitive areas with insensitive teasing; being too busy with my own stuff to carry out small acts of kindness that would serve and bless him. But I’ve also experienced the incredible importance and power of kindness in a marriage. I have seen it modeled in the marriages of some of my closest friends and of my Titus 2 mentors. And Robert’s tender heart and his consistent kindness—always looking for ways to serve and bless me—have inspired me to be more tuned in to how I can do good to him. Being the recipient of his kindness has increased my desire to outdo him in this area. Often, I’ve found, it’s the little things—the simple expressions of gratitude and kindness—that express love to my husband and set the tone in our relationship. Leaving encouraging sticky notes in his  One-Year Bible  when he is headed out on a trip. Turning down the sheet on his side of the bed at night. Delivering a sandwich and cold root beer on a hot day when he’s outside working on a project. Stopping in the middle of a busy work day to head downstairs to his study and find out how his day is going. Honoring his preferences over mine. Assuming the best when he forgets to tell me a piece of news. Choosing to overlook some perceived (or real) slight rather than grinding his nose in it. A kind heart expressed in kind words and kind deeds oils our relationship and softens and draws our hearts toward each other. Your call to kindness at home will probably take different forms from mine. It may involve curbing a sharp reaction to a childish accident, replenishing the fridge with snacks for a teen, helping a roommate with a project, repeating yourself gently to an elderly parent. But if we were all to demonstrate true kindness toward the people who know us best and see us at our worst, our more public displays of affection would likely ring more true. And I suspect that if we showed more kindness at home, we’d also find ourselves growing genuinely kinder toward everyone else. How about you? Would the people who live in your home and work with consider you a kind woman? Why or why not? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

“TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR ME” The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Luke 16:1-15 If Jesus were here instructing Christians today, He would spend a major portion of His time emphasizing the Biblical truths concerning money. The portion of His recorded teachings which have to do with the subject of finances, material things, and the handling of money is amazing. THE PARABLE (16:1-9):  USE WORLDLY WEALTH TO GAIN FRIENDS WHO WILL WELCOME YOU INTO HEAVEN. The teaching of the parable:  The dishonest manager realized the imminence of his dismissal and diligently sought a means to secure his own financial future when he lost his job. The moral of the parable : The people of this world are doing a better job establishing treasure on earth than we Christians are doing at storing up treasure in Heaven. The practical application of this parable: Use your money so that when it is gone - or when you die - you will be welcomed, not into somebody's house, but into eternal dwellings in Heaven. THE ETERNAL PRINCIPLE (16:10-13): STOP THINKING LIKE AN OWNER AND START THINKING LIKE A CARETAKER OF GOD’S MONEY. In simple terms Jesus reveals God’s four point contract with every Christian. Provision One (16:10a): God entrusts to us His assets. God says in Haggai 2:8:  "The silver is mine; the gold is mine."  In Psalm 50: "The cattle on 1000 hills belong to me."  "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."  We are not owners.  We are managers.  Many of us get off the track here. God entrusts to us His property and we take immediate possession. We think of ourselves as owners--and the moment we do we violate the terms of the contract. Provision Two (16:11): The contract is for a set period of time. Provision Three (16:11-12): Wise managers are rewarded. Faithful management results in more to manage. Good managers become owners in heaven. Provision Four (16:13-15): Poor managers face serious consequences. The danger of thinking like an owner is materialism. The danger of poor management is poverty and loss of opportunity in Heaven (Matthew 25:28-30). "Well, I don't particularly care how much treasure I have in Heaven. I just want to get there."  There are whole bodies of Scripture which teach that Heaven is not a classless society. Remember Jesus said that the first shall be last. Investigate to see how much money you really have. Give the top portion (the tithe) to God. Honor the Lord with your wealth. Make a budget. Don't allow fear to cloud your judgment.  The only inflation-proof investment in the universe is investment in the Lord's Kingdom (Proverbs 3:9-10).

The second section of James takes a closer look at temptation and will hammer out some vital Biblical principles which will help us face the reality of evil in our own lives. James has been discussing how to handle the trials and troubles which come into our lives.  Now he discusses the problem of temptation. There is a great difference between the trials we encounter and the temptations which beset us.  Temptations are sent by Satan in order to make Christians stumble.  Trials are sent by God in order to discipline Christians to stand. The author and object of temptations and trials are not at all the same.  In testing us God is aiming at our maturity.  In tempting us Satan is aiming at our misery. And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God.  " So don’t be misled, dear brothers. But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow. And it was a happy day for him when he gave us our new lives through the truth of his Word, and we became, as it were, the first children in his new family." Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; James 1:13-19 LB The second section in James teaches us to take a closer look at temptation and to hammer out some vital Biblical principles which will help us face the reality of evil in our own lives. James has been discussing how to handle the trials and troubles which come into our lives. Now he discusses the problem of temptation. There is a great difference between the trials we encounter and the temptations which beset us.  Temptations are sent by Satan in order to make Christians stumble.  Trials are sent by God in order to discipline Christians to stand. The author and object of temptations and trials are not at all the same.  In testing us God is aiming at our maturity.  In tempting us Satan is aiming at our misery. JAMES REVEALS THAT TEMPTATION IS A DEFINITE REALITY (JAMES 1:13). Notice that James doesn't say "If" you are tempted! It's "when" you are tempted. The truth is that Christians are subject to sharper and subtler temptations than unbelievers.  When a person becomes a friend of God , he or she becomes the enemy of Satan . Although we have been taken forever out of Satan's grip and possession, we have not yet been removed from his interest and attention. As we study some of the greatest heroes in Scripture, we discover that their temptations , and sadly, their greatest falls came not at the beginning of their walk with God, but far along the road of discipleship. Temptation is neither removed at our conversion or reduced by our consecration as we become more like Jesus. Determine on the authority of God's word that you will never again fall for Satan's lie that temptation is a sin. READ HEBREWS 4:l5 JAMES REVEALS THE DEFECTIVE REASONING IN THE HEARTS OF MANY CHRISTIANS Man is the proven master of evading personal responsibility.  Look at Adam and Eve and Aaron and the golden calf. How many of us fall into sin and then blame God. James reveals that God tempts no one to sin. JAMES DISCUSSES THE DETRIMENTAL SOURCE OF OUR TEMPTATIONS (JAMES 1:14-15). Where does temptation come from? James replies that it comes from within our own hearts. Many passages tell us that temptations come from Satan!   But not all of it is from Satan!   There is plenty of wickedness in our own human heart. Now notice the progression of sin. JAMES CLOSES HIS DISSERTATION ON TEMPTATION BY ENCOURAGING US NOT TO BE DECEIVED (JAMES 1:16-19). Many Christians are living in deception about what is going on in life - and about how God works and operates in our world! All Christians will be deceived at one time or another! The most perfect human ever created was!  READ GENESIS 3:l-6;  I TIMOTHY 2:ll-l5 ; JOB l-2 . "Well, I'm a Christian. Satan can't touch me. "  I want to say, "Be warned of your arrogance - and ignorance! A person is deceived when he doesn't know that he has a problem.  If he knew that he had a problem then he wouldn't be deceived. Utilize Ephesians 6:l0-l7; James 4:7 and I Peter 5:8-9. We have a divine responsibility to resist the Devil's forays. HOW CAN I KEEP FROM ERRING AND RESIST TEMPTATION WHEN IT COMES? Recognize that the Devil is a ferocious adversary. Avoid enticing situations. Be on the alert for Satan's attacks. They come at  any time. Fill our hearts with Jesus. Take the offensive against sin. Remember that God is standing by to help us. READ HEBREWS 2:18 AND 4:15.