NEGATIVE FEELINGSRENEW YOUR MIND WITH THE TRUTH Abandoned – Hebrews 13:5; 1 Cor 6:17; Mat 1:23; Psalm 139:7; Acts 17:27-28 Accused – 1 John 2:1; Job 16:19; 23:11; Jer. 50:34 Agony – Psalm 55:22; 68:19; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Cor 1:4-5; Psalm 23:4 Alienated – One with God - John 17:22-23; John 14:20; 1 Cor 12:27 Alone – Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 139:7-16; Duet 31:6; Zeph 3:17 Angry – Romans 5:1; Eph 2:14; 1 Cor 13:3-8; Eph 4:31-32; Col 3:12-14; Gal 5:22-23 Annoyed – 2 Tim 2:24; 2 Peter 3:9 Anxious – Phil 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; Eph 2:14 Attacked – My shield and protector – Psalm 91:4; Prov 30:5; John 17:11 Battered – Isaiah 43:1-2; John 16:33; Psalm 18:1-3 Belittled – Valued – Mat 6:26; Mat 13:44-45 Bereaved – Romans 8:37-39; 1 Thes 4:6 Betrayed – Faithful, true and trustworthy – Rev 19:11; 2 Tim 2:13; 1 Thes 5:24 Bitter – Forgave me all my sins – Col 2:13; 2 Cor 2:14; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Isaiah 55:7; Mic 7:18 (in) Bondage – 2 Cor 3:17; Gal 5:1 Cheated– Meets all my needs – Phil 4:19 Condemned – Romans 8:1 Confused – Mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16; Psalm 37:23; 73:24; 48:14; John 14:6; 1 Cor 2:12; 14:33 Controlled – Gal 1:10; 1 John 4:4 Crazy – Mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16; 2 Tim 1:7 KJV Criticized – Jude 24; James 1:5; Romans 8:1 Cursed – Gal 3:13-14 Damned – Romans 8:1; John 3:15; Romans 10:13 Deceived – John 1:14; 17; John 14:6 Defeated – 2 Cor 2:14 Degraded – Valued – Mat 6:26; Mat 13:44-45 Demeaned – Honored – Isaiah 43:4 Demoralized – Beloved child of God – 1 John 3:1-2; John 1:12 Depressed – Col 1:27; 1 Tim 1:1; Psalm 118:24 Deprived – Phil 4:19 Despair – Col 1:27 Different – Gen 1:26; Psalm 139:14; Eph 2:10 Dirty – Cleansed – 1 John 1:7,9; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Cor 12:27, Hebrews 10:22 Disappointed – James 1:17; Romans 8:32; Luke 11:13 Disgraced – Honored – Isaiah 43:4 Disgusted – 2 Cor 2:14-15 Doubtful – Romans 12:3 Embarrassed – Roman 8:1 Empty – Col 2:9-10; Eph 5:18; John 17:13 Enraged – Col 3:12-14; Eph 4:31-32; Gal 5:22-23; 1 Cor 13:3-8 Failure – Phil 4:13; 2 Cor 2:14; 1 Cor 1:30; Gal 3:13-14; Romans 8:37 Foolish – 1 Cor 1:30 Frightened/Fearful – Isaiah 41:10; 1 John 5:18; Psalm 91:4-6; Hebrews 13:6; Prov 3:25; Gay – Gen 1:27 Helpless – Psalm 54:4; Romans 8:31; Heb 13:6; Psalm 46:1 Hopeless – Col 1:27; 1 Tim 1:1; Romans 5:3-5; Lam 3:24 Humiliated – Romans 8:1 Hurt – 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4-5 Ignorant – 1 Cor 1:30 Inadequate – 2 Cor 5:17-21; John 15:16; Eph 2:5-6 Incompetent – Mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16 Insecure – Established, anointed, sealed by God 2 Cor 1:21-22; Romans 8:35-39; Romans 8:1-2 Insignificant – significant – Mat 5:13-14; John 15:1, 5; John 15:16; 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:6; Eph 2:10 Insulted – Accepted – Luke 6:22-23; 1 Cor 13:5; Eph 4:32; Eph 1:4 Irresponsible – Phil 4:13; 1 Thess 4:11-12 Jealous – One in Christ – John 17:21 Left out – Bold access – Eph 2:18; 3:12; Citizen of heaven Phil 3:20 Lonely – Psa 63:1; Heb 13:5; Eze 34:11-15 Lost – Romans 10:13; Psalm 139:2-12 Lustful – Psalm 17:15; Romans 8:9; Psalm 36:8; Misunderstood – Psalm 139:1-4 Nasty – 1 John 1:7,9; 1 Cor 6:11; Heb 10:10 Not approved – 1 John 3:1; Psalm 5:12 Not cared for – 1 Peter 5:7 Not comforted – 2 Cor 1:4-5 Not nurtured – Phil 4:19; 84:11; Psa 91:4; Prov 30:5 Not loved – John 3:16; Isaiah 43:4; Gal 2:20b Not protected – Col 3:3; Psa 91:4; Prov 30:5 Not safe – Psa 4:8; Psa 61:3; Prov 18:10 Offended – Eph 4:31-32 Out of control – 2 Tim 1:7; Isaiah 33:6; yielded to God – Rom 6:13-14 Overwhelmed – My all-able, almighty God – 2 Cor 9:8; Eph 3:20; Rev 4:8, 19:6; Isaiah 9:6; John 16:33 Panicky – 2 Tim 1:7; Prov 3:25; Isaiah 41:10 Powerless – Dan 11:32; Psa 18:1; 59:9-10a; 59:17; Isa 12:2; Eph 1:19; Phil 4:13 Pressured – Gal 1:10; Gal 5:1; John 8:36; John 16:33 Put-down – Eph 2:6; Eph 2:10 Raped –Col 1:17; Rom 11:36; body washed with pure water - Heb 10:22b; Romans 8:37 Rejected – Romans 15:7; Eph 1:6 Repulsed – Hebrews 9:22 Resentful – Eph 4:31-32; Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14; Mic 7:18 Ruined – Renewed – 2 Cor 4:16; Psa 23:3 Scorned – I am the apple of His eye – Deut 32:9-10; Psalm 31:16 Seduced – 1 Cor 6:19-20; Psalm 23:1-3 Selfish – Phil 2:3; Gal 2:20 Shattered – Complete in Christ – Col 2:10; Romans 8:37 Sickened – Hebrews 9:22 Smothered – Rom 8:11; Isa 12:3; Gen 2:7 Stupid – 1 Cor 2:16; 1 Cor 1:30; James 1:5 Suffocated – Rom 8:11; Isa 12:3; Gen 2:7 Tainted – Heb 10:22 Terrified – Heb 13:6; Psa 46:1; Psa 32:7; 1 John 4:18-19; Prov 3:25-26 Timid – 2 Tim 1:7; Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:6; Prov 3:25-26 Tormented – Rom 5:1; Matt 18:35 Unaccepted – KJV Eph 1:6; Rom 15:7 Unhappy – Phil 4:11 Unloved – 1 John 3:1; Isaiah 43:1-4; Gal 2:20b Unsafe – I am a child of God and the evil one can not touch me – 1 John 3:1; 1 John 5:18; Psalm 4:8 Unprotected – 1 John 3:1; 1 John 5:18; Psa 91:4; Prov 30:5 Victimized – Gal 3:13-14 Violated – Romans 8:37 Weak – Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32 Whore – Col 3:12; Roman 1:7; 1 Cor 6:11 Worthless – 2 Cor 5:21

The Reality of Demons When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, "I will return to my house from which I came." Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself (Luke 11:24,26) The Bible does not attempt to prove the existence of demons any more than it attempts to prove the existence of God. It simply reports on their activities as if its first readers accepted their existence. Nor did the early church fathers have a problem with the reality and personality of demons. Origen wrote: "In regard to the devil and his angels and opposing powers, the ecclesiastical teaching maintains that the beings do indeed exist: but what they are or how they exist is not explained with sufficient clarity. This opinion, however is held by most that the devil was an angel; and having apostatised, he persuaded as many angels as possible to fall away with himself; and these, even to the present time, are called his angels." Luke 11:24-26 gives us a helpful view into the personality and individuality of evil spirits. We can glean several points of information about evil spirits from this passage. Demons can exist outside or inside humans They are able to travel They are able to communicate Each one has a separate identity They are able to remember and make plans They are able to evaluate and make decisions They are able to combine forces They vary in degrees of wickedness But you need not fear Satan and his demons as long as you cling to God's truth. Their only weapon is deception. Irenaeus wrote, "The devil can only go to this length, as he did at the beginning, to deceive and lead astray the mind of man into disobeying the commandments of God, and gradually to darken the hearts". If you continue to walk in the light, you don't need to be afraid of the darkness. Lord, I accept the reality of the spiritual world and Your rule over it. I will walk in the light and not fear the darkness.

INTRODUCTION There are many ways to fail in life, but the only way to succeed is to be intentional. We all have things in our lives we want to improve—yet when the changes start to feel overwhelming, we often give up too soon. Over the years I’ve learned that intentional living is the only way out! Either you let circumstances control you or you take responsibility for what’s under your control. You may not be able to make big, life changes overnight, but by committing to follow through on one small thing every day, you can inch yourself closer and closer to your goal. Ultimately, the only thing that’s going to make a difference in your life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That ONE THING is the foundation that every single intentional thing you endeavor to do should be built on. TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS I met my wife, Donna, when we were teenagers. Donna never saw me cry until the day my dad died. I stood at his side, held his hand and watched him take his last breath. I remember saying, “Dad, it’s okay—you can go home now,” and I let him go. A year or two before he died, he recognized his health was failing and he went out and bought a cemetery plot. He called me on the phone and there was excitement in his voice. He said, “Randy, I’ve made the final plans for the cemetery. I’ve got our plot for Mom and me—you won’t believe the view.” For my dad it was about location. He was Mr. Positive. When he talked about death he always said, “I’m going home to Heaven; don’t worry about it. Just drill a hole in the ground and drop me in.” We took my dad’s body back to Muskegon, Michigan, his hometown where I was born, and he was buried in Mona View Cemetery overlooking Mona View Lake. Our family followed the hearse out to the cemetery. It was a rainy, cold, May day in Michigan. With the rain pouring down, they placed a tent over the top of the hole in the ground. After we’d said our goodbyes to family members, my brothers Warren and Larry, and I were drawn back to my dad’s casket like magnets. Our wives had gotten in the car and the three of us just stood there with the water running off the tent. We joked with each other about Dad and the things he used to say to us. I remembered very clearly him say jokingly, “Some day you’ll stand over my grave.” And while the three of us stood there I said, “Dad, that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Then I thought, if he could say one more thing to us, I wonder what he would say. My dad was in a coma the last three weeks of his life. I had gone to see him one afternoon. I walked out of his hospital room and he was perfectly alert. When I walked back into his room ten minutes later, he was in a coma. I never had a chance to talk to him again. So, I thought to myself, what would he say to us? You know, your parents’ words come back to you. And I can hear his voice sometimes in my heart. I believe my dad would say, “Keep following Jesus, guys. It’s worth it.” He’d remind us, “Treat your wives with respect.” And he’d be sure to mention, “Take care of your mother.” My dad’s last instructions wouldn’t be about bank accounts or careers. It wouldn’t be about disputes or arguments. It would be about the things that matter most in order to be intentional. I am so excited that you’ve made a commitment to get to know Jesus Christ. The only thing that’s going to make a difference ultimately in your life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If my dad could have sat up one more time, I truly believe he would’ve said, “Tell them about Jesus.” You can strive to be intentional in many things, and intentional living works, but outside of Christ it’s going to be hollow. You have to know Him to really live fulfilled. It’s the ultimate ONE THING. GETTING TO KNOW HIM The Bible tells us that if we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead we can be a child of God and be saved (Romans 10:9). You have a personal invitation to know Christ and become God’s child. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV). But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12 NLT). From the very beginning, God created man and woman for a relationship with him. He placed them on the earth and gave them freedom of choice. Adam and Eve—the first of mankind—disobeyed God and that sin separated them from God and everyone born after them. • Sin caused a chasm between us and God. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23 NLT). • God made a way for us to re-establish a relationship with him through his son. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT). • Jesus became a bridge for us through his sacrifice on the cross, death burial and resurrection. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT). • Jesus is the way, but you and I have to make a personal choice to accept him as Lord and Savior. It’s the first step toward living the intentional life in Christ. The difference between successful people and those who are not is successful people take action. Here are five ONE THINGS you can do, starting now, that will help you come to know God in an intimate way: • Read your Bible every day. • Talk to God in prayer. • Spend time with other Christians in a church where the truth is preached. • Share your story and tell others about Christ. • Demonstrate your relationship with God by loving others. TIME WITH GOD IN HIS WORD The Bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). A while ago, on one of our Intentional Living radio broadcasts, I was talking to a young man who had made the decision to be very intentional about his faith. He explained that he, like so many others, did not spend time reading the Bible but starting that very next day he was going to make a commitment: Dr. Randy: “So, you’re going to start reading your Bible tomorrow and that’s terrific…what passage will you start with?” Caller: “I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. I was just going to flip it open and see what jumped out.” This is a very unintentional approach to an intentional decision. If you’re new to reading the Bible, I suggest starting with the book of John, in the New Testament. The Bible is divided into books, each with a different title. Sometimes the book is named after the person who wrote it (as is the case with John) or what is written about (like the book of Kings). Wherever you decide to start reading, don’t get discouraged if you suddenly don’t understand something. Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn, take a deep breath, and keep going. Don’t give up! Reading God’s Word will be a main source of growth in your new relationship with Him. Whatever tool you use, I pray God blesses you as you grow in faith and study His Word each day. TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER Prayer isn’t as difficult as it may seem. It’s just conversation with God. He is my constant companion, with me at all times so it stands to reason that I can talk to him at any moment. He’s my close personal friend and I talk to him that way. THE INTENTIONAL CHRISTIAN Thank you so much for being intentional enough and bold enough to give your life to Christ. My passion is to see you live an intentional life in Christ. An intentional Christian is a Christ-follower who actually follows. As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s easy to be very unintentional in our submission to Him. We make excuses and justify our actions when we want to go our own way. Have you ever watched a child follow? Imagine those little feet walking closely behind a parent— even placing their little feet directly into the footprints of the one they are following. They often mimic the actions, repeat the words, and follow specifically each thing that parent does. Now, there is nothing today that’s keeping us from being a true follower of Jesus Christ. It’s a decision that you and I have made. The Bible tells us that none of us just naturally seek to be a follower of Christ. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want (Galatians 5:17 NIV). It’s because of God’s wooing that draws us, and we fi nd ourselves in a position that we want to accept Him and make him a part of our lives. Only when you make an intentional decision to live your faith will you experience growth. Are you ready to grow in Him today? THE DECISION TO GROW Living an intentional life as a follower of Jesus Christ is a decision that you and I need to make. And there are three things you need to realize about being an intentional Christian. 1. We have to know enough about what God expects. That means it is important to understand what the Bible teaches us as we continue our journey following Him. 2. We have to understand enough about what we need to do. How does the Holy Spirit speaking in my life translate into what I need to be doing in my life? (I believe that God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit individually at times.) 3. We have to do enough to experience growth in our lives. We have to do something (act) in order to grow as a follower of Christ. You and I will be as spiritual in our lives as we decide to be. There is nothing today that keeps us from being really turned on in our faith. There’s nothing that’s keeping us from being a true follower of Jesus Christ. God does the saving, but we do the growing. You’re the one that decides if you’re going to submit and follow Him. Would you choose to grow in your walk with Christ today and focus on one of these three things? WE ARE HERE FOR YOU I want to help you in your faith walk. I desire to see you live each day purposefully and intentionally in every area of life. To that end, I’d like to know how you’re doing in your new and growing relationship with Christ. Email me at any time to share your story: DrRandy@TheIntentionalLife.com. While I can’t respond to every email I receive, I certainly will read your email, and I will join you in prayer. In addition, my staff and I would count it a privilege to pray for you and any needs that you’re experiencing. I urge you to leave your prayer request on our 24/7 prayer line at 888-907-PRAY. Prayer is the “One Thing” we all can do to support each other as Christ-followers Finally, if we can help you with products, resources or general questions about the ministry, please don’t hesitate to call our ministry center at 888-888-1717, online at TheIntentionalLife.com or you can write to us at: Intentional Living PO Box 35300 Tucson, AZ 85740

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” NIV   Read Ecclesiastes 2. King Solomon, the wisest, richest man who ever lived, recounts all of his life struggles for significance and accomplishment. List each of the endeavors he describes in this chapter. The Hebrew word for word “vanity” used throughout the book of Ecclesiastes means mist or vapor . Life is not wasted, it is fleeting. So what did Solomon conclude? Does your view of God allow you to experience enjoyment? Why or why not? Draw a pie chart to represent your life. What percentage is devoted to work? What portion is dedicated to rest? What portion is committed to holy leisure , to play? Discuss the diagram with your spouse or a close friend. Should your priorities be re-arranged?   Bob Buford, in his book Half Time , (p.26) talks about the moment Elijah experienced the still, small voice of God:   “The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV   The author lists several questions to ask when you hear God speak:   Am I quietly listening for the still, small voice of God, or am I too busy to be quiet? Is my work the center of my life and identity? Do I have an eternal perspective as a prism through which I view my life? What is my truest purpose? My life work? My destiny? What would my life look like if it really turned out well?   With a spouse or close friend) Explore and discuss the answers to these questions with your near ones. Spend some time praying for God to give you a glimpse of what a balanced, abundant life would look like for you.   (With your child) Read Psalm 8:1-2.   “O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise.” NLT   Take a “wonder walk” with your child. Don’t be in a hurry. Pick flowers, pebbles and leaves and allow him or her to thank God and enjoy His creation. Sit with your child and create a collage or draw a picture of the beautiful things they found. Tonight, let them tell you about the things they discovered on their walk. Give them the opportunity to quietly thank their Heavenly Father in their own words for all that He has made.   (With your teenager) Meditate on the following passage with your teen: “For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15 NKJV   What would returning and rest look like? Why would Isaiah say that quietness would bring strength? Try a techno fast for an afternoon. (For a whole day, if you’re brave!) During that period of time, turn off all electronics and spend some time in holy leisure, playing as a family. Take some quiet moments of reflection as well and write down the thoughts that God gives each of you. Share them together.   Going Deeper: Meditation   “Let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the Lord…Be accustomed to think of Him often, and you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.” Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God, p. 50. Study Asaph’s words to Jeduthan in Psalm 77:1-12. What was the psalmist’s state of mind as he began his prayer to God. Do you think it must have been difficult for him to quiet his mind and meditate upon the Lord? What was his emotional journey through this passage, and how did he find peace in the final verses? What can you learn from Asaph about quieting your mind in a time of great stress?       In Psalm 119, the psalm of the wonders of God’s Word, the poet describes several facets of God’s truth that should be the focus of our meditation. Read verses 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99 and 148. Write down the distinction of each of these synonyms for God’s Word. How will this enrich our love for His Word? Do you observe passion in the words of the psalmist? Where?       David pens Psalm 143 in great distress. The turning point of the psalm occurs in verse five. What are the two things David does? Write down the times God has worked in your life in the past. What are some answered prayers? What are some spiritual victories you have experienced? How have you sensed His manifest presence? Let God take you on a journey through your past during your meditation and remember His faithfulness.

Feasts of the Lord Then never let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or about observance of annual festivals, [...].  These are only a shadow of what was coming; the reality is the body of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17   Altars and feasts in the Old Testament were “thank you reminders” that God commanded the Jews observe so that they would recall and savor His protection, provision and care. The seven annual feasts of the Old Testament were not only reminders of God’s Hand on Israel during Old Testament history, but the feasts were prophetic pictures of God’s future plan from the sacrifice of Christ on the cross through His creation of a new heaven and a new earth.   The Passover (Pesech) signified the redemption of Israel from Egyptian slavery and protection from the Angel of Death. It was celebrated by killing and eating a lamb or kid. Parents took the time to teach their children about their own history and culture.   Exodus 12:25-27: “When you arrive in the land the LORD has promised to give you, you will continue to celebrate this festival. Then your children will ask, 'What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?' And you will reply, 'It is the celebration of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he killed the Egyptians, he spared our families and did not destroy us.' It was the last legitimate Old Covenant Passover sacrifice.   The Feast of Unleavened Bread ( Hag Hamatzot ) signified Israel’s sanctification. They could not eat leavened bread for seven days. The picture of this feast was a reminder that God had redeemed Israel out of Egypt in haste to be “holy” or “separate.” There were designated daily offerings during the feast of unleavened bread. The picture in the New Testament was the Last Supper, the body of Christ broken for sinful man.   Luke 22:19-20:“Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you — an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.” The Feast of First Fruits ( Yom Habikkurim ) was celebrated on the first Sabbath after Passover (Resurrection Sunday). The Jews presented a sheaf of the first barley harvest as a wave offering; and made a burnt offering and a grain offering. They recognized the redemption of the first-born in Egypt and recognizing God’s bounty in the Promised Land. 1 Corinthians 15:20-24: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. The Feast of Weeks, or Feast of the Harvest ( Shavuot ) is also called Pentecost in the Greek. It was observed because it signified the origination of Israel as the covenant people of Yahweh. During Old Testament times, it was a festival of joy, and offerings included the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. The Israelites were reminded of the giving of the Law at Sinai 50 days after crossing the Red Sea and thanked God for His blessings. Pentecost, fifty days after Resurrection Sunday, was the birth of the New Testament church.   Acts 2:38-41: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” The Feast of Trumpets ( Rosh Hashana ) was the beginning of the civil year. The feast signified the calling of Israel to judgment. The Jews held a sacred assembly and a day of rest commemorated with trumpet blasts and sacrifices. Israel presented itself before the Lord for his favor. The feast was a shadow of the second coming of Christ.   1 Corinthians 15:51-53: “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” The Feast of Atonement ( Yom Kippur ) signified the atonement of God’s covenant people. The day of atonement was a day of rest, fasting and sacrifices of atonement for priests and God’s people and atonement for the tabernacle and altar. Atonement was all about cleansing from sin and the purification of the people, priests and Holy Place. Many scholars believe it is a picture of the Great Judgment.   Hebrews 10:19-23 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths ( Sukkoth ) signified God’s presence with His Covenant people and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. In the Old Testament, it was week of celebration for the fruit harvest (grapes & olives) and God’s people spent the feast living in booths and offering sacrifices. The Feast memorializes the giving of the Tabernacle and allows the Jews to give thanks for the productivity of the land. The Feast of Tabernacles is the New Testament of a new heaven and earth where Christ will dwell with His people.   Revelation 21:1-3: “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, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.”   The Jews celebrated other feasts like New Moon, Hanukkah and Purim, but the seven annual feasts were powerful symbols of God’s Hand among His children.   (With your Child)   Have a “feast of booths” picnic with your child. Talk about how God provided manna in the desert and how the Isaraelites had honey crackers everyday. Have your child prepare their favorite foods for the picnic and read the story of the wilderness journey from a children’s Bible story book. Thank God for His care.   ( With your Teen )   Celebrate the Lord’s Supper with your family. Talk about the moment you received Christ. Have a time of private confession of sins, and then partake of the elements together. Mention one or two ways your life has changed since you became God’s child.     (With Spouse or a Friend) What does it do to your heart to know that God’s ultimate plan, the culmination of all of history, was to “tabernacle” or dwell with you for eternity? How does it make you feel to know that someone would want to love you like that? Can you meet the aloneness needs of someone else this week? Can you spend time thanking God for His gift of atonement and forgiveness?

What’s In a Name? Global positioning systems-what a boon to those of us who find ourselves directionally-challenged. We all need “GPS” assistance in our lives. Some of us are driving in circles, some are carelessly careening down life’s highway, clueless about their destination. The journey is not always about where we end up, but who we become along the way. A parent would often name a child a meaningful moniker to inspire and reflect a character quality the name described. In this final lesson of our “Greater Than” psalms series, we discover that God has destined us for greatness. Jeremiah prophesied this wonderful promise from God in Jeremiah 29:10-11:   “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV   God never simply sees us as we are, but who we can become. When we place our hand in His, He guides us to greatness.   From “Cheater” to “Prince”   Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, emerged from the womb grasping the heel of his elder twin brother, Esau. Isaac named his young son “supplanter” or “sneaky cheater.” (Genesis 25:26) How would you like to spend your formative years living up to your infamous name? Jacob subsequently rose to the challenge. Jacob conspired with his mother to deceive his father Isaac and steal his elder brother’s birthright. (Genesis 25:31) The story of intrigue between Esau and Jacob is both compelling and tragic. After escaping the wrath of Esau, Jacob continued his surreptitious behavior by cheating his father-in-law out of his prime livestock. (Genesis 30:37-41)   God saw past Jacob’s rough edges and saw the gem within. Through a series of encounters with God, Jacob became a “prince.” “Sneaky” was running away from the ire of Esau when he dreamed his legendary dream of the stairway to heaven. At that moment the angels of God were ascending and descending the stairway, and Jehovah spoke to him face to face:   “There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15 NIV   The moment of truth came for Jacob when he faced Jehovah at the ford of the Jabbok stream in Genesis 32:22-31. Jacob, paralyzed with fear about his older brother’s retribution, wrestled with the Angel of the Lord until daybreak.   “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."  The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." NIV   When Jacob met God face to face, he became “Israel,” or “prince” instead of “cheater.” Israel fathered a nation, just as God had promised. So often man looks upon the outside. God always looks upon our hearts. In Revelation 2:17, Jesus told the church at Pergamum that every believer who stood the test of faith in Him would receive a stone with a name written on it. The name was Jesus’ pet name for that person, and when we get to heaven, He will reveal that special “nickname” He has for us!   “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it .” NIV   What does your name mean? Have you ever asked your parents why they gave you that name? When God looks inside your heart, what do you think He would He call you? What would you want to be named?   Have you ever looked up the names of your spouse and your children? Look up the meaning of their names on www.namesmeaning.org . Read the opening statements of the site concerning the value of a name in the paragraph below. Has the meaning of your name impacted your life, or the life of a family member? How?   “First of all, a name is the answer to questions such as “Who am I?” and “What am I like?” Try asking a three year old boy “Who are you?” and the most likely replies to follow would be “I’m a boy” or “I’m Tom”. The importance of a name is truly enormous; after all, it helps shape a person’s life. Perhaps not as much so as gender but names allow children to psychologically be aware of themselves as individuals – an important aspect of their development. Let's talk about baby boy names and baby girl names! Our ancestors were sure that the fate of any person, city or even country depends on its name. The same idea carries on into modern day name changing customs that follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and imply a change in fate. Such is the meaning behind a woman taking the husband’s name after marriage. The same goes for writers and actors working under aliases, or name changes given upon receiving church callings or joining secret societies.”   Simon Became Peter Jesus saw Simon the fisherman bumbling through life with a big heart and a clumsy manner. Simon often had a case of “hoof and mouth disease.” Our first glimpse of Simon was when Jesus helped them catch a boatload of fish. (Luke 5:5) Jesus looked at two burly fishermen in the eye and simply said: “Follow me!” (Matthew 4:18) Simon and his brother Andrew immediately dropped their nets to follow this mysterious rabbi. Simon left his life’s work, his family business and his reputation at that seashore to start an adventure that would forever change the course of his life. In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Simon appeared first on the list among the names of Jesus’ disciples. But Simon was pretty unpredictable. One minute, he was jumping out of the boat onto the stormy sea to meet Jesus as he walked upon the waves. (Matthew 14:24-31) However, when he accompanied Jesus to the triumphant moment of Christ’s transfiguration, he babbled away and God told him to shut up and listen to Jesus. (Matthew 17:1-7) Simon’s defining moment came when Christ asked the disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” The other disciples hemmed and hawed, but Simon chimed in, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That was the moment when Simon got his new name. Jesus declared:   "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter (rock) , and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:17-20 NIV   Simon took awhile to live up to his new name. Only a few short verses after Jesus called him “rock,” Christ foretold his coming crucifixion. Peter would have none of it. So Jesus said to Peter, three verses later, “Get behind me, Satan!” How could you go from “rock” to “Satan” in a matter of seconds? Well, that was mercurial Peter. Jesus had given His most unpopular speech to five thousand seekers. The entire audience walked away with the exception of twelve loyal disciples. Dejected, Jesus looked into the eyes of His posse and asked: “Will you go away too?” Peter gently answered these affirming words in John 6:68-69:   “Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” NIV   Jesus was still patiently teaching Peter even at the Last Supper. Kneeling in front of the angler turned apostle, Christ prepared to wash Peter’s feet. Peter jumped from his chair and declared that Christ should not clean his dirty toes-he should be washing his master’s feet. Jesus retorted harshly in John 13:9: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” NIV Christ knew Peter needed to learn that he must first receive from Christ before he could minister to others. Did Peter finally learn his lesson? Not yet. He fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus needed his prayers. (Matthew 26:36-48) He denied Jesus three times when his Savior was being tried and condemned, (Matthew 26:74) and he was nowhere to be found at the cross. (John 18:25) Two chapters later, the contrite disciple appeared at the empty tomb and subsequently encountered the risen Christ. (John 20:6). Only one chapter later, Peter has returned to his old career on the sea. Jesus, undaunted by Peter’s ups and downs, fried him some fish sticks for breakfast and restored him to ministry. (John 21:17-19) Jesus asked his old friend, “Peter, do you love me?”   “The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"...He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" NIV   Peter did just that. He followed Christ all the way to his death, but not before he had an earth-shaking, Spirit-filled ministry. Peter finally lived up to his name-not in his own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. At the end of his life, this brave apostle penned these words in 1 Peter 1:6-8:   “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. NIV   Simple Simon became powerful Peter-anointed at Pentecost, performing miracles, shepherding souls, and penning Bible books that would edify the church of God for ages to come. If God could take a Simon and see in his eyes a rock, he can transform us in the same way. We become like Christ not because we deserve it, not because we meet His expectations. We live up to our name through God’s love and grace. And one day, when we reach heaven’s glory, we will be like Him: “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV   Can you identify with Peter? Do you ever waver in your faith? List some “Simon” moments in your life: moments of faith and moments of faltering. How do Peter’s foibles give you hope that God does not ever give up on you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s grace (His unmerited favor)? Have you ever seen His power manifested in your life? When? What were the circumstances?           How does it make you feel to know that God loves you unconditionally? If you could describe some of the Christlike characteristics you would want Jesus to develop in your life, what would they be? If you could know your “pet name” that Jesus promises you in Revelation 2, what would you want your nickname to be?

Worship's Scope   "When they saw Him, they worshiped Him" (Matthew 28:17)   The scope, or extent of worship can be both wide or narrow. In one sense everything we do that gives glory to God is worship. Paul said, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God) (1 Corinthians 10:31, NAS). So every act that is within His perfect will and performed with a pure heart could be considered worship. Washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, even the mundane functions of life can be an offering to Him.   But worship also involves times of intense intimacy, moments when we focus only on God and exchange thoughts of love and commitment. These moments may occur during private devotions or during corporate services.   So the scope of worship can be wide or narrow, but in the course of life it must be both. Worship must be a lifestyle that regularly manifests itself in "acts" of worship. We must worship Him by faithfully performing daily, mundane acts, but we must also devote time to intimate, focused communion. We must not settle for just "living for Jesus" without the times of direct expressions of adoration and praise. It takes both. Worship's Uniqueness   When we enter into "times of worship: we must not confuse worship with other good spiritual disciplines. For instance:   Teaching is speaking to man about God. Worship's Uniqueness   When we enter into "times of worship: we must not confuse worship with other good spiritual disciplines. For instance:   Teaching is speaking to man about God. Evangelism is speaking to lost men about God. Service is helping men in God's name. Worship is speaking to God about God. Worship's Direction   Since we are to "worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only", there's only one valid dir5ection we can look while worshiping - to God.   Teaching and evangelism are horizontal types of communication, we look to each other. Worship is a vertical type of communication, we look to God. When your mind is focused on God you can worship. If your mind is focused on yourself or others, you're not in a posture to worship.   BIBLE STUDY   Although Revelation 3:20 is often used as an appeal to the lost person, it was written to the church at Laodicea - to Christians! It is an invitation to worship. What can we learn about worship from this verse?   As mentioned earlier, worship is both broad and narrow. According to these verses from 1 John, what are some characteristics which must be in our lives if we claim to know and worship God? (1 John 3:17, 4:8, 2:15, 2:3). Notice in Psalm 119 that the psalmist is speaking directly to the Lord. This is a good example of the vertical orientation that is necessary in worship. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham told his servant, "Stay here with the donkeys while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you" (Genesis 22:5). Why did Abraham see this event as an act of worship? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Think of some worship songs that are sung in your church? To whom are these songs sung. List songs that fit in one of these categories: worship, teaching/exhortation, evangelism Although we can demonstrate our love for God by living others, why is it important to express our love to Him directly? When you speak to God in worship, what type of phrases are appropriate? Are obedience to God and worship related? Explain your answer. ASSIGNMENT   Realizing that worship is a lifestyle, list five things you could do tomorrow that would demonstrate your devotion to God.   Realizing that a lifestyle of worship will inevitably manifest itself in "acts" of worship, compose five sentences which would serve as appropriate expressions of worship if spoken directly to God.

A very wealthy gentleman offered a poor young boy the opportunity to earn some extra money by watching over his home while he and his family went away for a vacation. Upon returning, the wealthy gentleman discovered that the poor young boy had wasted all his time enjoying the home instead of taking care of it. Judging his performance, the gentleman declared the boy an unfit worker. Unlike this poor young boy, believers must be good stewards of the resources God has graciously given us. We must refrain from getting too comfortable and instead remember that we are to merely manage these resources. It is essential to remember that we did not earn these resources by merit but instead received them by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Upon his return, all believers will be judged based on their good works for Jesus and his Kingdom. Our salvation cost Jesus his life; therefore, He wants to know how we made the most of that gift. Jesus will evaluate every believer on the use of their time, talents, and treasures. The evaluation of our stewardship will be accounted for through our faithfulness, productivity and profession to Jesus and his Kingdom. The accountability of our faithfulness will be seen through our consistency and dependability. Could he count on us? Jesus will account for our productivity by witnessing whether we cared about the quality of our effectiveness within our faithful works. Jesus will account for our profession by the measure at which we remained true to our Kingdom assignment despite unfavorable circumstances, in which our witness may have been rejected. Jesus Christ will purposefully, personally, and publicly condemn useless believers for the Kingdom. As a believer, if you are not taking the return of the King seriously, you are missing the principle of accountability, which will lead you to condemnation. Jesus is keeping a detailed record of all the ways in which we are utilizing our resources. In the end, he will ask every believer how we managed the resources given to us. Our responsibility is to accept the challenge of usefulness for the Lord and his Kingdom and use what we were given for his glory. Getting Started 1. What does good stewardship look like to you? 2. What are some of the challenges of being faithful in your productivity to Jesus and the Kingdom? Let's Get Personal 1. How would you evaluate the use of your time, talents, and treasures for the Kingdom of God? 2. Sometimes our witness is rejected, but we must fulfill our call. How will you fare in the judgment of your accountability to your faithfulness to Jesus in difficult circumstances? 3. In what ways are you taking the return of the King seriously on a daily basis? Take The Next Step 1. How can you improve the use of your time, talents, and treasures to better glorify Jesus? 2. How can you strengthen your witness of Jesus to expand his Kingdom and bring him honor? 3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: 2 Corinthians 5:9- 11; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Peter 1:17; Matthew 12:36- 37; Matthew 10:42; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Mark 10:28-31; Romans 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 3:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 16:27; Ephesians 2:8- 10; Revelation 21:4; Ephesians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Luke 19:17; 1 John 2:28; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Matthew 19:29; John 12:26; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:16; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 10:35-36; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 8:17; Matthew 25:14-30; Hebrews 10:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:38; Matthew 22:11-14; Isaiah 30:15; Acts 3:19; Mathew 3:2; Matthew 3:8; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11; James 4:1-10; Matthew 12:41; Matthew 22:1-14 Renew Your Mind He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’ Luke 19:26

People often think of desiring rewards as selfish, but believers know that heavenly rewards are given in recognition of a life lived according to God’s principles. Although these rewards are gained or lost based on our service to Christ, we never have to wonder if we have done enough to earn salvation. Our salvation is a free gift from God that we cannot earn (Ephesians 2:8-10). We can be completely secure in our salvation and in our place as an adopted child in the family of God. As children of God, we are His heirs (Romans 8:17). We are in God’s will to be rewarded. How do we earn rewards? Rewards are based on our level of commitment to Christ. Were we ashamed to be Christians or were we willing to be identified as visible and verbal followers of Christ? One reward will be the public approval of Christ. Other rewards will include levels of rulership and authority that will be granted based on our faithfulness to Christ. Special privileges will also be available to some Christians, but not all. How we live our earthly life will determine the rewards we experience in our eternal life. We will be rewarded in spite of the challenges we had to overcome. Because of our commitment to Christ, we have the power to overcome sin, suffering, rejection and much more. Scripture tells us we face three enemies—the world, the flesh and the devil. These enemies cannot take away our salvation, but they can divert us from our purpose and calling. To defeat these enemies, we must depend on the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit and remain steadfast in our love for Christ. Even in the face of opposition and struggle, we have no reason to fear. Christ has already overcome the world and we can be overcomers through Him (John 16:33) and in Him are our rewards. Getting Started 1. People often leave things of value to those they love. What are some things of value God has left His children in His will? 2. Why do people sometimes feel ashamed to be identified as a Christian? Let's Get Personal 1. What is your level of commitment to Christ currently? Why do you think your commitment is at that level? 2. Which enemy is the most difficult for you to overcome—the pressure of the world, your flesh and sinful desires, or the devil? Why is that enemy a struggle for you? 3. How has your thinking about rewards been biblical or unbiblical? How will you now incorporate the idea of rewards into your daily decision-making? Take The Next Step 1. How can you begin to deepen your love for Christ and strengthen your commitment to Him? 2. What steps can you take through the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin, suffering, the devil, and the world? 3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: 2 Corinthians 5:9- 11; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Peter 1:17; Matthew 12:36- 37; Matthew 10:42; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Mark 10:28-31; Romans 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 3:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 16:27; Ephesians 2:8- 10; Revelation 21:4; Ephesians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Luke 19:17; 1 John 2:28; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Matthew 19:29; John 12:26; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:16; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 10:35-36; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 8:17. Renew Your Mind “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossians 3:23-24

Should we pray curses upon our enemies? Psalm 35   As I listened to my friend speak in anguish of her helplessness to stop her husband’s infidelity, my anger began to boil. Her heartache was crushing, and I was searching to find words that might somehow comfort her. Have you ever had an anger so deep you could not filter your tongue? Have you ever cried for days not knowing how to wade through your grief? If you can answer yes to either one of these questions, I think you would be blessed and comforted to read the Imprecatory Psalms.   The Imprecatory Psalms are some of the hardest passages in scripture to interpret because they appear to invoke judgement, calamity or curses on our enemies or on those who we perceive to be the enemies of God. The word “imprecate” means to curse.  It is important to remember that these Imprecatory Psalms were prayerful poetry written during some of the harshest times in Israel’s history, when nations and individuals were coming against God’s people. And, from America’s place of safety and security these Psalms can be very disturbing for us to read. One of the things we learn from these Imprecatory Psalms is that antisemitism is nothing new. For generations the demonic has hated the Jewish people. We also learn it is more than ok to bring our deep unfiltered sadness to God. Do you think it is ever appropriate to pray curses on someone? To fully address this question I want us to look at some principles about interpreting God’s word. The majority of our time we will spend looking at these guidelines, but we will also look at parts of Psalm 35 and see how it might relate to our own prayers.   Firstly, when trying to interpret hard to understand passages in the Bible, it is important to see scripture as the best commentary on scripture. It is good to study what godly and brilliant theologians have written, but it is also important to analyze what other passages in the Bible say about this same issue. For example: What did Jesus teach us about praying for our enemies? This would be very helpful information when trying to interpret the Imprecatory Psalms. In the sermon on the plain in Luke 6:27-31 Jesus said,               27  “But I say to you who hear,  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate       you,  28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  29  To one who strikes       you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not      withhold your tunic either.  30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who      takes away your goods do not demand them back.  31  And as you wish that others would        do to you, do so to them.  ESV   What kind of prayers did Jesus have in mind when he told us to pray for our enemies? Did he ask us to curse them? No. He wanted us to pray, prayers full of mercy.   What did Paul teach us about how to recognize our true enemies? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul wrote,   12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the  authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  ESV   Paul taught that our true adversaries are not flesh and blood, but the evil powers who are at work in the unseen world. The Imprecatory Psalms then can and should be used to pray against the spiritual forces trying to disrupt, and assault our lives and the lives of those we love. Secondly, when trying to interpret hard to understand passages in the Bible, it is important to remember that the words and actions of Jesus take precedent. While all of the word of God is inspired, and useful for teaching some passages of scripture carry more weight than others. The teachings of Christ are the most important to listen too when trying to apply the Bible.  The Imprecatory Psalms could be misapplied if we did not hold to the superiority of Jesus’ teaching.   In Luke 6:32-36 Jesus goes on to explain in more depth why we bless those who curse us.               32  “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love  those who love them. 33  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is  that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34  And if you lend to those from whom you  expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in   return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is  kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  ESV   The call from Jesus is clear. Christ’s followers are to grow in mercy, so they eventually reflect the Father’s heart of mercy. We are set apart by God to live radically different lives than those around us. In the short time we have upon this earth we have been chosen to show the mercy of our Father in heaven. Only God, can bring about the ultimate transformation from an angry, vengeful heart to a heart of mercy, but it is important to remember that this is the direction the Holy Spirit is working toward.   Did Jesus model merciful prayers for his enemies? Yes, from the cross he prayed one of the most useful and powerful prayers we can pray in the scriptures.   “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:24 ESV   Often times when I am teaching on this passage, someone will say, “They know exactly what they are doing. To pray that prayer would be a lie.” But, do they really know the consequences of their behavior?  Yes, I know they are sinning intentionally, but have they realized the price they and their loved ones are going to pay for their willfulness. I don’t believe any of us are truly aware of the full consequences our sins will unleash. Lastly, when trying to interpret hard to understand passages in the Bible, it is ok to live with mystery. Whenever we cannot reconcile two passages of a scripture the error will belong with us, and not with the word of God. Maybe, we need a longer time of meditation before God will give us clarity or application, and maybe we will need to do more research on a section of scripture. God’s word is so deep, that even after two thousand years of Christian teaching, exposition and commentaries we have yet to plumb its depths.   We do know, God as the author of the Bible, desires to fill us with his Holy Spirit, so he can teach us his word. It is important to remember we study the Bible, so we can apply God’s word, not to get smarter or impress others with our biblical trivia. Life change should be the goal of every Bible study. It is ok to live with mystery for a while when it comes to trying to decipher the meaning of a passage.   In Ephesians 6:12, Paul asserts that our enemy is not flesh and blood, so one practical way to apply the Imprecatory Psalms then is to view them as prayers we can pray when we suspect we have entered a spiritual struggle. Psalm 35 was composed and saved, so we could know how to pray against evil schemes. Look at these artful words from Psalm 35:1-10, 22-28 and as you do, imagine yourself praying these verses against demonic oppression.     1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! 3  Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” 4  Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! 5  Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away! 6  Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them! 7  For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. 8  Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction! 9  Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation. 10  All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?” 22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23  Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24  Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 25  Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart's desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26  Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me! 27  Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” 28  Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.  ESV How might praying these words change lives?   When we are angry, like I was sitting with my broken-hearted friend, it is imperative we obey Jesus’ command and forgive these people we see as instigating the hurt. But, stopping there will leave us discouraged. We must learn to recognize how the demonic is exploiting the suffering we are witnessing and experiencing. The Imprecatory Psalms give us bold words to pray against the evil forces that have been trying to take advantage of our spiritual and emotional wounds.   To pray these verses in Psalm 35 we may need to change some personal pronouns, especially if we are a woman. For example, compare the pronouns below in my “prayer a phrase version”, with those found in the ESV translation of Psalm 35:10,             All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for her, the poor and needy from him who robs her?”   When praying for a group like our families or churches we will need to make the pronouns plural. And, remember in spiritual warfare it is always wise to to cover ourselves first in prayer.   Go back and close out our study time by praying Psalm 35:1-10, 22-28 out loud.

When you enter heaven, how much will you know? Will you have all knowledge as it pertains to your life? Perfect knowledge as it pertains to everything? Can we learn in heaven? According to one survey, only 18% of Americans believe that people will "grow intellectually in heaven.” It makes sense. We should know everything in heaven, right? In the presence of God, won't all knowledge be ours? I don’t believe so. I think that Scripture sides with the 18% who believe we will be learners in heaven. Paul says, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace” (Eph 2:6-7). Do you catch the presumption of active learning in heaven in that verse? God is going to show us the incomparable riches of his grace… in the coming ages ! What are the incomparable riches of his grace he will show us? The list is endless. We will certainly understand the wonder of God’s grace on the cross more perfectly, but we will also be shown more profoundly God’s grace in creation, in art, in science, in beauty! America’s greatest theologian Jonathan Edwards rejoiced in the progressive increase of our knowledge in heaven, “The number of ideas of the saints shall increase to eternity.” In God’s grace-filled purpose, we are built to be learners. The wonders of the new heavens and the new earth are an invitation to discovery. We need eternity to explore our infinite God, who is incomprehensibly beautiful and intelligent. Each day we will exclaim about God first, and then his creation, “Look! Can you imagine? This is amazing!” We will read; we will talk; we will study; we will learn. We will explore; we will discover; we will create; and we will work. That’s right, we’ll work! As God reaches the apex of his creation on the sixth day, he says of what will be the crown of his mind-bendingly spectacular world, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God’s first words to Adam and Eve echo his purpose for them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over .” We were made for dominion. We were made to rule, to steward, to create, to organize, to care. We were made to work. The curse for Adam’s sin in Genesis 3 is not that he will work; it’s that his work, for the first time, is going to be hard. He’s going to battle thorns and thistles, and his work is going to make him sweat. In heaven, we will experience work restored (and even better!) than the work Adam experienced: fulfilling, exciting, purposeful. We’ve all had a glimpse of this promise in our lives. Even in some of my early jobs, I remember the satisfaction of purposeful work. I remember creating my own twist of a dish when I worked as a chef in a fast food Japanese restaurant in high school. I was delighted as the staff greedily gobbled down my new concoction. I remember the feeling of having deep cleaned, re-stocked, and re-organized the officer’s tower when I worked as a Detention Officer. And of course, there have been so many powerful moments of joy as a pastor. “Do you know, dear friends, the deliciousness of work?” Charles Spurgeon once asked his congregation. Do you? You will! We are Christ’s workmanship, “an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” God will not turn his instruments prepared for noble purposes and good works into paperweights in heaven. Heaven will be dynamic. The new heavens and new earth will be a place of learning and growth. Days will roll by, each as full and dynamic, and restful, and delightful as the last. There will be laughter and work and discovery and all of it will be done as worship. Can you wait for that dynamic day? God calls us into a non-static destination. The Unicorn, upon reaching the new Narnia in CS Lewis’s The Last Battle rejoices, “’I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now… come further up, come further in!’” A dynamic reality awaits us and God calls us, even now “come further up, come further in!”

Many of us enjoy stories about good versus evil. We love to watch the good guy defeat the bad guy. Still, we often underestimate how enticing and persuasive the bad guy can be. Our spiritual enemy wants to defeat us by trapping us in his warped way of thinking called worldliness, a satanic system that compromises our faith, twists our values, and distorts our priorities. This worldly way of thinking leaves God out completely. Scripture says that when we are friends with the world, we become enemies of God, and it compares us to someone committing adultery ( James 4:4 ). Worldliness creates competing loyalties in our hearts, pulling us toward our sinful desires and away from God’s best for us and from God Himself. Christians must not allow the values of this world to interfere with our relationship with God. We will pay a high price for our worldliness as it causes us to lose out on experiencing God’s presence, protection and perspective. While we will not lose our salvation due to a worldly mindset or behavior, we can lose our connection with God, no longer feeling His presence. This is because our sin puts a wedge between Him and us and blocks our prayers ( Psalm 66:18 ). Second, we do not experience God’s protection fully because we face consequences for our sin. When our hearts and minds are under the spell of worldliness, we often do not confess our sins and are more likely to feel the sting of consequences. Third, when we operate with a worldly mindset, we do not have access to God’s thoughts and His perspective because our thinking is confused and double-minded. A double-minded believer is unstable ( James 1:8 ). Worldliness turns our priorities upside down by making pleasure more important than purpose and the temporary more important than the permanent. We become more interested in feeling good than fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives and pursuing His Kingdom Agenda. This great reversal causes us to treat temporary things as if they will last forever and things that are eternal as if they will not last. We must remember that eternity is more important than time. We must keep our eternal future in focus. We cannot let ourselves be distracted and confused by the worldly system so that our relationship with the Lord is not hindered. On this issue, the Bible is crystal clear: You are either on the side of the world or the side of God. Love the things of this world, and you do not have the love of God in you ( 1 John 2:15 ). On which side do you want to live? GETTING STARTED What does our culture view as more valuable than God? What are some worldly things that people pursue which bring instant satisfaction but have lasting, negative consequences? LET’S GET PERSONAL What tempts you to focus on the world instead of eternity? How have your values been twisted by worldliness? What new perspective did you gain about worldliness in light of this message? How has worldliness affected your relationship with God or damaged your relationships with others? TAKE THE NEXT STEP How can you begin to reorder your priorities to value eternal things above temporal things? What sins do you need to confess to the Lord? How could you begin to strengthen your prayer life? Have an accountability partner help you pray consistently and prioritize confession this week. How can you help a friend or family member pursuing worldliness to return to God? Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages:  1 John 2:15-17 ;  Romans 12:2 ;  Galatians 1:4 ;  John 15:18-19 ;  James 4:4 ;  1 John 5:4 ;  1 Corinthians 11:32 ;  Galatians 6:14 ;  John 12:31 ;  John 14:30 ;  1 John 5:19 ;  John 16:11 ;  John 17:15-16 ;  1 Corinthians 7:31 ;  John 16:33 ;  1 Corinthians 3:1-3 ;  Colossians 3:1-11 . RENEW YOUR MIND “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 www.ocbfchurch.com. tonyevans.com.