“But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells” 2 Peter 3:13 In our Scripture text, the Apostle Peter warns believers that they will face mockers who scoff at their anticipation of the end times. He assures them, that in God’s perfect timing, judgment will make way for a new heaven and a new earth. The believer’s responsibility in light of this assurance is to live life in such a way that demonstrates your expectance of eternity. Having an eternal focus means we must live in light of God’s perspective. God does not look at time in the same way that we do. His timetable is not our timetable. While He is patient with us, God works on His own clock .We do ourselves a disservice when we evaluate things by our clock and calendar rather than by His. This is why the believers in 2 Peter 3:1-14 were to be encouraged in light of the scoffers, although it seemed that God’s timing was slow from a human perspective, God’s timing supersedes our understanding. We must be willing to trust His wisdom by adjusting our lives according to the timetable that He sets in place. We must also live in light of God’s Word. This means that we live according to God’s will in all things with anticipation of His final reign. We are to reject the tendency to live like those who have no desire to allow the Word of God to bring change to their lives. Scoffers question God’s Word because they do not want it to interfere with their lifestyles and choices. We who hold to the truth of God’s Word must take it seriously. If we intend to live in light of God’s perspective and His Word we must also consider His priorities. Living in light of God’s priorities means that the eternal is weighed more heavily than the temporal. When we learn to distinguish and choose rightly between the temporal and the eternal, we will begin to live in light of the new world that is to come and it will be a driving force in what we say and do. An eternal focus leads us to live righteously, with holiness and godliness, not allowing those who question the Word of God to lessen our focus on eternity. The culture today is in desperate need of Christians who will unapologetically shift their lives to reflect an eternal focus and openly oppose that which slights the Word of God. We need to be Christians who live in anticipation of God’s promise of a new heaven and new earth in which righteousness dwells. 1. In what ways are we tempted to adapt our lives to the culture? What makes maintaining an eternal focus challenging for believers? 2. Share an example of when you or someone you know benefited from living life with an eternal focus among a morally decaying culture. 3. Imagine a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells and there is no sin. Considering what has been promised, what thoughts or feelings are evoked concerning the life you live today? 4. What is one area of your life that would benefit from a greater eternal focus? 5. Since some of what God determines to do is based on what we choose to do or not do, what do you need to begin doing or stop doing in order to see God work in your life? 6. Who is influencing you to move away from God? Who are you influencing to move towards God?

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world.” 1 John 2:15 When we as believers love this world more than our eternal home with Christ, we risk not experiencing the fullness of God on earth. To love the world is to value the organized system that is led by Satan. (John 12:31) If and when we find ourselves putting more emphasis on an evil kingdom, wherein God is excluded, we should expect that God will be more absent, than present in our day to day lives. Loving the world has a cost. When a person chooses to prioritize the world over God, he or she will miss out on intimate fellowship with God. Their love for the world effectively creates a conflict because they are seeking to replace God the Creator, with His creation. The love of the world involves three things - 1) lust of the flesh, 2) lust of the eyes, 3) the pride of life. The lust of the flesh involves the prioritization of physical appetite over God – we want what we crave with our flesh even if that means independence from God. The lust of the eyes occurs when we seek to value what we can see or understand even if that places us in opposition to God. The pride of life happens when we seek status independently of God. When we focus on what we crave, what we see, or significance independent of God, we miss out on the full and vibrant experience of His love. Loving the world means that one’s actions and decisions demonstrate a higher value on time than on eternity. People who love the world treat what is transient and temporary like it is permanent; they make the will of the world more important than the will of God. If we want an impactful relationship and experience with God in this life, it requires that we make the world secondary to our relationship with God. He must be first. Live in this world but love the world to come. 1. In what ways do people illustrate that they love the world? 2. What do you love in this world? Do you love that thing, person, experience, more than you love God? How do you know? 3. What are the influences that pull you towards loving things of this world? 4. What changes can you make to minimize those influences? 3. ? What often blocks our success when we attempt to redirect ourselves to value God more than the world? What things can you do to overcome these road blocks? 5. How does this understanding of an eternal perspective change your current perspective, priorities and actions? 6. What represents the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life for you right now? What specific action can you take this week to say no to those interruptions in your experience of God? 7. Want to dig deeper? Select some of the following verses to review individually or during the time of reflection with your group: Romans 12:2, John 15:18-19, James 4:4, 1 John 5:19, and Galatians 1:4; 6:11-16. What do each one of these verses teach you about loving the world verses loving God? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

When we have a crisis, that crisis should drive us to the Lord and not away from Him. In  John 11 , Martha and Mary went to Jesus with a crisis of life and death for which there was no earthly or human solution. Martha and Mary were Jesus’ friends, and they shared an intimate relationship. In  John 11:3  and  11:5 , the Word says that Jesus loved them and they loved Him. Martha and Mary went to Jesus for help in their time of trouble. This story shows believers that even, and especially, during times of crisis, they should go to God with their requests. This passage also teaches us that one can be spiritual and enjoy intimacy with God, yet be smack dab in the middle of a crisis. What’s important is that we don’t view our crisis as either a measure of our spirituality or as a reason to distance ourselves from intimacy with the Savior. Instead, we must trust that even in our difficulties, God can reveal His greater glory ( John 9:1-3 ) as He simultaneously works things out for our good. It can be hard, however, when it doesn’t look like Jesus cares or when it doesn’t seem as if He is there when we experience trouble in this world. In  John 11:21 , Martha expressed her disappointment that Jesus wasn’t around when her brother died. Both she and her sister wondered why Jesus not only was absent on the day that Lazarus died, but actually delayed His arrival by two days. It’s okay to be perplexed, to raise questions, and to be honest with God in a crisis. When we are honest with God, He is not surprised. While our emotions are real, we shouldn’t lean on our emotions because they have the great potential to lead us incorrectly. Our emotions should only drive us to God, who is the foundation of our faith. When we come to God with our questions, concerns, fears, and insecurities, we position ourselves to experience God’s power. As we have faith, we benefit from Jesus’ intercessory work and see God glorified. Jesus demonstrated His power when Martha exercised faith and removed the stone of Lazarus’ grave. Faith is not a feeling; it is an action for the believer to act like God is telling the truth. Jesus delayed coming to see Lazarus because He was looking for God’s greater glory. Also, Jesus only prayed after He witnessed Martha’s obedience of faith. In the same way, we must exercise faith because that is what pleases God. Then we can look for how God is going to be glorified in the situation, even when things look worse. Stay with Christ in your crisis. Don’t abandon Him. Instead, drive yourself to Him. When that’s difficult, allow others to walk with you and help you seek Him for your good and His glory. Do you find it challenging to be honest with God? Why or why not? John 11  paints a picture of Jesus and His intimate relationship with his friends. Would you define your relationship with Christ as intimate? Why or why not? What does the Word tell us we should do as it relates to our intimacy with Christ (cf.  Heb 4:16 )? Many people, Christians included, ask “why me” when a crisis hits in their life or the lives of the people they love. Have you ever asked “why me?” If you’ve ever felt that God was being unfair, how did you reconcile your faith in God and your disappointment about your situation?

Our battles are sourced in the spiritual realm, not in the physical realm. If you are focused on the physical realm, then you will not get to the root of the problem causing your battles. Prayer is a tool that believers have for engaging in the spiritual realm. The process of spiritual victory will begin when we understand that we have an enemy we cannot see ( Matt 16:21-23 ). We must realize that we have a Savior and, through the cross, He has accomplished everything we need for victory in spiritual warfare. We also need to understand the resources and supplies He has given to us through the armor of God. Our prayer lives are crucial, and prayer should saturate our everyday lives. We should pray all the time about everything and in every situation. Sometimes our prayers may be short. At other times they might be long. Prayer can happen while we are walking, sitting, or standing. Prayer is how all believers can remain in the flow of contact with God. It is a way of life: ongoing connection and conversation with God. We don’t have to wait for a crisis situation to pray. The Holy Spirit is essential to our prayers and the impact we want to have in the spiritual realm ( 1 Cor 2:10 ). We illustrate our dependence on the Holy Spirit when we pray ( Dan 10:12 ). He helps us pray when we aren’t even sure what to pray. Our choice to walk in step with the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh is also an important part of our prayer life. Obedience to the Holy Spirit as we live our lives and obey God’s Word matters in our prayers, too. Willingness to live surrendered to God’s will and way frees the Holy Spirit to overpower the flesh and overpower the devil because He is greater. Spiritual warfare includes your prayers. Talking about your concerns, researching solutions, and seeking wise counsel might be helpful, but they do not hold a candle to the work that happens on your behalf in the spiritual realm when you pray. Prayer is a tool available for you to participate with in the battle waging in the unseen. Pray. Utilize the tools that God has given you to fight. For many people, the concept of spiritual warfare is difficult to understand. The world we live in is physical, so to grasp the idea of something happening that we can’t see might be difficult. What about you? Is it difficult for you to accept this message of unseen spiritual warfare? Why or why not? While we are encouraged in Scripture to pray without ceasing, many people have a specific time of day that they enjoy intentionally and purposefully praying with God. Do you have a time that works well for you to focus on talking to God? When is that? Experiencing victory through prayer is very much connected to our willingness to surrender to God’s will and to walk in obedience. Are you walking obediently with God’s revealed will in Scripture? In what ways have you been delaying obedience? What will be different in your prayer life because of the truth you heard about prayer and spiritual warfare? Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages:  Luke 18:1 ;  Daniel 10:12-13 ;  1 Corinthians 2:10 ;  Matthew 16:21-23 Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

It is of the utmost importance that believers understand the spiritual authority they possess.  In Ephesians, Paul prayed that the believers would grasp the depth and breadth of their authority because he was concerned they would not maximize their power.  Just like Paul prayed for a greater comprehension of the believer’s authority, we ought to pray for more understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of spiritual authority (which is Kingdom authority). The authority Paul prayed for, that other believers should also pray for, is available to us based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is a power that God wants to transfer to believers.  However, this power exists in the spiritual realm and in heavenly places ( Eph 6:10-12 ).  It does not exist on earth, and that is why prayer is critical in the life of the believer.  Believers should ask for power and ask to see life the way God sees it ( Ps 119:18 ).  If the person who trusts in Christ’s resurrection power does not pray, then they are only oriented towards earth and will not experience the power that God gives.  Jesus is seated in heavenly places ( Eph 2:4-6 ) and that connection to Him is the key to our spiritual kingdom – oriented on Earth. Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is critical for experiencing His power; and our submission to Christ is accomplished through the church ( Eph 3:10 ).  When people skip God’s spiritual source, the church, or skip the spiritual connection to heavenly places, or skip the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church ( Col 1:18 ;  2:10 ), then they are not plugged into the system through which God delivers His power.  Disconnection from the lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Christ from the church dumbs down the flow of power and authority that God has for His people.  Every believer who wants to see God’s power fully at work in his or her life should understand the authority they have access too, how God’s authority works, and pray for a greater understanding of God’s power.  This is so that they are able to maximize their contribution to the Kingdom while on earth and personally experience the fullness of God's abundant life! In your own words, share your understanding of God’s authority and power. What does it look like for a believer to walk in spiritual authority? Do you pray to experience spiritual authority and power in your life? Why or why not? God’s authority has a delivery system. The delivery system includes the local church.  Are you in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as it relates to your engagement and involvement in the local church?  Why or why not? What can you do today to increase your submission to Christ so that you are positioned to experience maximum power? Want to dig deeper? Take a look at the following passages:  Ephesians 2:4-6 ;  3:10 ;  6:10-12 ;  2 Kings 6:15-17 ;  Psalm 119:18 ;  Colossians 1:15-20 ;  2:8-15 Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

When committed believers pray, an atmosphere is created which allows God to change His mind about negative events in their lives. Hopeless situations, disappointing circumstances, or even consequences of unaddressed sin may cause a Christ follower to want God to alter an existing course or path in their life. The good news is that God can change His mind as exhibited by the story of Hezekiah. The Bible says Hezekiah was very sick and headed toward a sure death. God told Hezekiah that he was about to die and should get his affairs in order, because death was certain and imminent. However, Hezekiah went to God in prayer asking Him to change His mind, and God did. This biblical story gives us hope even when God has spoken in His Word about a particular outcome or when common knowledge would say that a certain outcome is eminent. A part of God’s nature is that He does not change His essential character, but God can change how He applies His nature in a given scenario. From a human stand point, it may appear that God is changing his mind. God is only changing in the sense that He is relating to us based on a different part of His character. Hezekiah wasn’t just physically sick, he had a sin problem; he had a problem with pride ( 2 Chr 32:24-26 ). When Hezekiah repented of His sin, this put him in a better position for God to extend mercy. While God can always operate in grace and lovingkindness toward people, our obedience better positions us to see that lovingkindness worked out in our lives. Our acts of undistracted focus on communication with God through prayer, and faithful commitment to living righteously, are the human intervention needed to access another side of God’s character. God is sovereign and our actions don’t guarantee specific outcomes, even the ones we desperately desire. But when we get right with God, are faithful to God, and repent of our sins, we position ourselves for God to change His mind about our circumstances. He is not obligated to do so, but that option is available. Often, God confirms His word with signs. These signs do not determine His word, but can be viewed as validation. Hezekiah got a prophetic word from the prophet ( 2 Kgs 20:5 ). He also received a spiritual sign when the sun regressed ( 2 Kgs 20:8-11 ;  Isa 38:7-8 ). Initiated by prayer and confirmed by signs, the healing God gave to Hezekiah was not just for Hezekiah’s healing only. The miracle of his healing became an opportunity for him to have a greater impact over the fifteen additional years that God gave him. Prayer is powerful. It can provide a scenario in which God chooses to operate differently than all initial indications. Believers must take prayer seriously to faithfully make their requests known to God and believe that God can do the impossible even when the impossible seems out of reach. God is able. In what area of your life would you love for God to change His mind? Have you ever asked God to change His mind? Why or why not? Have you ever been disappointed that you did ask God to change His mind and He didn’t? Is there anything in your life that needs to be adjusted, so that you are better positioned for God to change His mind about your situation? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Christians have a legal right to have their prayers answered because prayer is not just an activity.  Believers have an authorized right for God to hear and respond to their prayers.  The widow in  Luke 18  understands her right to bring her concern to the judge.  Her story demonstrates the importance of believers knowing their rights and exercising those rights consistently.  Just like the widow petitioned the judge, when believers petition God in prayer, we are exercising a legal right.  The problem is that many believers don’t understand the importance of prayer and therefore don’t do it often, consistently, or at all.  But if the right to prayer is not exercised, then the benefits of prayer will not be experienced.  Christians should pray in a manner as walking in a continual conversation with God.  Often, we are tempted to worry or complain when prayer would be a much better and more effective response.  Instead of letting our concerns lead us to unproductive places, believers can choose instead to pray about anything as often as a thought about that concern arises. In  Luke 18 , the widow petitioned the judge knowing that the law was on her side.  Even though the judge was unrighteous, the widow understood that the judge was obligated to the law and interested in his reputation with regard to upholding the law.  She badgered the judge, coming to him time and time again with her request.  In the same way, believers need to know God’s Word and utilize it in prayer.  Like the judge, God is obligated to His Word and to His glory.  Unlike the judge, God is righteous and His righteous reputation is tied to His Word.  We must persevere in our prayers even when it seems as if God is silent.  Consistent prayer over the long haul matters.  It is also important that believers pray by moving beyond simply sharing our desires.  We want to share those desires in concert with what God has said in His Word and how the answers to our prayers will bring Him Glory. Prayer is an exercise of faith.  God is looking for faithful people on this earth who will consistently trust Him even as they move through the issues of life.  One of the ways we tangibly demonstrate our faithfulness is by continuing to pray.  So don’t quit seeking God for an answer to your prayers until He gives an answer.  Don’t stop praying! Continue consulting with Him, talking to Him and interceding for others.  Pray continuously in faith expecting divine intervention from God who “is a rewarder of those who seek Him” ( Heb 11:6 ).  Be the believer who is willing to pray without fainting ( Luke 18:1 ).  And if you have fainted in or given up on prayer in the past, today is a good day to begin again. Take a moment to think about what God has already done. What prayer(s) has God already answered for you?  How have you seen Him at work in response to your requests? Why is it important to know God’s Word in relationship to prayer? How do you intentionally seek to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word? Would you say your prayer life is “great and consistent,” “just okay but inconsistent,” or “not okay and non-existent”? Why do you think your prayer life is in the state that it’s in?  How does this week’s message encourage you to make changes in how you pray? Commit to continuing in prayer over that concern you may be experiencing. As you do so, share that request with your group so that they can pray with you. Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages:  2 Corinthians 1:20 ;  Luke 18:10-17 ;  Numbers 14:11-21 ;  Psalm 138:2 Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Prayer is the key that allows believers to experience the power of heaven on earth – but prayer has to be prioritized. The last chapter of James emphasizes the importance of prayer simply by the number of times prayer is mentioned in verses 13 through 18. While God has decided in eternity what He is going to do on earth, some of those decisions will not be actualized until those who believe in Him request them in prayer. In the creation mandate ( Gen 1:28 ,  2:15 ), God said “let them rule,” and designated human beings to exercise dominion. His sovereign plan is to work through people on earth. One of God’s primary methods of working through people is through prayer. Prayer allows God to release an answer He already has for you, but will only give to you when requested. Prayer is the key that makes it possible for some things to come into reality in the visible, physical realm. Calling on God to answer our requests is part of the process of receiving answers to prayer. However, there are other components of answered prayer. In fact, these prerequisites allow believers to experience the power of effectively communicating with God. Spiritual purity, passion, and persistence are of great importance. We must live lives that are pure by walking in obedience, so that we don’t limit God’s answers to prayer in life due to our sin ( Deut 11:13-17 ;  Jas 4:1-3 ). Since prayer is a serious matter, we must also be willing to passionately pursue God in what we ask for in prayer. Like Elijah, we should be fervent in our prayer and persistent, seeking God until He answers our prayer ( 1 Kings 18:36-46 ). While God may answer in His own timing, we shouldn’t let God go or stop praying until He responds with an answer to our prayer of either yes, no, or wait. Just like rain stopped and started again because of Elijah’s prayers, our prayers can provide divine reversals. Our prayers can also provide physical, spiritual, and emotional healing. Nothing is off limits in prayer and we should pray about as much as we can as often as we can ( 1 Thess 5:17 ). Whatever concerns we have, instead of anxiously worrying about them or trying to solve our problems on our own, we should intentionally present those concerns and questions to God. In addition, we should trust that He has the power to work in the supernatural to answer ( Jonah 2 ). Kingdom prayer, getting heaven to come down to earth, is the link that allows us to access heaven’s help and to release God’s full involvement and engagement in our lives. While we are encouraged in God’s Word to pray without ceasing, often having a set aside time for talking to God helps, too. Do you have a time or place of prayer that works well for you? Many of us are quick to tell others we will pray for them, but while we have good intentions, we may or may not actually get around to praying. How do you ensure that you remember to pray about the concerns of others after they have shared their request with you? Consider the reasons that you may not have prayed thus far. Does your lack of prayer indicate a distrust of God’s ability to help? Do you hesitate to pray because you don’t feel comfortable praying? Are you struggling to pray as a matter of exercising the spiritual discipline? Do you know if there is unaddressed sin in your life, which will hinder the answers to your prayers? What will you do differently this week to begin or continue using the power of prayer to release God’s full involvement in your life? Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages:  1 Thessalonians 5:17 ;  Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ;  1 Kings 17:1 ;  18:1 ,  36-46 ;  Isa 65:24 ;  Jonah 2:1-10 ;  James 4:1-3 Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Our Psalm today, 88, is probably the darkest of all of them, and therefore to our ears, it will feel like the strangest worship song ever. But obviously it is one that honors God and is also one that can really help us in times like we are going through as a culture. Lament is part of the journey with God that is necessary. If you know me very well, you probably know that I don’t do things like lament well. I don’t do sad well. Years ago, a counselor tried to help me with that, but I don’t think we got very far. The guy was kind of a downer, so I didn’t stay with him long. Even as I talked about sad times with him, he was like, “Why are you smiling?” It’s actually a real problem for me. Some of you do sad well, but I think most us don’t. Lament is something more profound though than just being sad, but even in this cultural moment we are in, if we can’t learn to lament well, to sit in the anger and hurt and frustration and identify with our African American brothers and sisters, we will not be able to move toward the changes needed with fire and with depth. Lament is necessary right now, as it is in other times of life when we go through really difficult times. So, I’m going to read the psalm penned by Heman, as he lays out the darkest worship song in the Bible. As we listen, be open to how it taps into dark times we are going through now or you have gone through in the past. Psalms 88:1-18
“Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest
depths. Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? So, why does God not take offense? If I were God, I would. I might just use a lightning bolt to end this guy’s little tirade. But God not only doesn’t do that, he puts this song in the Bible as an example of worship songs that are worshipful to him. Why? Because God doesn’t expect us to always maintain good perspective. He knows we will lose perspective in a broken world, and he is okay with that.

THE ART OF FORGIVENESS Warren Wiersbe wrote in his commentary Be Skillful: “It’s strange but true that some of God’s people will forgive offenses from unbelievers that they would never forgive if a Christian friend committed them.” G.K. Chesterson gave additional insight about friends who hurt friends: “God commanded us to love both our enemies and our neighbors because usually they are the same people.” Don’t be so hard on those who hurt you. You probably have done the same thing yourself. David describes the intense pain we feel when we are hurt by a trusted friend in Psalm 55:12-14. He laments: 
“If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” (NIV) 
No matter what the scenario is, we can divide all offended people into two categories: those who have been treated un- justly, or those who believe they have been treated unjustly. Often they draw conclusions from inaccurate information. If the information is accurate, the conclusion may still be distorted. Do you have people in your life that you wish to avoid? Who are they? Have you processed the hurt in the relationship? Why or why not? Can you remember a time when you hurt someone else? How did it make you feel? Can you imagine that the friend who wounded you is also in pain? King Solomon had no peer. He was wise and discerning to a fault. With his God-given wisdom and discernment, it must have been hard to overlook the foibles of others. King Solomon saw betrayal firsthand. He watched Absalom, his step- brother, vie for David’s throne. He grieved as he watched Tamar, his stepsister, raped by Amnon, Solomon’s step- brother. He watched his own stepbrother Adonijah try to steal his crown. Solomon’s first assignment as king was to kill Joab, David’s trusted advisor, who had betrayed his father David. Solomon was probably leary of intimacy. JESUS’ MODEL OF FORGIVENESS The chief method God uses to give us a forgiving heart is to allow us to experience Christ’s forgiveness for our own sins and weaknesses. In the gospel of John, John paints the picture of an adulterous woman awaiting death by stoning. As the religious leaders surrounded her like hungry dogs, Jesus looks them squarely in the eye and said: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7-8 NIV) God will give us the grace to forgive as we see the darkness of our own souls. Such brokenness before Christ softens and changes us from vindictive enemies to vulnerable allies. No one is without sin. In receiving grace and forgiveness at the foot of the cross, we can extend grace as well. Paul wrote these wise words to the Christians in Colosse: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kind- ness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:12-15 NIV) Jesus modeled forgiveness for us in a marvelous way. He mourned His hurt (Matthew 26:38). He understood the truth of what was happening as He hung on the cross between heaven and earth (Luke 23:34). He forgave His offenders. If we fail to process our hurts, it is impossible to receive emotional healing. If we do not understand why we have experienced wounding from another, it is difficult to freely offer forgiveness. Jesus recognized that the soldiers did not know what they were doing. And finally, we choose to forgive by an act of our will (Luke 6:37). Pinch yourself. If it hurt it means you are alive and everyone living has had a friend (or friends) hurt them. This may be a devotional that you need to read several times to let the truths sink deeply into your heart. Perhaps talking or praying with someone would be helpful. APPLYING THE TRUTH Read: Psalm 55:12-14; Proverbs 18:19; Matthew 26:38; Luke 6:37; Luke 17:1; Luke 23:34 John 8:7-8; Colossians 3:12-15 In the area below, write out the Scripture(s), thought(s), and question(s) from today’s devotional that you want to spend more time thinking about. What will you apply to your life?

In Revelation 4:3, there is one group that will worship Him. Do you see who it is? A holy, faithful, benevolent, sovereign God. Man will risk hell before he will bend the knee to Him. We sing it in one of our hymns, though you are not allowing to sing it until Christmas: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room. And heaven and nature sing.” Charles Wesley. 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, [O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.” Of all of humanity, over the last 20 centuries, we are not speaking of those that are before Christ. They are in glory. They will not be raised until Christ returns in chapter 20. And we’ll study that in 2020! Who are the 24 elders? It’s you. It’s the church. If you are not doing it now, you are going to do it someday. An elder represents a greater amount. Like the 4 beasts that represent the creation, the 24 elders represent the church. They will fall down before Him. Who is the one group, throughout humanity, that because of God’s grace, that are chosen, called, enlightened, who will confess Christ and glorify the Father? They will worship Him who lives forever and forever. These are the peculiar people, the royal priesthood, the people for God’s own possession. In the midst of a darkened world, you will find a remnant worshipping God. They are called the light of the world, the salt of the earth, kings and priests. They enunciate to all who will listen that they are wrong, there is a God and He is the God of the Bible. They will cast their crowns. The crown is bestowed by God that the individual truly a child of God because they stayed faithful and endured to the end. They will cast them before the throne saying “all glory to God.” Someday, how many knees will bow? “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” Philippians 2:10-11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Spend some time today worshipping in the heavenlies rather than focusing on this earth and it's troubles.

IT IS THE LORD OF HOSTS WHOM YOU SHOULD REGARD AS HOLY. AND HE SHALL BE YOUR FEAR, AND HE SHALL BE YOUR DREAD. ISAIAH 8:13 A severe storm hit the East Coast, and the Coast Guard was summoned to respond to a ship in crisis. A young sailor, new on board, was terrorized by the prospect and proclaimed, "We can’t go out. We’ll never come back!" The seasoned captain responded, "We must go out. We don’t have to come back." Duty called and responsibility overcame fear. If we’re going to walk by faith, there can be only one fear-object in our lives, and that’s God. We are responsible to Him. He is the ultimate fear-object because He is omnipotent and omnipresent. The fear of the Lord is healthy because it is the one fear that expels all other fears (Isaiah 8:11-14). All other fear-objects pale in comparison to our holy God. We need to be like David who proclaimed before Goliath, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26). The Hebrew army saw Goliath in relation to themselves and cowered in defeat. David saw Goliath in relation to God and conquered in His strength. When the 12 spies checked out the Promised Land, 10 of them came back and responded, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us" (Numbers 13:31). They didn’t see God in the land; they saw giants (verse 33). With that perspective, "all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night" (Numbers 14:1). Joshua and Caleb responded, "Do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them" (Numbers 14:9). The people did rebel. They accepted the majority report instead of listening to Caleb and Joshua. By accepting the Canaanites’ will over God’s will, they elevated the power and eminence of the Canaanites over the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. To honor God as the ultimate fear-object is to worship Him. To be controlled by any other fear-object is to allow it to usurp God’s place in our lives. www.ficm.org