Pastors Roger Barrier and Scott Brendan recount healings from leprosy, appearances of jesus and powerful stories from around the globe as ordinary people from Casaas Church surrendered to mission work around the world. God can use you too!

When I was 20, my childhood church changed leadership. Soon after, the leadership changed the vision statement. I was a junior in college, across the country studying Bible and theology, with head knowledge that far outpaced my experience. Out of the infinite resources of my leadership experience (sarcasm alert!), I generously offered my wisdom free of charge and wrote a letter to the new lead pastor. I’m still embarrassed by that letter. Twenty-five years later, I’m no stranger to being on the receiving end of those letters (and emails, Facebook messages, and texts). Every letter is an opportunity for me as a leader to grow in wisdom and humility. But every message takes an emotional and spiritual toll as well. How might do things differently if I could? Paul tells Timothy elders are “worthy of double honor” (1 Tim. 5:17). How do we show our pastors double honor when we think there is criticism we should offer? Here are three questions I wish I could have asked my 20-year-old self before he sent that critical letter: 1.      How close is your relationship? The truth is, I was merely an acquaintance with the pastor. Was it wise for my first substantive communication to be criticism? I’ve preached sermons and afterward have had congregants I don’t know come up and offer no comment other than to correct something I missaid. As a pastor, I’m in an awkward position. I want to receive criticism well, but more importantly, I want to get to know them. Worse still is the anonymous commenter on an online service. My co-lead pastor Greg recently received criticism online for something he said during a sermon. He was immediately remorseful of how his clumsy words hurt someone, but the commenter was anonymous and he could not offer an apology. Imagine that you frequent Lindy’s (a great Tucson burger joint). Your hope isn’t just to get delicious food, but to befriend the employees. One day you get a cheeseburger with a hair in it. That’s going to create some relational strain. If you’ve told your waitress that you appreciate her friendly smile and how hard she works on previous visits, the day you get a hair in your cheeseburger might strengthen your relationship. If your first conversation with the waitress is the hair-in-my-cheeseburger conversation, that’s going to be a challenging way to start a friendship. You and your pastor are part of a local body together, and God intends for you to have a relationship with each other.[i] Trust is necessary for any healthy relationship. Criticism without relational context will make building a relationship challenging. You are no mere customer at his church, but a partner in God’s mission. Your first aim isn’t to improve your church’s product, but to develop relationships. The less you know your pastor, the less criticism you should share. Before sharing criticism, I would suggest leaning in and getting to know your pastor: hear his heartbeat, and ask how you can pray for him. Let him know that you are for him. Then, when you offer criticism, it will be done in the context of a relationship where your pastor knows you are for him. 2.      How much have you served? I penned my critical letter to my childhood church from 2,500 miles away. I served faithfully as a high schooler but was now just a summer-attender at the church. My pastor had no idea of any track record I had of service. He shouldn’t have. I never took the initiative to build ongoing support for him and the church.  Service indicates investment and commitment. If you have not invested much, you shouldn’t criticize much. One of the most common forms of low-grade criticism pastors receive is from congregants who are passionate about a ministry and are concerned that their church isn’t serving the community in a way that aligns with their particular passion. It is good to be enthusiastic about the causes God has laid on your heart. Be faithful with God’s prompting. But don’t expect your church necessarily to lead the charge. God’s call on your local church might differ from the personal passions he laid on your heart. It might be disobedient for them to divert resources to go after your calling. And, if you’re not offering to lead that ministry, your recommendation is doubly-unhelpful. You are not only insisting that your pastor share your passion, but you are now saddling him with the responsibility to discover and recruit a team leader with an aligned calling and develop a team. 3.      How much encouragement have you offered? When I wrote my letter, I had never once reached out to my pastor with encouragement. I hadn’t shared with him that I appreciated how relatable he was, what a powerful storyteller he was, or that his heart for the lost was inspiring. It didn’t matter that I thought all of those things. I had never shared them with him. Counselor Henry Cloud says that in healthy relationships, a minimum of five meaningful encouragements are shared for each criticism. Step back before you fire off that email and ask yourself: have you praised your pastor five meaningful times? That Facebook “thumbs up” or that time in February when you said “nice sermon” on your way out of church doesn’t count. It’s unlikely he doesn’t remember these encouragements. Think of ways people have gone above and beyond to encourage you and consider how you might similarly encourage your pastor.  4.      How serious is the issue? This question requires a high level of self-awareness. I wrote my letter because I genuinely thought the issue was serious. In retrospect, it wasn’t as grave as I thought it was. I encourage you to check yourself. If you’re upset by a new ministry or by your pastor wearing a t-shirt or by his perspective on a text, check and see if any other reputable sources have launched that questionable ministry, or have such a casual style, or have that perspective on that text. Start with the assumption that many other reputable leaders are in his camp. The issue probably isn’t as serious as you think it is. Note what I didn’t say here: the way to check the severity of an issue isn’t to take it up with your small group or with friends at the church. That is gossip and will only create division. 5.      Are you trying to prove you are smart? Oof. My 20-year-old-self needed this check. I wouldn’t have agreed at the time, but undoubtedly part of my motivation for writing the letter was to prove my theological mettle to my new pastor. I was hoping his respect for me would increase. Folly! Let me assure you that your criticism will never convince a pastor that you’re someone to be trusted. Some of the most dangerous people in a congregation are those whose theological knowledge surpasses their character. I’ll take a thousand theological simpletons who reflect Christ’s heart before I’ll take one arrogant theological genius. Authority, Honor, and Encouragement Ours is a world that distrusts authority and leaders. To be an American is to be suspicious of authority and chafe at those who wear the mantle. However, the picture of the believer in the New Testament is one where leaders serve and those under leadership honor their leaders. “Outdo one another in showing honor,” Paul says in Romans 12:10. Not a word here ought to be twisted to protect pastors who have used their authority for selfish gain or to diminish those under their care. Every leader can grow from criticism, regardless of source or intention. It is my responsibility to humble myself and grow from every critique. But that truth doesn’t let the one offering criticism off the hook. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” The author of Hebrews says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25). We ought to be marked by our encouragement. May my leadership be characterized by my encouragement, not my criticism. And may the way I follow also be characterized by my encouragement, not my critical spirit. In so doing, I build up those around me and honor the source of every encouragement: Jesus Christ.  www.thebeehive.live.

Pastors Roger Barrier and Scott Brendan recount healings from leprosy, appearances of jesus and powerful stories from around the globe as ordinary people from Casaas Church surrendered to mission work around the world. God can use you too!

In Luke 24 two of Jesus disciples were walking along a road depressed about the events surrounding Jesus’ death, not yet believing that he had risen from the dead. Jesus met them on the road and upon listening to them he did the following: “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (verse 27). In relating this story, Luke tells us that Jesus can be found throughout the Old Testament. Here is one example of where Jesus can be found: the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17). (1) “You shall have no other gods before me.” Jesus is the God of the Old Testament. He is the Savior who brought Israel out of Egypt. As such, Israel owes its existence and freedom to Jesus. Paul said in Colossians 1:19, “In him [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (2) “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Jesus is the image of God (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). We are commanded not to worship false images because there is only one true, uncorrupted image of God, Jesus. (3) “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” There is no other name [Jesus] under Heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12; Romans 14:11; Philippines :10-11). (4) “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Jesus is the rest that we are seeking. Only in Jesus can we find rest from sin and the promise of eternal life. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). (5) “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” It is through Jesus that we give the Father his proper honor and due (Romans 11:36; Ephesians 2:18; Malachi 1:6). (6) “You shall not murder.” Jesus was wrongly murdered but his death brings us new life. (7) “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus is referred to as the husband for his bride (the church). He is faithful in all of God’s house (Hebrews 3:6). It is impossible for God to be unfaithful, not only in his nature, but also because there is no “other woman” or “other church” for him to be unfaithful with. (8) “You shall not steal.” All things belong to God (Psalm 50:10; I Corinthians 10:26). It is impossible for God to steal since all things belong to him in the first place. Jesus referred to himself as the “Good shepherd” who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10). He owns us. He cannot steal what he already owns. (9) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). No lie was found in Jesus’ mouth (I Peter 2:22). (10) “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Jesus could not covet since all things belong to him. He only desires that which is his.

Sometimes an option we’re considering creates tension inside of us. When that happens, it can be tempting to ignore the discomfort or brush by it. But instead of doing that, we need to pay close attention to it. Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, So, let’s begin with a question that I’m sure you have pondered probably most of your adult life. Why are people who’ve had too much to drink inclined to make such bad decisions? Do you ever wonder about this? Why are people who’ve had too much to drink, so inclined to make bad decisions? Anybody out there have any ideas? Oh yeah, I see that hand, go ahead. Because they’ve had too much to drink, no, that’s not the answer. Anybody else? I mean, think about this. You’ve heard the stories, perhaps you have some stories, some are kind of funny now, in hindsight, some perhaps tragic, some are still a bit hazy. So here’s the question, what’s the correlation? What’s the corelation between alcohol consumption and poor decision-making? I mean, as far as I know and you may know of an exception but as far as I know, there’s no correlation between alcohol and good decision making, right? I mean, I’ve never heard a story that concluded with this, “It’s a good thing I was drunk, otherwise I might’ve made a really bad decision”. Anyway, so back to my really bad question. Why are people who’ve had too much to drink inclined to make bad decisions? Now, physiologically speaking, there are two reasons and you probably know this, alcohol actually increases norepinephrine in the brain, which acts as a stimulant and stimulants, of course, increase impulsiveness and decrease inhibition. So there’s less sensitivity to the potential consequences of a decision. Perhaps worse, alcohol actually temporarily impairs the activity of the prefrontal cortex. You know about the prefrontal cortex? This is the part of your brain that enables you to connect the dots, to think rationally and consequently to make good decisions. It’s actually that part of your brain that didn’t begin working properly until you were about 20 or 21, or in my case, anyway, the bottom line is simply this, alcohol frees a person to act without thinking clearly or without feeling appropriately. It makes us brave when we should be cautious, it makes you loud when you should be quiet. I think Ron White said it perfectly when he described being arrested for public drunkenness. Here’s what he said, you may have heard this. He said, “I had the right to remain silent but I did not have the ability to”. People who’ve had too much to drink are inclined to make bad decisions because, well they’re temporarily desensitized to social, cultural and specifically, relational cues. They ignore the obvious because, well, when you’re inebriated, it’s just not all that obvious to them, right? So, inebriated people, they can’t help themselves. When someone’s drunk, they don’t consciously ignore common sense, it’s not that they consciously ignore common sense, it’s like common sense isn’t even there to be ignored. They don’t consciously ignore their conscience, it’s suppressed. Their conscience, is in some ways, it’s switched off. That’s why the following afternoon they or maybe you are texting with a friend, “I did what? You’re sure it was me? There’s video”? Anyway and what does this have to do with you? Well, if you’re drunk, it should be obvious. But of course it isn’t because, well we’ve covered that, right? If you’re sober, I want you to hang on and I’ll tell you what this has to do with you. Actually, I’m gonna tell you what this has to do with all of us in just a moment. Today we’re in part four of our series, Better decisions, fewer regrets, Better decisions, fewer regrets. And if you’ve been tracking along with us, you know that the big idea in this series is the often overlooked relationship between good questions and good decisions, good questions and good decisions. Good questions actually set us up for good or better decisions and I’m absolutely convinced that if you will get in the habit of asking, answering honestly and acting on your answer to these five questions, you will make better decisions and you will consequently live with fewer regrets. Your life will be better and the people who look to you, the people who depend on you, their lives will be better as well because as we’ve said every week, we aren’t the only people impacted by our decisions. and we’re not the only people impacted by our regrets either, right? So in part one, I suggested you memorize the saying from the book of Proverbs, hopefully some of you have done this. And the saying goes like this, “the prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple, the naive, they just keep on going and they end up paying the penalty”. And the reason I wanted you to commit this saying to memory is as straightforward as these five questions are, they’re going to bring you into conflict with a sales associate that lives in your head. You know what I’m talking about, the sales associate in your head that wants you to act now, wants you to decide fast, wants you to decide on or focus on the immediate, rather than the ultimate. And this saying or this verse is a reminder to look beyond the moment and not to look away from potential danger, the danger associated with the options you have a propensity to sell yourself on. These five questions will slow you down and help you see danger coming. Now, again, if you’re tracking along with us our first question, we called it the integrity question and the integrity question is this, am I being honest with myself? Am I being honest with myself? And then we added a word, really. Am I being honest with myself really? Or am I selling myself on something I’m gonna regret later? So I hope you’ve been honest with yourself, even if the truth about yourself makes you uncomfortable with yourself. Our second question was the legacy question and the legacy question is, what story do I wanna tell? What story do I wanna tell? When the decision that you’re in the process of making right now, whether it’s relational or financial or academic or professional, when the story or the decision you’re making right now is reduced to a story you tell, what story do you wanna tell? What story do you want told about you? And the good news is this, you get to decide. As far as it’s up to you, you write the story of your life, one decision at a time. And that brings us at last to our third question, we call it the conscience question, the conscience question. And this also brings us back to my opening question, regarded inebriated people. Now here’s the thing, while intoxicated folks can’t pay attention to external or even internal cues, us sober folks are often guilty of choosing to ignore external or internal cues, right? I mean intoxicated people have basically silenced their conscience, but sober people often choose what we sometimes choose to ignore, our conscience. And by conscience, I’m talking about that internal tension competing for our attention when we consider an option that if we choose it, it’s gonna lead to regret. Intoxicated people can’t help themselves, but oftentimes we won’t help ourselves. And the outcome, the consequences are often no less devastating. So the third question, a question we should ask anytime we’re making a decision of any magnitude is this, is there a tension that deserves my attention? While I’m making the decision, when I’m considering options and I’m sort of focusing in on one option, does that option create a tension that deserves my attention? Now sometimes, actually I think more times than we would like to admit, an option that we’re considering creates tension inside of us, something about it just doesn’t seem exactly right, it gives us pause, causes us to hesitate you know how this goes. Initially, we have no reason why, we have no idea why. Why is this bothering me? I’ve heard this referred to, maybe you’ve heard this as well, referred to as a red-flag moment. My dad, he had a different way of expressing this. He would say, I have a check in my spirit about that, I have a check in my spirit about that. And as a kid, this would drive me crazy because I would want information, tell me exactly what you’re talking about. And he would just smile and say, I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it, there’s just something that doesn’t seem right about this. Now you may have another name for it, but you know what I’m talking about, right? It’s just that internal sense of something about this, I don’t know what it is, something about this, don’t ask me a lot of questions, something about this just doesn’t seem right. And when that it happens, you owe it to yourself to pause and pay attention to that tension, pay attention to the tension. Don’t ignore it, don’t brush by it, don’t rush by it, don’t talk yourself out of it, pay attention. Let it bother you. Now the problem of course with this whole idea is that this is not easy to do and it’s not easy for all the same reasons we’ve talked about in this series. Focalism blurs and exaggerates things, confirmation bias distorts things, our schedules compress things. Sometimes we’re in a hurry, sometimes somebody else is in a hurry, the salesperson in our head is always in a hurry. And in most instances, we’re under the impression and this is huge, in most instances, I think we’re under the impression that what’s bothering us isn’t really bothering anybody around us, everybody else seems to be fine with whatever it is we’re considering, nobody else in the office seems to be wrestling with their conscience. I mean, technically it’s not illegal, it’s not immoral, but there’s just something in you that feels like there’s something not right about this. So, when something dings your conscience, pay attention. Now this point you may be thinking and I get this, at this point, you may be thinking, okay, Andy look, I’m not sure exactly what you’re talking about, but I don’t make decisions based on my feelings, some intangible tension that probably doesn’t deserve my attention, I just look at the facts and then I decide based on the facts. Allow me to push back just a little bit. Actually you don’t, but I know it feels like you do. In fact, people who understand the brain and understand how the brain works, here’s what they say, they say that when we have these red-flag moments, it’s actually a specific part of our brain alerting us to pay attention. And if we pause, we stand a far better chance of making a better decision. And if we don’t pause, we sell ourselves right on past the tension that deserves our attention. And in fact, if you are into facts, pause and more facts may in fact surface. This isn’t emotionalism, in fact, it’s actually a facet of your intellect trying to slice through the fog of the exaggerated, distracting bits of information cluttering your ability to think rationally, so pay attention to the tension. And then there’s this, we’ve all had this experience, you’re considering an option, you’re in the middle of making a decision, you’re considering an option and you have sort of a plan coming together and nothing about it bothers you, then somebody else comes along and points out something you hadn’t considered before and suddenly there’s a tension where before there was no tension, a slight hesitation. And it’s usually your mom, isn’t it? I mean, moms are great about this, honey, that all sounds good except for the fact that I think it’s illegal. But it’s not just our moms, sometimes it’s a friend. Hey, that sounds good to me, but what’s your wife gonna think about that? What’s your husband gonna think about that? Does your boss know about this, tension. Can you afford that, tension. Doesn’t your contract rule that out, tension. And of course the problem with somebody else bringing things to our attention is that it creates relational tension, doesn’t it? And that’s a tension you should pay attention to as well. And here’s why. We all, and I’m including myself in this, we all have a tendency to dodge the truth by discounting the truth teller, right? I mean, what does he know? What does she know? I mean, he’s never walked in my shoes, he’s never run a company, she’s never navigated the complexity of family life the way I’m having to navigate it, In fact, she can’t even run her own life. I mean, look at his kids. Experts actually referred to this as the genetic fallacy or the fallacy of origins. Since I don’t like where the information is coming from, I’m just gonna ignore the information. So here’s the thing. As you consider your options, if there’s any hesitation around a particular option, pause and allow and I don’t know a better way of saying this, just allow that tension to rise up and get as big as it possibly get before you decide. If something bothers you, let it bother you. If something about him just doesn’t seem right, if something about him just kind of bothers you or about her just kind of bothers you, let it bother you, right? That job offer, that invitation, that deal, the fine print, if something bothers you, just pause and allow it to bother you, face it, embrace it, but don’t excuse it. Face that tension until it either goes away or you decide to go in a different direction. Pay attention to the tension. If you don’t, well, we’ll get to that in just a minute. Now, there is a fascinating and rather well-known narrative from the life of King David, Israel’s second king, that illustrates the importance of paying attention to a seemingly irrational and in his case, an inconvenient tension. And I love, love, love this story. Now, as you probably know, David steps onto the pages of history as a shepherd boy. During that season of his life as a kid, a prophet shows up at his house where he’s living with his family and announces to his family that God had chosen David to be the next king of Israel. Now that’s a good day, when a prophet shows up at your home to say that one of your kids is gonna be the next king. Now the problem, of course, was Israel already had a king, King Saul, but Saul wasn’t doing a very good job kinging, so God decided to replace him, but not quite yet. So time goes by and young David has his legendary encounter with the Philistine giant Goliath that we all know about. And in that moment after killing Goliath, David immediately becomes a household name throughout the kingdom of Israel and throughout the territory controlled by the Philistines as well. And it didn’t take long before his popularity exceeded that of old King Saul, who was not a very good king. In fact, if you know this story, Saul becomes jealous of David, he tries to kill David, David is forced to flee, he becomes a fugitive, but by now, he’s a legend. As far as the people of Israel are concerned, he’s a hero, he’s a war hero. And by the time he left Saul service, he had a reputation not only as a warrior, but as a leader. So dozens and then hundreds of men flopped to David’s side. Before long, he had his own small little army but it was an army without a home, it was an army made up of people just like David, fugitives from the law. So as the story goes, eventually, Saul get some really good intel on David’s whereabouts and he gathers together about 3000 soldiers, which in ancient times, was a huge army, it was virtually impossible to gather that many soldiers in one place, but somehow, King Saul pulls together 3000 soldiers because he feared David and he knew his military prowess. And he leads his column of soldiers into the desert of Ein Gedi to remove this threat to the throne once and for all, because he’d heard that David had been anointed king and as a king of course Saul, wants his son Jonathan, to become the next king. So as the story goes, late one afternoon, as they’re winding their way through the rocky, wind-swept hills of the desert of Ein Gedi, Saul halts the entire column of men, so he can find somewhere private to relieve himself. He spies a cave and he heads off unaccompanied to take care of business. Now, if you know the story, you know this is where the story takes a strange and somewhat providential twist. David and a handful of his merry men are actually hiding in the very cave that Saul chooses. I mean, what are the odds of that? I mean, you talk about the stars lining up, the gods smiling on you, right? From David’s perspective, this was a best-case scenario. Apparently what had happened was this, when David got word, cause he had some intel as well that Saul and his oversized posse were headed his way, he told his men to scatter, hide in the hills until Saul and his soldiers pass through. And then once they were gone, David and his men would reconvene and escape in the opposite direction. And all of this was working perfectly according to plan until Saul gets nature’s call, dismounts his mule and makes his way up to the very cave that David chose as his temporary hideout. And when David and his men see Saul coming their way, what did they do? They just moved further back into the cave. So imagine this from David’s perspective. He’s inside the cave, he’s back in the recesses of the cave, he’s staring out at the mouth of the cave and Saul appears as a silhouette. Saul has just come in from that bright middle Eastern sun, he can’t see a thing, he walks in just far enough to ensure his privacy, he takes off his robe, tosses it to the side, hikes up his outer garment, squats down facing the opening of the cave, with his back to David and his men. Clearly, if you’re David, clearly this was an omen. I mean this was a sign from God. God had delivered David’s enemy into his hands. What else could this possibly mean? I mean, he’d already been anointed king, everybody knew he was next. The only thing standing in his way was the current king and there he is, unguarded, vulnerable, unsuspecting. And if David wasn’t thinking that, we know the around him were because of David’s biographer, well, here’s what he says happened, he says his men whispered to David as they’re back in the cave, they whispered to David, David, David look, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he told you a long time ago, I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish”. And there he is. David, this is what you predicted would happened, decision made, let’s kill Saul and go home, enough of this wilderness, fugitive living. This was the perfect scenario. I mean, think about it, no civil war, minimal bloodshed. So they’re thinking David, come on, just do it, kill the king before the king kills you. Besides, what other option was there? Remain an outlaw for the rest of our lives? This needed to end and this was the perfect, clearly God-ordained time to end it. So you can imagine, you can just imagine the emotion in the cave that afternoon, the adrenaline and imagine the pressure that David felt to act. But here’s what makes this story even more interesting. David felt something else as well. There was a tension about this, there was a hesitation, something about this wasn’t exactly right, but he wasn’t sure what it was because in this scenario, in this context, the hesitation didn’t make any sense. So he did what many of us do, he decided to act. He drew his dagger and he crept up behind Saul with every intention of slitting his throat. And if David is successful, the world as he and his men knew it, would change immediately. But as he gets closer, that tension increases. And David, this is so unimaginable, so amazing and David, in spite of the fact that there seemed to be no alternative, David paid attention to that tension. He let what was bothering him, bother him. And somewhere between leaving his hiding place back in the cave and Saul’s unprotected back, it dawns on him, just seconds away, seconds away from making a decision, everybody would understand and everybody would applaud, in just seconds away, he gains clarity. Wait a minute, I’m about to murder the king. This isn’t war, this isn’t combat, this is murder and this can’t be right. Besides he thought, who put Saul on the throne of Israel to begin with? Who made Saul the king? God did. And who am I to replace what God has put in place? This can’t be God’s plan. I can’t kill the king, even if the king is trying to kill me. So this is amazing. In spite of the pressure to act, in spite of the expectations of the friends just a few yards behind him, David changes course. Now this is part of the story where we all have something in common with David, believe it or not. Here’s what we have in common with David. David didn’t know what the outcome of killing Saul would be. Think about this. David didn’t know for sure what the outcome of killing Saul would be. He thought he did, but there was no guarantee things would work out the way he envisioned things working out, right? I mean, he thought he knew, the men with him, they thought they knew, it’s simple, kill the king, become the king, problem solved, right? What’s up with all this hesitation? But there is no guarantee that that will be the outcome. Now please don’t miss this. This is so important, one of the reasons we ignore the tension when we’re making a decision, one reason we just push through and ignore the advice of other people or the voice of our conscience, one reason we push through is this, we believe that in certain circumstances, we can predict the future, that we can predict or even control outcomes. And when we’re convinced we can predict outcomes, when we think we know, we make decisions that oftentimes we regret, because we don’t know, we don’t always predict the future, right? You don’t always predict outcomes accurately, do you? Does anybody? Let me ask you this, have you ever been disappointed? Of course you have. And what’s disappointment? Disappointment is what we experience when we miss to predict the future. Now here’s my point. Ignoring that tension in your gut, ignoring that tension, sets you up for disappointment, paying attention to that tension, allowing whatever it is that’s bothering you to bother you, is how you avoid unnecessary disappointment and regret. So back to David. He’s inches away from Saul and it dawns on him, hey, just because I kill the king, doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily become a king, but one thing is for certain, I’ll be the man who killed the king, that will be my story for the rest of my life, that will be my legacy, that’s the story I’m gonna have to tell my children. That’s the story I’m gonna have to tell my grandchildren. Imagine that, grandpa, tell us one more time how you became the king, how you snuck up behind King Saul while he was using the potty and you slit his throat. You’re so brave, right? That’s not the story David wants to tell and that’s not the story David wants told about him. In fact, the author of this story says this, that David was conscience-stricken, conscience-stricken, this is how we know he was paying attention to the tension. So somehow, some way, he paid attention to his conscience and he does something very few people have the self-control to do, he changed course midstream. Instead of murdering Saul, he cuts off a corner of Saul’s discarded robe and he makes his way back to the men in the back of the cave and of course they are in shock. I mean, they were so close to going home, only to watch this perfect opportunity slip through their callous fingers. And the expressions on their face, they said it all up, basically were saying, David, you’ve got some explaining to do, right? And so he whispers, the biographer tells us that he whispers to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing”. But wait a minute, why did you leave the recesses of the cave then? Why are we here? “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed”. to which they whispered, well then let one of us do it. But “David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul”. And Saul left the cave and went on his merry way, having no idea how close he came to losing his life that afternoon. Saul rejoins his men, gets back on his meal, he’s preparing to continue his search for David when suddenly, this is such an interesting, dramatic part of the story, when suddenly he hears a voice calling his name, Saul, Saul and 3000 heads turn. And there stands the very man they have been hunting, the man they have paid to kill the giant killer. There stands David and he’s in the mouth of a cave that Saul just exited. Can you imagine the drama of this moment? And he’s holding something in his right hand, it’s a piece of cloth, the color of Saul’s Royal robe. And Saul yanks his cape around to look and sure enough, the corner is missing. And then David bows down to the ground, the mouth of the cave, he bows down, then he stands to his feet. He stands to his feet and everybody recognized in that moment that David was the better man. Once again, David was the hero in his own story. He spared Saul’s life when everybody knew that Saul would have taken his. And after a short speech, David concludes with this powerful, powerful statement, a statement that we should all take to heart. He says to Saul with everyone listening, “May the Lord judge between you and me”. May the Lord be the judge between you and me. I’ll wait and I’ll allow God to determine the outcome of this conflict. I will not take matters into my own hands and I will not replace what God has put in place and I will not play God in your life Saul and I will not play God in mine. And I will not use your bad behavior as an excuse to do bad things. Saul, I will not be like you. A measured response for sure. A measured response that resulted from paying attention to an inconvenient, talk about inconvenient an inconvenient, irrational tension. Now, back to the story, all eyes on Saul. He’s been humiliated by David, but here’s the amazing thing, he wasn’t humiliated by David’s military skill, he was humiliated by David’s humility. So what do you do now if you’re King Saul? Continue the pursuit? Pursue a man who could have taken your life, but chose not to? Do you close your eyes, say, I’m gonna close my eyes and count to 100 and give you a headstart, right? I mean, even Saul knows better, so he turns his army around and he heads back to the city. Now let me ask you a question, we’ll get back to the story in a minute, do you wanna be the hero in your story? Do you wanna be the hero in your story? Do you know that you get to choose whether or not you’re the hero in your own story? Do you wanna be the hero in your story Back to what we talked about last time, do you wanna write a story you’ll be proud to tell and you’ll be proud for your children and your grandchildren to know and to tell? Then pay attention, pay attention to that tension. Months later, Saul and his army are embroiled in a battle with the Philistines when a random Philistine archer stationed just behind the Philistine infantry, launches an arrow intended to fall randomly among the Israelite army, but this random archer’s random arrow found a seam in Saul’s armor and he’s mortally wounded. He doesn’t wanna die at the hands of the Philistines, so he falls on his own sword and he dies as the Israelite army is routed. And when word reaches the city, the citizens of the primary city at that time, they proclaimed David king and he becomes the king without murdering the king. And maybe, I don’t know, this isn’t in the text, I think maybe David thought to himself, well, if somebody had told me it was gonna work out like that, it certainly would have made that whole cave episode a whole lot easier. I mean, if God has shown up and said David, just relax. Seven chapters from now, the Philistines are gonna take care of Saul for you. Wouldn’t that have made things so much easier? But you know this, that’s not how life works, is it? That’s why we have to pay attention to the tension, that’s why we dare not take matters into our own hands, that’s why we dare not trust our ability to predict the future or control outcomes. That’s why whenever you’re making a decision of any consequence, you have to stop and ask yourself, is there a tension that deserves my attention? Years ago when my daughter, who’s now married, was in the eighth grade, Allie, I was helping her study for a test and you know how this goes parents. You feel like when you’re studying for a test with one of your kids that you’re gonna take the test the next day, right? So we’re studying and I really wanted her to do well and she was a good student and it occurred to me that Garrett, her older brother, had had the same teacher in the same class two years before. So I said, hey, let me see if we can find some old tests to study from, like you do in college, cause she gave me that look, I’m like, no, this isn’t cheating, this is just what you do. So I go digging around and sure enough, I find an old test and I assured Allie, hey, teachers, they change tests all the time, otherwise they wouldn’t have given this test back. The next day she goes in to take the test and it’s the same test. When she got home, of course, I asked what parents ask, I said, how did we do on our test? She said, dad, it was the same test Garret had and I felt like I was cheating. And I said, no, no, no, no, you weren’t cheating, that’s not cheating and then I go on to give her this long, convoluted explanation about why using an old test to study from isn’t cheating, trying to ease her conscience, right? She interrupts me and she says, “Dad, it’s okay, I told him”. I’m like, “Wait, you told your teacher”? She said, yeah, I told him that I had Garrett’s old test and that I used it to study from and that it was the same test. So of course now I’m feeling terrible and I said, Allie, I’m so proud of you, I got you into trouble. And then I said, well, so what happened? And she said, well nothing. He said he had planned to change the test, but the copy machine wasn’t working that morning so he just used an old test and it wasn’t a problem. When Allie saw the test that morning, she had a decision to make, do I tell my teacher or not? Now, I’m pretty sure that when I was in the eighth grade, I might have opted for no, anyway. But when she thought about not, there was what? There was attention and she paid attention to the tension and she told her teacher the truth. And I’m so glad she did, otherwise I would not have been able to use this story as an illustration. Anyway, now what does all that have to do with you? Here’s what it has to do with you, here’s what I know about you. The decision that you’re wrestling with right now, falls somewhere between choosing whether or not to tell your math teacher that you studied from an old test and murdering a king, right? But the principle is the same. If there’s something in you, if there’s something you can’t quite put your finger on or perhaps something someone else has put their finger on about an option you’re considering and now it bothers you, just stop, pay attention, give it some time. Let it bother you until you know why it bothers you, don’t ignore it, don’t brush by it. It may be, I don’t know, it may be God’s way of protecting you and protecting your family. This may be His way of keeping you from a decision that you will live to regret. That inconvenient, seemingly irrational tension, may be the pathway to an option you’ve never considered, an option you didn’t even know was available. So here’s the question, is there a tension that deserves your attention? Is there a tension that deserves your attention? Every time you’re considering an option, every time making a decision of any consequence, stop and ask the question, is there a tension that deserves my attention? And if so, pay attention to that tension like David and like Allie, you’ll be glad that you did. North Point Church

We can pray to God using His many names: God, mighty and majestic, God our Helper, God our Righteousness, God our Sanctifier, God our Peace and Indwelling Presence, God our Provider, God our Banner, God our Shepherd.. Listening to Christ pray must have been marvelous experience. The disciples saw and heard Him often on long nights alone—and stole glances at Him. He did not often pray alone. The disciples observed how the Pharisees prayed with arms stretched upward, heads held high, and loud. But they saw power in the prayers of Jesus that they didn’t see in the prayers of the Pharisees. One day, they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In Luke 11, Christ responded with what we often call, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Here is a prayer which can be repeated in 15 seconds; yet it is possible to pray through it for hours. And there are millions of people who can say that prayer, but very few ever learn to pray it like Jesus did. The power comes not in the saying, but in the praying of that prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is just one of many models that we may use as guidelines when we pray. Another good guideline is the acrostic ACTS which stands for “Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication,” But, far and away my favorite model is praying through the names of God. Jesus begins by saying, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9-13). You are fortunate if you have a father who loves you and makes certain that your needs are met. One early morning before going to school, I opened the door to the den to see my father on his knees in prayer. I have no difficulty praying, “Our father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” But what if your dad wasn’t all that good? I recall counseling with a brokenhearted man who said to me, “I watched my father beat my mom until she couldn’t get up off the floor.” Can you imagine that he just might have trouble seeing God as his father? The loveliest name for “father” in the Greek language is “Abba.” Today, we might say, “Daddy.” NAMES ARE SIGNIFICANT We named our first daughter, “Jessica,” which means, “God sees us.” Then, we named our second child, “Brianna,” which means “Gift from God.” She was a gift after Jessica died. “Bronwyn” is the name of our third daughter. It’s a Welsh name which means “pure heart.” I need to mention this before I go any further: “You must not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Exodus 20:7). “Do not take the name of God in vain” does not mean “don’t curse.” Taking the Lord’s name in vain means that we empty God of His power. Now, the most significant name of God is “YHWH,” or “I am.” This name has to do with past, present, and future. It refers to God’s eternal existence. YHWH is most often transliterated into English as JEHOVAH. THE MANY NAMES FOR GOD One day my four-year-old daughter asked me about God’s name. I explained that God had many names including Father, Lord, and Jehovah. After listening to my long explanation, she asked, “Can I just call him Steve?” Ah, I love hearing what’s on a child’s mind! The word “EL” is the most used name of God and refers to God’s mighty power. His names that begin with “El” are His creative names. The “Elohim” names are used as a pretext to enunciate various aspects of God’s power and character. The “El” are also His powerful names. Then, there are the “Jehovah” names of God. These are the personal, intimate names. I like to pray through the Jehovah names of God. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU = JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Righteousness has two aspects. First, we are made righteous by receiving Christ as our Lord and Savior. The book of Revelation tells us that in heaven God gives us a white robe and declares that because of the work of Christ on the cross, we are declared righteous and fit for heaven. I thank Jehovah-Tsidkenu for the benefit of forgiveness of sin and qualification for eternal life in Heaven when I die. Second, I pray that I will live righteously today in everything that I that I say and do: Lord, I want to be right in every decision that I make today. I don’t want to be wrong anywhere. JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH = JEHOVAH OUR SANCTIFIER Jehovah-M’Kaddesh is the name of the God who purifies us and makes us holy. I pray, Oh Lord, please mature me to be a spiritual father or mother at any price. Make me holy and pure. I’m willing to pay the cost of discipleship. May I experience victory as I surrender to you as my Lord and Savior. JEHOVAH-SHALOM = JEHOVAH OUR PEACE Jesus, Jehovah-Shalom, calmed the storm. Pray for whatever he needs to do to calm your life. Lord, I need your peace today. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH = JEHOVAH OUR INDWELLING PRESENCE We all temples of God. He lives within us as the Holy Spirit. He is our partner for everyday living. We thank God for the Holy Spirit and for the life He pours into us. Pray: Help us to keep our hearts and lives clean and pure from sin. JEHOVAH-ROPHE = JEHOVAH OUR HEALER Rophe means to “restore” or “cure” or heal in the physical, moral, and spiritual sense. I pray every day to Jehovah-Rophe to heal and cleanse my body and my family. JEHOVAH JIREH = OUR PROVIDER God supplies all of our needs. He promised He would, and we can depend fully on Him. So, I pray for everything on my calendar for the day. I pray, God, please care for and provide for my finances … health … relationships. This is the God who can put into our lives everything that he desires for us. JEHOVAH-NISSI = JEHOVAH OUR BANNER Today, we have many ways to communicate in battle. In ancient times, signal flags were used to place troops in proper position. In God’s battle, our Banner represents a sign of deliverance and salvation. Christ is the banner of our redemption and warfare. It’s a victory flag! I pray, God, please provide the victory in the spiritual battles I face every day. JEHOVAH-ROHI = JEHOVAH IS MY SHEPHERD Psalm 23 teaches that we all need a shepherd. I pray, The Lord is my shepherd; You are all I want. THE NAME OF GOD MATTERS One day, every knee will bow in submission and praise at the name of Jesus: “Therefore God… gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Let’s do a brief meditation. Imagine yourself bowing before the resurrected Jesus, who is seated upon His throne. Join in with countless others. Bow low. Lift your eyes. Pray, Worthy are You to receive glory and power, wisdom and strength and glory!

Spiritual gifts are given by God to build up the church and impact the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit empowers each believer with distinctive gifts and ministries. Before Christ we are wired to consume. When we meet Christ we are wired to serve. We have been gifted to make a contribution vs. constantly consuming. The eternal consequences of Christian service compel us to serve around Casas and in the community. Jesus described Himself as a servant and urged His followers to serve one another (Luke 22:25–27). The apostle Paul connected serving one another to the Great Commandment (Galatians 5:13–14). “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1-13). What is the difference between spiritual gifts and natural talents? Natural talents result from physical creation. Spiritual gifts are given through spiritual re-creation. Natural talents are often the vehicle through which spiritual gifts can be used. The spiritual gifts are found in three separate passages in the New Testament (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12–14; and Ephesians 4). The lists are not exactly identical. Some overlap occurs. Perhaps we should look for our ministry on the left hand side (Ephesians 4 and Romans 12). Once we find our ministry, we look to the right hand side (1 Corinthians 12)) to see which gifts God may give to help us to carry out our ministries. “MINISTRIES OF CHRIST” Ephesians 4:11 (Building and Instructing) Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastor-Teacher Romans 12:6-8 (Supporting) Prophecy Helps Teaching Encouragement Giving Administration Leadership Mercy Does Every Believer Have A Gift? Can A Believer Have More Than One Gift? “GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT” 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (Tools For Ministry) Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy Distinguishing spirits Speaking in tongues Interpreting tongues 1 Corinthians 7:7 Singleness (celibacy) How Are Spiritual Gifts Given Out? An Apostle is one who is sent to establish a foothold for Christianity in unevangelized areas by proclaiming the Gospel and establishing churches. A Prophet applies a message from God to a particular situation in relevant terms. This is mostly a preaching gift; however, in biblical times it predicts the future. An Evangelist is spiritually anointed to persuade people through a variety of relevant methods to surrender their lives to the Person of Jesus Christ. They are quite successful at it. A Pastor-Teacher oversees the care and spiritual feeding of a church congregation. His/her teaching clarifies and preserves the truths of God. The gift of Helps is a God-given gift for meeting the practical needs of people. The gift of Encouragement exhorts people to active to Christian living through loving encouragement and/or firm discipline if and when needed. The gift Giving is the ability to make money and/or resources and to give them freely away with joy and delight. The gift of Administration is the spiritual capacity to organize and manage the church. The gift of Leadership is the spiritual capacity to energize people by creating a vision and inspiring them to make the vision a reality. The gift of Mercy brings the empathetic love of God to hurting people in practical ways. The gift of Wisdom synthesizes concepts, facts and truths in order to find a God-inspired solutions. The gift of the Word Of Knowledge is a supernaturally revealed communication for a particular reason. The gift of Faith is the spiritual ability to see something that God intends to do and to live accordingly even before God acts. Miracle gifts are explained in Scripture in this way: The gift of Healing refers to the healing of physical disease in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings through confession, laying on of hands and prayer. The gift of Miracles is a supernatural event to authenticate the Word and/or reality of God. The gift of Distinguishing Between Spirits is the ability to differentiate between holy, human and demonic powers. The gift of Tongues is the ability to speak fluently in a previously unlearned language (dialektos) or in a Holy Spirit inspired spiritual prayer language (glossalia). The gift of Interpreting Tongues is the spontaneous ability to translate the language of one who is using the gift of tongues. What is the purpose of a spiritual gift? Spiritual gifts are for the common good. For victory, the church body must work together in harmony, fellowship and love under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When utilized properly in a church setting, spiritual gifts intertwine to paint a picture of Jesus Christ. By the way the heed for utilizing spiritual gifts in a group setting speaks forever to the person who wants to go out on the hillside all alone and worship God all by himself/herself as the basis for his/her religion. WIRED TO SERVE: DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS DR. ROGER BARRIER ♣SLIDE #: Waiter and tray: ♣SLIDE #: Before Christ: Wired to consume. Ron waiter at Steak And Ale Terminated Thought “consume” was a title: use it up and nothing left. Meet Christ: Wired to serve. We have been gifted to make a contribution vs. constantly consuming. The eternal consequences of Christian service compel us to serve around Casas and in the community. Jesus described Himself as a servant and urged all of His followers to serve one another: ♣SLIDE #: Luke 22:25–27: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; …but you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” SHOUT: You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free: to do what—to love. The apostle Paul connected serving one another to the Great Commandment: ♣SLIDE #: Galatians 5:13–14: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” God does not just tell us to serve; He gives us really special tools for the task. ♣SLIDE #: 1 Corinthians 12:1: Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. Why? Strengthen the local church fellowship Extend the church's witness and ministry Paint a relevant picture of Christ ♣SLIDE #: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. ♣SLIDE #: 1 Corinthians 12:7-9: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ♣SLIDE #: 1 Corinthians 12:10-11: to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still 1 2 another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. ♣SLIDE #: 1 Corinthians 12:12: The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. The spiritual gifts are found in three separate passages in the New Testament (Romans 12; Corinthians 12–14; and Ephesians 4). The lists are not exactly identical. Some overlap occurs. Every Christian is given at least one gift at conversion. You have one. Let’s find out more about it. ♣SLIDE #: "MINISTRIES OF CHRIST" "GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT" Ephesians 4:11 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (Building and Instructing) (Tools for ministry) Apostles Wisdom Prophets Knowledge Evangelists Faith Pastor-Teacher Healing Romans 12:6-8 Miracles (Supporting) Prophecy Prophecy Distinguishing spirits Helps Speaking in tongues Teaching Interpreting tongues Encouragement Giving Administration 1 Corinthians 7:7 Leadership Singleness (celibacy) Mercy Let’s reorganize the gifts for a minute. Perhaps we should look for our ministry on the left hand side (Ephesians 4 and Romans 12). Once we find our ministry, we look to the right hand side (1 Corinthians 12)) to see which gifts God has given to us to carry out our ministry. What Is The Difference Between Spiritual Gifts And Natural Talents? Born with Natural Talents Some natural talents might be musical ability, carpentry, mechanical aptitude, and artistic skills. Spiritual gifts are given at conversion and are designed to help bring eternal change to people. Natural talents are often the vehicle through which spiritual gifts can be used. A Christian vocalist may have the spiritual gift of evangelism, or prophecy being carried through the vehicle of musical talent. Ball player: relationship evangelist Volunteered to teach 6th grade algebra. I can do that. It us a natural talent. Teach Bible brings a spiritual dimension. Check zipper Count pages Check mike Pray, Holy Spirit to mouth, to ears to inner spirit. Does Every Believer Have A Gift? Let me encourage you. YES! You Tube: Football Tricks: short, nondescript, 2nd string at Ucon. Unlock gym door with bounce shot Knock doll of friends head at 40 yards. 2 balls, backwards swish-frontwards swish at other basket Skeet shoot Pizza Incredible talent—that is his natural gift. Gift God gives you, when spiritually used—is incredible. Can A Believer Have More Than One Gift? Yes, combinations: 2n-1 where n is the number of gifts. 18 GIFTS = 262,144 combinations) Yes. And more as we mature and our ministry responsibilities increase. Tool box for use when needed. Give definitions and make some comments about particular gifts to illustrate how they all operate. ♣SLIDE #: PreachItTeachIt.org: Home page, Roger’s sermons ♣SLIDE #: An Apostle is one who is sent to establish a foothold for Christianity in unevangelized areas by proclaiming the Gospel and establishing churches. Roberto Morales: 80 churches established. ♣SLIDE #: A Prophet applies a message from God to a particular situation in relevant 3 terms. This is mostly a preaching gift but on isolated occasions may predict the future. ♣SLIDE #: An Evangelist is spiritually anointed to persuade people through a variety of relevant methods to surrender their lives to the Person of Jesus Christ. They are quite successful at it. Glenn’s invitation Sundays All evangelize… ♣SLIDE #: A Pastor-Teacher oversees the care and spiritual feeding of a church congregation. His/her teaching clarifies and preserves the truths of God. Jack plays out this role. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Helps is a God-given gift for meeting the practical needs of people. ♣SLIDE #: Don Young died. Marilyn Tolson cleaning up kitchen when I arrived. Saw her in church office Wednesday. "Do you have the gift of helps?" Puzzled look: "I don't know . . . But if there is something you need help with, let me know. I will be glad to help you." ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Encouragement has a double use: to comfort or encourage, and to admonish and rebuke when necessary. An exhorter is someone with a fantastic ability to help--"Cheer up--Our God is omnipotent! You know people who are like that; they're always in the right place at the right time- other folks are like Job's counselors, or his wife, "Curse God and die". Several years ago I set a goal to do three encouraging things every day. At end of day, if have not fulfilled my vow, I can always say something encouraging to my children. They need it. It is tough growing up. Smile: all like it. 10 years with my orthodontist. “You must be so excited about the new baby? When are you due?” “I’m not pregnant.” ♣SLIDE #: The gift Giving is the ability to make money and/or resources and to give them freely away with joy and delight. 4 Two characteristics of a person who has the gift of giving are: he has resources; he delights in sharing those resources. All give ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Administration is the spiritual capacity to organize and manage the church. The Greek word for administration is kuberneseis, meaning helmsman or governor. The administrator is the person who is qualified to steer the ship. Not Captain ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Leadership is the spiritual capacity to energize people by creating a vision for the future and inspiring them to make the vision a reality. Children asked to define Leaders: Out front Rear end so better seen than their front side Charts course on star never seen One who causes conflict, but who changes things "You know you're a leader when you look around and people are following you." ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Mercy brings the empathetic love of God to hurting people in practical ways. In general Christians should be tender-hearted and compassionate to those in need around them. But some Christians are endowed by God in a special way to sense and seek out and help those in need. Whoever has this gift does not steel himself in the face of another's miseries. Rather he is drawn to his suffering brother. He must do something about it. The gift involves more than a feeling of pity; it requires action. SAM HALL Washcloth pulled off. Member winced. I walked over and put it back in place. "I guess you have seen a lot of that." Yes. I could put it back without much feeling. He had all the feelings. Probably neither of us had the gift of mercy. He had the feelings and I had the action. Mercy utilizes both. Mercy is not my major gift. But, I can still do an act of mercy. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Wisdom synthesizes concepts, facts and truths in order to find a God-inspired solution for a particular situation. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of the Word Of Knowledge is a supernaturally revealed communication for a particular reason. 5 Acts 5:1-11 Peter's knowledge of God's supernatural judgment. Heard Of A Pastor’s Experience In Gifts Of Evangelism I was flying to a speaking engagement in New York. Seated across the aisle from me was a middle-aged-business man. But in the split second that my eyes happened to be cast in his direction, I saw written across his face in clear and distinct letters the word "adultery.” The man had become aware that I was looking at him. "What do you want?" he snapped. As he spoke, a woman's name came clearly to mind. I leaned across the aisle and asked, "Does the name Jane mean anything to you?" His face turned ashen. "We've got to talk", he stammered. We were on was a jumbo jet, the kind with a small upstairs cocktail lounge. As I followed him up the stairs to the lounge, I sensed the Spirit speaking to me yet again: "Tell him if he doesn't turn from his adultery, I’m going to take him." We sat down in strained silence. He looked at me suspiciously and then asked, "Who told you that name?" "God told me," I blurted out. "God told you?" He almost shouted—he was so shocked by what I had said. "Yes," I answered, taking a deep breath. "He also told me to tell you . . . that unless you turn from this adulterous relationship, he is going to take your life." I braced myself for what I was sure would be an angry defensive reaction, but this defensiveness crumbled and his heart melted. In a choked, desperate voice he asked me, "What should I do?" I explained to him what it meant to repent and trust Christ and invited him to pray with me. With hands folded and head bowed, I began to lead him in a quiet prayer. "O God." That was as far as I got. With deep conviction bursting into tears, he cried out, "O God, I'm so sorry" and launched into the most heartrending repentance I had ever heard. When he finished praying we talked for a while about what had happened to him. “The reason I was so upset when you mentioned that name to me was that my wife was sitting in the seat right next to me. I didn't want her to hear." I knew he wasn't going to like what I said to him next. "You're going to have to tell her." "I am? When?" "Better do it right now," I said gently. I followed him, back to our seats. I couldn't hear the conversation over the noise of the plane, but I could see his wife's stunned reaction, not only to his confession of infidelity, but also to his account of how the stranger sitting across the aisle had been sent by God to warn him of the consequences of his sin. Eyes wide with she stared at me, then back at her husband, then back at me. In the end the man led his wife to accept Christ, right there on the airplane. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Faith is the spiritual ability to see something that God wants done and to live accordingly even before God acts. 6 Perhaps synonymous with vision. This person has the same problems as all others, but can see right through the problems to the resources of God. GEORGE MUELLER, by faith operated an orphanage in Bristol, England. He cared for l0,000 orphans over a period of 60 years, receiving $5 million in the process. He began the work with only two shillings in his pocket. Without once making known any need, he received enough to build five large homes, able to house 2,000 orphans, and to feed the children day by day, all by faith and prayer. Never did they go without a meal. Often the pantry was bare when the children sat down to eat, but help always arrived in the nick of time. One morning when not a speck of food or milk was on hand to feed the hundreds of hungry orphans seated expectantly at the breakfast table, Mr Mueller prayed, "Father, we thank Thee for the food Thou are going to give us." Came a knock at the door. A baker stood there. "I was awakened at 2 a.m. and felt I should bake some bread for you." A few minutes later came another knock. A milkman said, "My mild wagon just broke down in front of your place. I must get rid of these cans of milk before I can take the wagon for repairs. Can you use this milk?" Some people see that and think, "boy, I wish I could do that. That doesn't happen to me." Whip themselves because aren't like Mueller, but Mueller had the special gift of faith. You and I may or may not have that gift of seeing beyond what others can see. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Healing refers to the healing of physical disease in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings through confession, laying on of hands and prayer. Healing story ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Miracles is an event of supernatural power, to authenticate the Word and/or the reality of God. Campus Crusade missionary: Witch doctor didn't want Jesus film. Pleaded and threatened. Missionaries showed it anyway. Set up film and invited neighboring villages and several thousand turned up. Turned on generator and began film. Fifteen minutes into the film the witch doctor crept into the darkness, took his machete and crept over to the power cord and with one quick move, cut the electric cord -- and the movie kept right on playing. The Jesus film never stopped. "If that is the kind of God you have, we need him. He became a Christian." ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Distinguishing Between Spirits is the ability to differentiate between holy, human, and demonic powers. 7 ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Tongues is the ability to speak fluently in a previously unlearned language (dialektos) or in a Holy Spirit inspired spiritual prayer language (glossalia). Unsaved men and women might hear the gospel in their own languages. Tongues are useful in prayer to express ideas and concepts which are deep in the human spirit. Julie using dialektos in Brazil: Dianne Walter’s broken arm. Tour left Julie all alone to handle it. Alone in a big city. .Speaking medical terms and directing traffic in Portuguese. ♣SLIDE #: The gift of Interpreting Tongues is the spontaneous ability to translate the language of one who is using the gift of tongues. ♣SLIDE #: HOW TO UNWRAP YOUR GIFTS ♣SLIDE #: 1. Study the gifts in the Bible and learn how they operate. ♣SLIDE #: 2. Observe the lives of Christians you know to see how gifts operate in them. ♣SLIDE #: 3. Analyze what gifts you recognize developing in yourself. ♣SLIDE #: 4. Seek confirmation of your gift from others--and from god. (Jake Ellis, well respected teacher at Northway: "roger, you are a wonderful teacher." The inner witness of the spirit is not limited to confirming our salvation. He wants us to know what our gifts are and how to use them.) ♣SLIDE #: 5. Let your successful ministry experiences be a determining factor in recognizing your gift. (What ministry is god blessing? Someone may realize that often when he has prayed for sick people, they have become well. Do you see fruit from your teaching? Are people trusting Christ as a result of your evangelism?) ♣SLIDE #: 6. Practice! Practice! Practice! ♣SLIDE #: John 13:3-5: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ♣SLIDE #: John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love 8 one another." ♣SLIDE #: Love and service Picture this: Wedding: I just want to serve you 9

Fasting is an opportunity to prepare ourselves for God to work in our lives and to answer our prayers. God is always ready. Fasting makes it clear that we are ready. We fast to change God’s mind, to be healed from shame and guilt, to be released from things that enslave us, to be protected from danger and to enhance our worship of God. Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to fast. On the other hand, Jesus assumes that there will be times when His followers will practice fasting. One of my pastor friends, Jeff Jones, gave the best definition for fasting that I have ever heard: “Fasting is a voluntary choice not to eat for a period of time in order to focus one’s attention on prayer during a significant moment in life.” I like to define fasting like this: “Fasting is to abstain from food and/or drink for spiritual purposes.” The word, “fast”, literally means, “to go without food.” Fasting is not so much abstaining from food as it is choosing to feast on spiritual things. I believe strongly in fasting as a God given tool for further enhancing our spiritual lives as well as to get some things done on earth that would never gotten done apart from fasting. In the Bible fasting and prayer often go together. Let me illustrate from one of my fasting experiences: Pain etched Sally’s face. Nerves damaged by radiation treatments left her in constant agony. “The doctors say they can do nothing more,” she said. “God is my only hope. I noticed a passage on healing in James 5 yesterday that might help.” As she opened her Bible I saw two verses underlined in red: “Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. and the prayer of faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” “Would you please gather the elders and pray for me?” she asked. Unfortunately, it was not that simple. I grew up in a denomination that ill-prepared me for her request. The unwritten, but strongly implied rule of our denominational culture, stated that pastors who ministered in the area of healing were “charismatic” at best, and deluded at worst. Also, our churches were organized around deacons; we had no elders. Furthermore, I was not sure what a “prayer of faith” was. Finally, I had never anointed anyone with oil and was not certain how to do it. Obviously, we never discussed James 5:14-15 in seminary. So, I chose my words carefully: “Sally, you are the first person to ask me to pray for healing according to James five. I am not certain what to do.” I explained my pastoral dilemma and then proposed a solution: “I suggest that we both pray and fast for five days. I’ll meet you in my office next Friday afternoon, and if God tells us to proceed, we will.” Sally was no novice. She had walked with God for many years. She agreed to the proposal. Five days later we both wrote on paper what we thought God told us and then exchanged papers. The conclusions were identical. We made plans for a healing service on Sunday afternoon. Since we had no elders at the time, I invited our deacons. During the thirty minutes before Sally arrived, I explained to the deacons her request, the background to her pain, and what I knew of James 5:14-15. I asked if anyone had participated in a healing service before. No hands raised. When Sally arrived, we asked her to confess any known sin because James mentioned this in verse 16. hen she finished, I took the bottle from Lucky’s Supermarket and prepared to pour olive oil over her head. ne of the deacons averted a mess when he shook his head and whispered that a drop on a finger applied lightly to her forehead might work better. We took turns passing the bottle, anointing her with oil, and praying for her. I wondered if perhaps Sally would now leap up like on television and shout, “Glory to God! I’m healed!” But nothing happened. As she quietly exited the room, she thanked us for our prayers and left a room filled with disappointed confusion, mixed with some measure of hope. Unbeknown to us, the healing service just moved to another time and place. In the early morning hours, Sally was awakened by a strange sensation and knew instantly that she was healed. By the time she was out of bed, the pain was gone—never to return. Later Sally related to me an intriguing aside: “I think that the reason God did not heal me in front of the deacons was because they might get proud. I think God waited until I was alone so He would get all the glory.” She never had another pain as long as she lived. One purpose of fasting is to discern God’s will and then to have the spiritual power to act in accordance with His will. Fasting when accompanied by prayer seems to communicate to God a deeper seriousness and earnestness that gets his attention. Lacy, you ask why should you fast? Let me mention some of the reasons and/or purposes for fasting. 1. When we need to know God’s will I mentioned this reason above. The Israelites fasted to determine direction in battle (Judges 20:24-28). Daniel sought wisdom from God with prayer and fasting and God revealed things to him (Daniel 9:2-3, 2l-22). 2. WHEN WE NEED TO CHANGE GOD’S MIND Jonah, the prophet of God, was sent to Nineveh to prophesy destruction. When the King of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message, he immediately fasted and called for a fast among his people (Jonah 3:5-6). This time of fasting did change the mind of God, much to the disappointment of Jonah, you will remember, because God withheld His hand of judgment. If you are thinking a bit you may remember that one of God’s characteristics is immutability. He never changes (James 1:16-17). You may remember that other passages describe Him as One with whom there is “no change, no turning, no shadow of turning, no variableness. It is important to keep in mind that God has established a principle concerning His right to repent, and whenever we are talking about the repentance of God it is necessary for us to keep in mind the principle. Jeremiah 18:7-10: “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. “ God is saying, “If I decide that a nation, or an individual, needs to be chastened, if that individual or nation repents, I reserve to myself the right to nullify my intended action if I so choose.” He does not always choose, but He can. Changing the mind of God through fasting is not a contradiction of the Scripture. 3. When we need to Intensify the Power of our Prayers I mentioned this purpose above; but, I wanted to make it stand out because of its significance. God promised in Isaiah 58:3-5, 9: “I won’t hear with your fasting, but if you’ll do a true fast… then I will hear.” How often we have made earnest prayer to God for some specific need, yet, there was no answer from heaven. Why? It could well be that God is saying to us Jeremiah 29:13: “When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you…” When we are in turmoil, it is time to fast. When we are out of work, struggling with poor personal relationships, suffering with sickness, worried about wayward children, etc. it is time to fast. 4. when we need Freedom From Various Bondages When you think about it, we have the opportunity to be in bondage to more things than any other culture in history. We can be enslaved and/or addicted to so many things: consumerism, jobs, cars, sports, TV, lust, porn, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex, video games, gambling, the occult, black magic, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, etc. You name it and we can find someone addicted to it. Prayer with earnest fasting is designed to help us free ourselves from these bonds. God promised in Isaiah 58:6: “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” 5. When we need help forgivING ourselves for past sins I never cease to be amazed by the Christians who have trouble accepting God’s forgiveness for some of the sins in their pasts. Surprise! That includes most all of us. John the beloved Disciple spoke for God in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This promise, when properly accepted and appropriated, can help us forgive ourselves, put our past mistakes in perspective and move on to the future. Both King Ahab (1 Kings 21:27) and David used this tool to get over the mistakes and sins of the past (2 Samuel 12:16, 21-23). If you are guilty of sin, and have confessed and repented, and are still feeling accused, then fast. 6. When are in danger and need Protection. The Jews fasted and prayed after hearing of King Xerxes’ plan to kill them all. Mordecai instructed Esther: “You must go and confront the King about this matter even if it is against the law for you to approach him uninvited.” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai as recorded in Esther 4:16: “Go, gather together the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Read Esther and see how God rescued all the Jews in Persia just in time. Julie and I have travelled and taught in over thirty countries. Our children used to tell us that they had to stop and think to remember whether we were in the country or out. We’ve been in some remote and dangerous places. The kids didn’t really like for us to travel abroad. They often said, “We were afraid you were not going to come back.” We have travelled a great deal in the Middle East ministering to Jordanian, Iranian, Iraqi, Tajikistani, Libyan, Armenian, Turkish, Armenian, and Azerbaijani pastors and Christians either in country or in pastors’ conferences throughout Turkey. We prayed many a prayer for protection. We’ve been cursed in Azerbaijan, mocked in England, snowed in for a week in Armenia, frozen in Mongolia and just after the Iron Curtain fell, afraid of communist persecution in the Ukraine. I own two bullet-proof vests because my life has been threatened four times. Julie has had to wear a vest because of threats on her life. God protected us in every situation. Prayer and fasting are important when we are in danger and need protection. 7. When our relationship with him is intimate and we desire to Enhance Our Worship And Devotion to God Eighty-four-year-old widowed Anna worshipped God through prayers and fastings daily in the temple as she waited for the Son of God to make His first trip to the Temple. When He finally arrived, she fell to knees and worshipped (Luke 2:36-38). The early church fasted often as they worshipped God (Acts l3:2-3). Remember, in worship we want to move spiritually into the throne room in Heaven. Fasting helps to facilitate our moving into God’s presence. Let’s examine the two basic types of Fasts: NORMAL AND ABSOLUTE 1. A Normal Fast Is Abstaining From All Foods But Not From Water. During the Temptation as recorded in Matthew 4:2-3, Jesus was hungry, not thirsty. Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread. He didn’t tempt Him to turn plants into water. Usually a normal fast includes drinking water. I think that there are times when drinking juice or coffee is appropriate. However, the normal fast is usually undertaken with only water. 2, An Absolute Fast Is Abstaining From Both Drinking And Eating. After Paul’s Damascus Road experience, when he met the risen Lord, Acts 9:9 records: “For three days Paul neither ate nor drank.” Moses twice undertook absolute fasts of supernatural proportions. For forty days he fasted, no food or water, after he received the ten commandments and again for forty days when he saw the golden calf. Is it any wonder that God spared Israel. How can WE begin FASTING? If you have never fasted before, don’t start off with forty-day fast. Our bodies grow accustomed to fasting by degrees. God doesn’t call us to run until we have learned to walk. Consider beginning with a partial fast. Fast one or two meals and soon extend your fast to one full day–three meals in a row. Perhaps you fast breakfast, lunch and dinner on the same day. I have found it a litter easier to begin after lunch on one day, have dinner that evening and miss breakfast and lunch on the next day. Then, conclude the fast by eating dinner. You may discover that on the first day you experience a headache and/or some depression. This is normal. The headache is only caffeine withdrawal from drinks like coffee, tea and coke, etc. These feelings will not kill you! When do you conclude a fast? When you sense God saying that it is time to stop. By the way, and this is really important, certain medical conditions may need doctor’s approval and/or may be incompatible with fasting. If you are unable to fast because of medical reasons do not despair. When God forbid David from building the Temple because of his many battles and killings, God said to him: “You did well to have it in your heart. I will give you credit for it anyway.” The same may be said about fasting. Let me address your initial question as to why we see so little emphasis on fasting today. This is my opinion, but, I think it has to do with the sorry state of Christianity in America. Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines, all of which are designed to enhance our spiritual maturity. There is a cost to growing spiritually and in my opinion, many (most) American Christians are not willing to pay the price.

Paul learns how to survive in the darkest circumstances not only by the “grace power” of God, but by the support system of saints around him. When times get really tough, we need God and we also need each other.

Hosea was asked by God to marry an unfaithful woman and love her unconditionally. In doing so, he demonstrated the kind of amazing love God has for his children. THE SECOND GREATEST LOVE STORY IN THE BIBLE DR. ROGER BARRIER HOSEA S-1792 ●BACKGROUND SLIDE #: Turn to the book of Hosea. Make a right turn at Psalms… A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages fell out of the Bible. He picked up the pressed leaf and called, “Mama, look what I found”. What have you got there, dear?” With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, “I think it’s Adam’s underpants.” I was driving with my three young children one summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, “Mom! That lady isn’t wearing a seat belt! Ah, sin and sex in the eyes of a child. In our passage this morning, we see love and sex from a more adult perspective. ●SLIDE #: Hosea’s love for Gomer is one of the greatest “grown up” love stories in the Bible. Hosea was in the market place when he rounded the corner and heard two women discussing his wife. One of them said that my wife, Gomer, was having an affair. He hurried home and Gomer was not there. Kids are crying, hungry, lonely. Finds a note on the table. Don’t even have to write your own break up note anymore: go on internet. “Dear, (insert name here) Roses are red, violets are blue, you are the jerk my mother warned me about and I’m breaking up with you.” ●SLIDE #: Gomer’s note: “Don’t bother to look for me. I am not coming home. I have gone away with a man who makes me feel happy and fulfilled. I’m tired of you. I am tired of the kids. I’m through.” During those bitter months while Gomer was gone, God gave a message to Hosea that He had never given to any other Hebrew prophet. Hosea looked deeply into the infinite love of God. ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:1: The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel: Hosea was a part-time farmer who was minding his own business in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 750 BC when God placed a call upon his life. ●SLIDE #Hosea 1:2: When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” “Take an adulterous wife:” Extreme thing for God to ask a man of God to do. Why? Extreme times call for extreme measures. The new king of Israel, Jeroboam, made sweeping reforms. Since religion was a foundational part of our heritage, he decided to give us a new religion along with our new nation. ●??SLIDE #: He took prayer out of our schools and forbade any mention of the name of Jehovah in any public place or public assembly. ●??SLIDE #: He set up Asherah Poles. Asherah was the goddess of sex. Many girls worked there who were religious priestesses who prostituted themselves to help the men symbolically unite with the sex goddess Asherah. Sex became a political weapon in the government. ●??SLIDE #: Astrology was rampant. People were so dependent upon their horoscopes to chart their lives that one city newspaper editor told me that the most calls of complaint he ever got was the day they accidentally left the horoscope out of the newspaper. ●??SLIDE #: They said they were pro-choice. It was their bodies. If they wanted to sacrifice their children in fire to the god Molech and they could make laws to ensure that right. ●??SLIDE #: They practiced sorcery. God said that they were trafficking with demons. ●??SLIDE #: Government officials were selling their integrity for campaign contributions from special interest groups. Reelection for them was a higher priority than what was best for thye country. ●??SLIDE #: We were living in the post-Jehovah generation. ●SLIDE # Hosea 1:2a: When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness “Go marry a prostitute.” How do you pick out which prostitute to marry? Test them out. No. “Line them up: Meny, meny, minie ho …” ●SLIDE # What kind of a woman was Gomer? Perhaps, she was a cultic prostitute—devoted to fertility rites of Baal. Maybe, a notoriously wicked woman whom God chose for Hosea as a drastic and dramatic means of putting His message across. Some say she was pure when they married and turned to harlotry later. Probably sexually abused, raped as a child and tossed out of the house as unclean. Wonder how they met. ●SLIDE #: (pix of beautiful girl) Young prophet preaching. One day sees beautiful girl on edge of crowd. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her during the sermon. She is perfect – raven eyes, chestnut hair-colored hair reached almost to her waist. Her complexion was impeccable. “Got to meet her!” At the close of the service I shook hands with people and gradually inched my way to where she was standing. “What’s your name?” “Gomer.” “Gomer! Gomer means ‘perfection.’ Sizes her up. “” Her parents named her right. After service learns her name. “Gomer” = “Perfection”. God, you named her right.” It was in love at first sight! Later that evening we went for a walk by the light of the full moon. And that was the night I found out she was a cultic prostitute at the Baal temple here in Bethel. We talked long and hard about her past. “Why did you do it?” “I was raped by my brother when I was thirteen. Thrown out of the house as soiled and unclean. They were ashamed of me. I had nowhere else to go.” And she wept. “Lord. I choose her.” ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:3a: So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim,… One day a great event occurred in the pastor’s home. ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:3b-4: and she conceived and bore him a son. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.” Jezreel means “God avenges.” Judgment on the house of Jehu, king of Israel. ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:6: Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel…” “Daughter” – “Girl-child.” “Loruhamah” = unpitied or unwanted girl, or not obtained mercy.” child because she is not his daughter. Think about Hosea going around the house with those kids: Hey, “God avenges” come over here. Stop behaving like that—“Not Loved.” Then God says, “I want you to have another child.” ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:8-9: After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” A boy-child is born—not a “son”. “Lo ammi” means “Not my flesh and blood; not my child.” Tragedy has come to the parsonage. ●SLIDE #: (Julie, you might do a collage of some of the substitutes mentioned below.) It all began when Israel placed substitutes in the God-shaped vacuum God has placed deep within our souls. Hopefully, some where along our spiritual journeys we learn that the substitutes for God simply will not satisfy us—or Him. You want some rice: Which would you rather have: Rice Krispies? Or Rice Cakes? Milk now comes in a bar. Sea-food fans? Here is what you’ve been waiting for: Crab-tastic premium Imitation Crab. You don’t have to have good old bacon and eggs anymore: Bacon Bits and artificial Egg Beaters. Brand new Freeze-Dried vanilla-flavored-ice-cream sandwich. Put a few in your backpack when hiking in 100 degree heat and pull out a refreshing freeze-dried-ice-cream sandwich. Frankly, I’d rather have the real thing. Money is a wonderful tool—but it is a horrible god to worship. Substitute addictions: eating sex, drugs—March Madness—well that one is OK. Substitute gods have such a short-shelf-life. Take music: some of you are old enough to remember Records: albums. We’d spin these things. Even had changers which let records fall into place. I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven. Then 8-tracks—hit play—so big fit right in your hand. Then cassette tapes Then came the 90s and we have CDs Then every body has to have an i-pod Now I-phone and have everything at the tip of your fingers. All temporary: Some day, no record players, 8-tracks, CD players. Some day your children will say, “What in the world is an I-pod?” Everything is temporary. God’s word is not temporary. The Bible stands eternal. God’s love is eternal. He begins to romance His people so once again they fall in love with Him. ●SLIDE #: Hosea 1:10: “In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ●SLIDE #: Hosea 2:14-16: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. … “In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ ●SLIDE #: Hosea 2:19-20: I will betroth you to me forever; … in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. ●SLIDE #: hosea 2:23: I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.'” Let’s get our facts straight. Some of you say, “After all I’ve done, God could never love me. I am not good enough. Too much has happened in my past…I am not worthy of God’s love. Some of you said this morning, “if I go to church the roof will cave in.” But, you came any way, and surprise, surprise, the roof is still intact. Let’s get our facts straight: God’s is loving and wooing and romancing you. Associate Press reported (perhaps not urban legend) that Linda Burnet was sitting in her car in a grocery store parking lot when a man drove in and noticed that she was sitting in the driver’s seat with her hands clasped behind her head. He thought that was odd. Went inside and returned with his groceries and she hadn’t moved. He tapped on the window and asked, “Is everything all right?” She said, “I have been shot in the head and I’m holding my brains in. Call 911.” Paramedics and police arrive and she won’t roll down the window. They broke it. Apparently, she returned to her car and a can of biscuits in the back seat exploded due to the heat. When it exploded it sounded like a gunshot, hit her in the back of the head and threw her head forward into the steering wheel. When she reached back she touched the biscuit dough and was convinced that her brains were oozing out. We need to get our facts straight about God. Some or you have been Christians for quite some time but you are convinced that when you fall and sin that God has altered His feelings about you. You are carrying all sorts of guilt around. You have difficulty believing that God could love you just the way you are. Listen, some of you are carrying on spiritual affairs with substitute gods. Listen, when we fall, God doesn’t want us to run away and hide. He wants us to return to Him. Beautiful fulfillment in Jesus Christ. ●SLIDE #: EPHESIANS 2:1-5: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, … disobedient … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. We were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. Here is our resume: dead…sins…disobedient, deceived, object of wrath….saved. Do you know how to get God’s love? Just receive it. You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. Stop telling yourself you are worthless. You were bought with a price. The blood of Jesus Christ: You can even throw your shoulders back! Let’s return for a moment to the tragedy in the parsonage. Reread note. ●SLIDE #: Gomer’s note: “Don’t bother to look for me. I am not coming home. I have gone away with a man who makes me feel happy and fulfilled. I’m tired of you. I am tired of the kids. I’m through.” Those were bitter months while she was away away. About a year later I was changing Lo-Ammi’s diaper when the word from God came. “Hosea, true love keeps on loving even when you’re changing diapers on someone else’s baby.” Then I heard the voice of God again: “If you love her, go get her.” ●SLIDE #: HOSEA 3:1: The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” He goes to the First National Bank of Samaria, gets his life’s savings – fifteen pieces of silver and one-and-one=half homers of barley. ●SLIDE #: He goes looking, follows rumors; probably makes the rounds of the slave markets of the Mediterranean world. His friends are disgusted. “She dragged you through the gutter. Why are you doing this?” “Because I love her.” I located her in the slave market at Bethel. When I saw her I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was broken. Her shoulders were bent over. Her figure was gone. Her hair was filthy and matted. Her complexion was a disaster. Shame was all over her face. “What am I bid for Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim?” Hosea was faced with one of life’s greatest choices! The fear of rejected love. “Will she have me?” She left me once. Does she want me now? He just doesn’t know. Just so – God faced the choice on Calvary. Mankind turned their backs on God. Yet God still loved. Should He send Jesus? Will men still reject His love? The auctioneer cried again: “What am I bid for Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim?” I shook free from my reverie. I pushed through the crowd and cried, “I bid fifteen pieces of silver and one and one half homers of barley.” The auctioneer cried: “Sold! For fifteen pieces of silver an homer and a half of barley.” People gasped. “He’s a fool to pay such a price. Her beauty and worth are gone!” But I didn’t care. She was worth all I had. I loved her. I wanted her home. ●SLIDE #: HOSEA 3:2-3: So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.” Wish we could have seen Gomer that day. For months and months she was used and abused. The only name on her lips was “Hosea.” She hoped beyond hope that somehow he would find her and bring her back. Gradually she raises her eyes to face Hosea. Her chains fall of at his feet. She says, “Hosea, take me home.” So he did. ●SLIDE #: When we resist the love of God, when we turn from Him in cool contempt, and ruin our lives, God doesn’t utterly cast us off. He refuses to throw us away. He goes to the slave market and buys us back from the captivity of sin. But the purchase price is not fifteen pieces of silver and one and one half homers of barley. It’s nothing less than the life of His Son, Jesus. Some of you have been away from God for quite a long time. It is time to come home. He will take you back. It doesn’t matter what you have done or how far you have run from Him. He loves you with all your heart. He is waiting for you to lift up your eyes to Him and say: “Father, please take me home.” And He will. Brendon Manning tells the story of an Irish priest who is walking in the countryside . He comes upon a peasant who is sitting crouched next to al wall. At first he thins that the peasant is sleeping but as he gets closer he realizes this man is actually praying. He says to him, “You must be very close to God.” “Yes, I am. In fact He’s very fond of me.” He is fond of us, too.

The Roots and Rise of Antisemitism – Revelation 12:1-12 – Skip Heitzig MUSIC PLAYING] Turn in your Bibles, please, to Revelation, chapter 12, the book of Revelation, chapter 12. I probably don’t need to rehearse what has gone on the past week or so in the Middle East, but to frame this evening, on October 7, on a Saturday, Israel was violently attacked by a group of terrorists who indiscriminately sought to kill as many civilians as they could possibly do. That didn’t matter who they were. It didn’t matter if they were soldiers off duty, if they were mothers, grandmothers, babies. They were killed. They were knifed. They were burnt. They were beheaded. 1,400 Jewish people in Israel is the latest count, were violently killed. The immediate reaction of the world– I should say, the thinking world, the civilized world. The immediate reaction was an unequivocal support for Israel and a denouncement against terrorism, condemning the attack. You should know that this last week, we opened up the ability to give to people who are victims of terrorism in that land. The Joshua fund with Joel Rosenberg works in that area. He has set up an organization in Israel to help with that, and there are some other organizations. We were able to collect some money. And this week, just the other day, we were able to send a $50,000 to the families who are suffering in that area. [APPLAUSE] And so again, we just need to say it. We wholeheartedly, unequivocally stand for Israel. As a church, we stand for Israel. [APPLAUSE] And I need to add to that a little bit. There are some sensible Iranians who live in Iran, and they denounce the leadership of the ayatollahs. And they don’t agree with it. They feel like they’re victims in that country in which they live. They have written me letters. I got one this week. And so they are decrying the regime of Iran, just as there were sensible Germans in World War II who denounced Adolf Hitler, and there are sensible Palestinians who live in Gaza and in other parts of the area who have denounced Hamas. And for them we pray. But by and large, the world denounce the terrorism. But not everyone. And that is the troubling point that I want to dive into, not everyone. If you just go back a couple of decades to our big event of terrorism, September 11, 2001, the nation was galvanized. Churches were packed. The world was on our side. But you may also remember that some said this was the fault of the United States of America because of their policies with Israel, especially, and their policies in the Middle East, in general. And when the towers fell on September 11, 2001, there were celebrations in Gaza, celebrations in many Muslim communities around the world, just like last week there were celebrations in many of these same communities because of what happened in Israel. Last Friday, the former chief of Hamas, Khaled Mashal, declared a global day of rage. Everybody around the world was crossing their fingers, hoping nothing bad would happen. He called for Muslims around the world to take action, to send a message, a message to the Zionists and to the Americans, a National Day of rage. This past week, there have been demonstrations in cities around the world, London, Paris, Berlin, to name a few, Chicago, New York, every major city very, very pro-Palestinian, very, very anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, and very Nazi-like in the rhetoric that was used. And I don’t use the term lightly. In fact, in Berlin, one German official warned, and I am quoting, “I would not advise anyone to make their Jewish faith visible.” This is in Berlin, Germany, decades after the Holocaust. “I would not advise anyone to make their Jewish faith visible. Those who wear the kippah”– the head covering– “already face the prospect of being spat on or insulted in quieter times. Isn’t it sick that such things have become normal in Germany?” There have been Hamas celebrations on universities, college campuses, around the country. This week, at New York University, NYU, a pro-Palestinian student walked up to the pictures of the families that have been taken hostage. The missing women and children that are presumably in tunnels or hidden by Hamas, their pictures were put up for people to see who they were. Students at NYU came and ripped those pictures down in our country. Well, I travel to the Middle East quite a lot, not just to Israel, 41 times, but I’ve been to Saudi Arabia, to Egypt, to the United Arab Emirates, to Jordan, to several different countries. And on some of the trips that I took, I went with a man who has spoken here before. He is going to be interviewed. The full interview will be on our website. This is just another snippet like last week. But Johnnie Moore is the one that I interviewed. And I will introduce his accolades as I begin to interview him. So we’re going to show that taped interview. [VIDEO PLAYBACK] – Well, I’m with Johnnie Moore. Johnnie is an evangelical leader. He’s a businessman. He is a commissioner for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. He’s the president of the Congress of Christian Leaders. I met Johnnie Moore first at the White House, and I have been impressed with him ever since. Johnnie, you play a unique role, diplomatically, spiritually, and I want to get your take on what has happened in this past week. Since the first incursion of terrorists into Israel happened about a week ago, there has been a response that I did not expect. I expected the press to have a response that would be against Hamas and pro-Israel. That’s lasted for a minute or two. But there are demonstrations in cities, on college campuses, that are pro-Palestinian, very anti-Israel, very anti-Jewish, some very extremely hateful speech, even advocating for the death of Jewish people. Does that concern you? And why is that happening? – Yeah, it concerns me. And I think people have missed the timeline of exactly what happened here on Saturday, October 7th. We had the most horrific slaughter of the Jewish community since the Holocaust. And by the way, not just Israelis, many of these people had dual citizenship. So this affected citizens of at least 43 countries. The hostages are from dozens and dozens of countries. And Israel says that they’re going to retaliate. But the protests began before Israel began to retaliate. And so it demonstrates that all over the world is this network of pro-Hamas, pro-Islamist supporters of the terrorist activities of Hamas. And when they say things like from the river to the sea, that happened at Dearborn, Michigan, by the way, thousands of people marching down the street saying, from the river to the sea. That’s a call for the genocide of the Jewish people. – Explain the river to the sea. – It’s the it’s the position of Hamas. It’s not the two-state solution. It’s the final solution. – Is it from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea, eradicate the Jewish people from the Middle East. Is that the idea? – It’s from the Jordan River to the sea. So the state of Israel, wipe them all out. So Hamas, this is the position of Hamas. Hamas is an anti-Semitic organization that came to kill Jews. We actually now have the instructions that they were carrying with them in the attack, and one of the pieces of instructions says, kill as many civilians as possible. They actually had maps to know where the schools were. Somehow, probably– not probably– from Iran, they got the intelligence, most likely, in order to do this, to do this attack. But it is a genocidal organization, an anti-Semitic organization, that wants to see the elimination of every single Jew on earth. And this is why I am very hesitant to compare anything to the Holocaust. But very, very early on, the Jewish community started using this phrase. This was the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. But there’s a difference between the Nazis and between these Hamas terrorists. Because the Nazis would sometimes, very often, in fact, they would hide their crimes. And yet Hamas– – Openly. –live-streamed their torture of children. This isn’t just about Hamas. It’s, as they say in Israel, it’s not about the arms of the octopus. You have to get to the head of the octopus, and that’s the Islamic Republic of Iran. It seems like our governments around the world haven’t come to their senses. And these protesters, this is not about Palestinians and Israelis. This is about Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization. And if people are in the streets cheering what Hamas did to the Jewish community, that is a national security issue. And our governments need to be paying attention to it. – Speaking of Hamas, they have a charter. People can go and read what they believe, what they stand for, what they hate. The Charter of Hamas and the nation of Iran under the ayatollahs, they want the total elimination of the state of Israel America is the great Satan. Israel is the little Satan. It seems to me that at least part of the shock of all this, what has happened in the last week, is that the world hasn’t taken those threats seriously. And they’re just waking up to the fact that they’ve threatened this. Why should we take what they threaten seriously? And why hasn’t it been taken seriously up to this point? – But I argue with people in the government about this all the time. Many people think that Iran and the ayatollahs use religion as a weapon. I think they’re actually believers. I think the ayatollah could wake up from a dream in the middle of the night, and if he had a nuclear bomb, he would send it. OK, this is evil. What the Hamas leaders have said is evil. You can just go listen to it online. What Hamas is doing now is evil. They’re taking the Palestinians and using them as human shields. I mean, and by the way, a lot of people in the media are taking the bait hook, line, and sinker. And all of a sudden, Israel is having to answer all of these questions. What is Israel supposed to do? Right now, rockets are still flying from Gaza into the state of Israel. And everyone wants to talk about– – War crimes. – –about proportionality and all of these things. It is absolutely, absolutely absurd the way Israel is treated, versus these terrorists. But when crazy, evil people say crazy, evil things, you have to take them seriously. I mean, this is a level of evil that a lot of people in politics, they don’t believe in evil. They just think that people have different points of view in the world. In fact, a very senior US government person that’s now been suspended from his job, he said that Hamas just views things differently. There’s good, and there’s evil. – Johnnie, in this war, in this response by Israel, they are warning the population of Gaza to get out. Flee south. We’ll give you safe corridors and able to do that. Hamas has been blocking some of those corridors to not let people– they would rather see people in their own city killed so they can have footage to show the world of the atrocities of Israel. So here is Israel trying to do everything they can to get people before they target Hamas leadership. What do you think now? Here we have the president going to Israel to meet there. What do you think the next move of the Israelis is going to be? – Israel is not going to stop until they totally destroy Hamas entirely. And the United States should not tell them to stop. And the European Union should not tell them to stop. I was in a conversation the other day with a woman who was speaking to us on Zoom from her bomb shelter in the north of Israel. And she said, in the past, what has happened with this terrorist organization when they send their thousands of rockets is the international community demands that we stop. And then she said, they ask us to stop so that they can kill us again. And this time, we’re not stopping. – Johnnie, you wrote a book, and you came out to our church and even talked about it. You updated Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. And you talked in your book about what has been going on in terms of Christian persecution since Foxe wrote his book up until modern times. You did such a great job in that. Where I’m going with this is, are there believers, are there missionaries, in Gaza? Has the Lord been using people to reach that people group? – Yeah. Yeah, there are and just like there are in Iran. We have people everywhere. And that’s the hardest part, in many ways, about all of this. And if Christian history is any prediction of the future, we will have incredible stories of these moments of believers who sacrificed their lives to save others and maybe even people who find Jesus through all of it. And I always say the best evangelist in the entire Muslim world is the ayatollah in Iran because he’s so defamed his religion and his culture, that millions and millions and millions of Muslims went looking for something else. And this is why in Iran, we have the fastest growing evangelical movement in the entire Muslim world. So yes, God is at work. And yet, I think sometimes we face this challenge. As Christians, what do we pray for? And I always go back to two things. The apostle Paul said pray that we would be delivered from wicked and from evil people. And Hamas persecuted the Christian community as soon as they took over the Gaza Strip. Very, very, very small Christian community left there, and right now, they’re huddled up in churches. So God expects us to recognize that he works through persecution. But we’re supposed to pray for these people to be saved from evil, including the evil of terrorism. And then there’s an Old Testament juxtaposition, where the Bible says– the book of Psalm says that we are to seek peace and pursue it. And then it says, justice, justice, we shall pursue. And this is the juxtaposition. God hates what these Hamas terrorists did to people made in his image. And God loves peace. [END PLAYBOOK] Much thanks to Johnnie Moore. You can get that whole interview– it’s much longer than that– on our website. But let’s look at Revelation, chapter 12. I’m going to begin in verse 1. “Now a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of 12 stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven, behold a great, fiery red dragon, having 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born. She bore a male child who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and his throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days. And war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come. For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea. For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath because he knows that he has a short time.” Now, that passage mentions war in heaven. I’m guessing the last place you expect a war is in heaven. Most of us don’t think of heaven as a war zone. Heaven is a worship zone. Heaven is where the angels and the saints around the throne, the elders cast their crowns and give glory to the Lamb and to the one who sits on the throne. But here, there is a rebellion. Satan rebelled, and when he rebelled– we know the story– he managed to rebel with a third of the angels in heaven. Or as the text puts it metaphorically, he drew a third of the stars with him. Now, the conflict that is outlined in chapter 12 of Revelation is all centered around a woman, a pregnant woman, a woman who is about to give birth to a male child. And she is described as clothed with the sun and the moon and having 12 stars. The question has been asked throughout the centuries, who is this woman? What is this a picture of? What does the metaphor mean? There have been many guesses. The cultic group known as Christian Science believes that the woman is Mary Baker Eddy, who was the founder of Christian Science, who, they say, gave birth to Christian Science. The dragon to them is the carnal mind that rejects science and health and the doctrines that she wrote about. That is a cult, but that’s how they interpret this. The Catholic Church, as you can probably guess, interprets the woman as being the virgin Mary. And their art reflects that. Paintings, the famous paintings of Spain dating back to the 16 and 1700s, an artist by the name of Bartolome Murillo is the one who first drew the virgin Mary with her feet on the moon, sunbeams emanating from her face, and around her head 12 stars. He was taking this passage and interpreting it artistically to be the virgin Mary. Some Protestants will interpret the woman as being the church. Because the Bible speaks of the church in the New Testament as the bride of Christ. Or the bride, the Jewish bride, is the motif engaged to Christ. So it’s the church, the bride engaged to Christ. The problem with that is twofold. Number one, she’s pregnant. And the virgin bride of Christ showing up pregnant is a problem theologically. And the second problem is this can’t be a picture of the church giving birth to Christ, as some interpret it, because the church didn’t give birth to Christ. Christ gave birth to the church. That’s where we came from, from his work on the cross. So who is the woman? Well, we don’t really even have to guess at who it is. We are told in the Bible who it is. And I’m going to show you that. There’s only one other place in the entire holy writ where you have sun, moon, and 12 stars used metaphorically besides this passage, and it’s in Genesis 37. In Genesis chapter 37, Joseph, who is the son of Jacob, has a couple of dreams. Do you remember the story? He goes to his brothers, who hate him anyway, and he very naively says, hey, guys, I had a dream. And it says, they hated him because of his dreams. When I tell you the dreams, you’ll know why. The first dream, he said to his brothers, in my dream, we were out in the field binding sheaves, and then my sheaf stood erect. It stood up. And then all of your sheaves stood up and bowed down to my sheaf. And they said, what, do you think we’re going to bow down to you? Do you think you’re going to rule over us? We will not have you rule over us. Now, you’d think if he had another dream, he would probably not tell them after that reaction. But not Joseph. He’s just kind of naive and innocent. He says, well, I had another dream. And in this dream, the sun and the moon and the 11 stars bowed down to me, my star. Joseph’s dad Jacob interpreted the dream. He knew exactly what the dream meant because this was his reaction. He said, shall your mother and I and your brothers bow down to you? So in that story, Jacob interprets sun, moon, and stars as Jacob, his wife, and the sons, who would become the tribes of Israel. So now you have a woman clothed with the sun and the moon and the 12 stars. You go back to the only other passage where it is interpreted as being the forebears of Israel, and we have to conclude this is a picture of Israel. The woman is the nation of Israel. And what is she doing? She is birthing the Messiah. That was the aspiration of every Jewish girl, to perhaps be the one who would bring Messiah into the world. This is a picture of the nation birthing Israel. Verse 2, “being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” The dragon in the story is poised before the woman in a very hateful stance. Why? For one important reason– to get at the child, to get at the child who was going to be born. Why the child? Because the child is going to be the one who is going to crush the dragon’s head, his dominion, and rule the world. He rules, it says, with a rod of iron. Back in Genesis, chapter 3, the first prediction of Messiah, the seed of the woman will come and bruise the heel of the serpent, crush the head of the dragon of the serpent. And then Isaiah, chapter 9 talks about his rule. “For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. The government will be on his shoulder. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.” So it’s a very appropriate picture of Israel birthing the Messiah, Satan ready to destroy that child as soon as he is born. Why? To crush the head, to bruise the head, to take away any possibility of him ruling. Satan, throughout biblical history, has been trying to destroy the woman to get to the seed, destroy the nation of Israel to get to the seed. Now, why such hatred? I just want to keep zeroing in on this question. Why such hatred of Satan toward Israel? Well, let me give you a premise. What if, what if God’s plan to redeem the world required the existence of a nation and the continuance of that nation? What if God’s plan to redeem the world required the existence of a nation and the continuance of that nation? Well, if that were true, and I believe it is, if you destroy that nation, you will thwart God’s plan. If you can destroy those people, you will thwart God’s plan. I have to tell you this. You will not understand much of your Bible until you understand this. Until you see that there is and has been an invisible war, this cosmic conflict that has been waged since the very beginning of time, you will read your Bible, and you’ll go, huh? in a lot of the passages. It will remain enigmatic to you. So a cosmic conflict has been waged as a pursuit by Satan to destroy the seed that would eventually crush Satan’s kingdom and rule the world. Let me give you a few examples of that. As soon as God made the promise in Genesis 3, the seed of the woman is going to come and crush the head of the serpent. The very next chapter, chapter 4, Satan gets Cain to kill Abel. He’s the righteous one who brings the appropriate sacrifice. So Cain kills his brother. But then God raises up another child by the name of Seth. And the seed continues through Seth, and the promise continues through him. The second example is in Genesis, chapter 6. Cut to the chase, let’s just make the whole world so wicked, that God has to destroy everybody, a scorched earth policy or, in that case, I guess, a soaked earth policy. So the world became so corrupt, so despicable, the intents and thoughts of mankind was only evil continually, that God destroyed the earth in a worldwide flood. Everybody is destroyed except one family, eight people. God preserved the eight to continue the promise of the seed who would come. A third example is in Genesis 27. You know the story of Jacob and Esau and how Jacob gets the birthright, and Esau hates his brother? He didn’t care about the birthright, but he sold it for a bowl of stew. But then he got so angry, it says, he determined in his heart that he was going to kill Jacob. Why? Because Jacob was the son of promise. You keep continuing that line throughout the Bible. The fourth example, you come to Pharaoh. And pharaoh has a group of people living in his country called Jews. And he is so afraid of what these people might become, that he gives this strange and demonic edict to the midwives of Egypt, that if the Hebrews have boys, kill them. Kill them all. If it’s a girl, let it live. Why did he do that? He was an agent of Satan, trying to destroy the Jews, because the Jews, the woman, would birth the male child. The fifth example is in 1 Samuel, where Saul not once, not twice, but for a decade hunts David down to kill him. Why David? Because more and more promises are getting leaked out. It’s sort of like military intelligence. As God reveals his plan through the scripture, there’s counteractive measures that the enemy uses. And so destroy the one that God is going to set his promise upon for an eternal kingdom, and that would be David. The sixth example, though it’s a little bit obscure, but it won’t be in a couple of weeks, because we’re studying 2 Kings. And in 2 Kings, chapter 11, there’s a woman by the name of Athaliah. And Athaliah, in 2 Kings 11, decides to kill the entire royal line of Judah. Every single possible heir to the throne of Judah from the lineage of King David will be destroyed. And she destroys all of them except one. A little boy by the name of Joash is hidden away with the midwife who nursed him. And if, if, by any chance, all of them would have been destroyed, God’s promise would have been thwarted. But one is saved. Joash is saved, and the line continues. Here’s another example, a seventh example. We come to the story of the Jews in Persia, modern day Iran. By God’s provision, he allows Esther to become the queen of the palace of Ahasuerus. But a man by the name of Haman, the Agagite– do you know story of that? Remember when Saul was sent out to battle and said, go kill the king. And everybody just destroyed them because they’re going to terrorize your country. And he brought Agag back. And Samuel said, why did you bring him back? And he said, well, I spared some of these people in the royal family because– I’m sacrificing to the Lord. He made up all these excuses. You know what Samuel did. He hacked him to pieces. One of those Agagites survived to make an edict in Persia that every single living Jew in Persia would be wiped out in one day. Destroy them all. Kill them all. And that’s just the Old Testament. You come to the New Testament, the male child is born. Jesus is born. He’s born in what city? Bethlehem. Bethlehem. Herod finds out about it. What does he decide to do? Kill every single male child two years and below. Why? It’s a demonic plot to destroy the seed. Then Jesus grows up, meets Satan on the Mount of temptation. And Satan throws this wild thought at him. Hey, let me take you to the pinnacle of the temple. Throw yourself off, probably hoping he would die. But he quotes scripture. Throw yourself off, for as the scripture has said, he’ll command his angels to have charge over you and lest you dash your foot against a stone. Not only that, but when Jesus went back to the synagogue in Nazareth sometime after that, and he opened up the scroll of Isaiah, and then he expounded that to them and said, that is fulfilled in your hearing, it says they trust him out of the synagogue and took him to the brow of the hill and would have thrown him over; attempt after attempt after attempt after attempt to destroy the woman, to get at the seed, to prevent the seed from crushing the head of the dragon and ruling the world with a rod of iron. And then it happened. One Friday afternoon in spring, we believe around 32 AD, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus died on that cross. And probably, when Jesus died on the cross, there was a little party going on in hell. Satan thought he had won the victory, the body of Jesus limp, dead, had bled throughout the day, had been taken off, wrapped in linen, put in a tomb. And Satan probably just went, it’s done. But he didn’t read the fine print. [LAUGHTER] The fine print is where Jesus said, no one takes my life from me. I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down– here’s the fine print– and take it again. And he did take it up again. [APPLAUSE] And I’ve always been intrigued by an interesting little scripture in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 8. Had the princes of this world known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. There was no party in hell when Jesus rose from the dead. Every time we mention the resurrection here at church, you all applaud. I like that. Whenever we sing about Jesus conquering death, you applaud. I love that. They did not do that in hell. When Jesus rose from the dead, plan B was to unleash all of Satan’s fury now on the people of God, the church, and continue his assault on the chosen people, through whom the kingdom will be given. And that is the nation of Israel. Now, you might wonder, well, why? Now, if Jesus has died on the cross and rose again and then ascended, why would there be a continual conflict? And yet that is what the passage seems to indicate. Here, there is a woman giving birth to the male child. The male child is born, is caught up to God. But there’s still this unleashing of the dragon’s wrath on the woman. Back to the premise I just gave you a few moments ago, if God’s plan of redemption required the existence of a nation and the continuance of that nation, if you destroy that nation, you will thwart God’s plan. If you destroy the nation of Israel, you defeat God. Essentially, you keep God from fulfilling all of his promises. You keep Jesus from establishing his kingdom so that the Jews cannot receive it. And so the battle continues. Here’s the basic premise. Here’s the bottom line. Whatever God loves, Satan hates. Whatever God loves, Satan hates. So anti-Semitism is a prejudice. And we all denounce prejudice, and we should. Prejudice is evil. It’s wrong. Racial prejudice is wrong. But anti-Semitism is downright satanic. It comes right back to the heart of the dragon himself. It’s from the pit of hell. Now, why do I support Israel? And why do I make a stand from time to time that we as a church support Israel? Because there’s no logical reason for me to support Israel. I’m not Jewish. I’m a Gentile. Moreover, I’m a German Gentile. And if you know the history of my people and where I came from, there is no logical reason to be at all favorable toward Jewish people. But something happened to me. I started reading this book. And I find it to be a very Jewish book. I find God to be a Jewish God. [APPLAUSE] I find him to make very Jewish promises. I find that my Savior, the Messiah, was Jewish and that he promises to return one day and rule from Jerusalem for 1,000 years with the people of Israel. Now, I’ll be the first to say that Israel is not perfect when it comes to its policies, when it comes to its government. There have been corruption charges in Israeli government, like in all governments. But when I say I support Israel, let me be clear about that. I support the covenant that God has made with Israel. I support Israel because I support the covenant that God made with Israel. This war in Revelation, chapter 12 began in heaven. But it moved to the theater of the earth. And you and I are involved in it. The devil commands the Satanic realm, but his theater of operations is the human world. And there are four principal targets that Satan has. First target, Jesus Christ, he hates Jesus. That’s what this is all about. He’s poised in front of the woman to get at that child as soon as it’s born. Why? Because of the promise, the seed of the woman, will come and crush the head of the serpent; so Jesus, number one. Second, he attacks holy angels. Verse 7, “there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought.” Because the angels are part of God’s cadre of might, working for his people on the earth. they are engaged in fighting holy angels; so Jesus, holy angels. Number three, Israel, Israel. Why Israel? Because they are the object of God’s promises. God made covenants with the Jews. This is Paul’s whole point in Romans 9, Israel, of whom are the covenants, the giving of the Law, and the Messiah himself. And so the attack of Satan is against the ones God made a covenant with. This is important because many of the covenants have been fulfilled, but not all of them have been fulfilled. There is still the promise that God will set up a kingdom in Israel, in Jerusalem, and rule and reign from there. There will be a kingdom that encompasses the Earth that is centered in Jerusalem. That promise has not yet been fulfilled. We are waiting for that to be fulfilled; so Jesus, holy angels, Israel. And number 4, believers, because we are objects of God’s grace. This is why you get harassed. This is why every single Christian who has ever been saved on planet earth has been harassed and tempted. Because you are objects of God’s grace. What does Revelation say of Satan? He’s the accuser of the brethren. Ever felt that? Ever heard those accusations? We all have. By the way, you know what the word “devil” means? Slanderer. That’s what the name “devil” means. That’s his MO. That’s his description. So I just want you to hear this because I wanted you to hear what Israel is up against. So as I close this, you know that yesterday, Israel was accused of bombing a hospital in the Gaza. And The New York Times and CNN and all the news outlets immediately says, it’s Israel’s fault. They just bombed that hospital. They’ve never bombed hospitals ever. They are very careful about filming, documenting. And so what Israel did is they not only denied it, but they showed the world the video footage and the audio files of Hamas and Palestinian leaders talking, admitting that it wasn’t Israel’s missile, but it was their own missile that they sent from Gaza that was a misfire and landed on that hospital. But they quickly said it was Israel’s fault. The group that launched the missile was called the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. You see, you thought there was only Hamas and Hezbollah. There’s another 100 of those disparate groups around. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the former president of that group, said, and I quote, “the killing of the Jews will continue, killing, killing, in God’s name, until they vanish.” That’s what they’re up against, killing, killing, until they vanish. Make peace with them? They’ll kill again till they vanish. I want you to see how bad it is. This is despicable, but I think you need to see it. These are the quotes of children. I’ve seen the actual footage. I’m just going to put the quotes up of different children in Gaza, one saying, “right now, I am prepared to be a suicide bomber.” These are children between 9 and 12. “With Allah’s help,” another one said, “I will fight for ISIS, the Islamic State.” Another child of that age said, “I am ready to stab a Jew and drive a car over them.” Another child said, “we have to constantly stab them, drive over them, and shoot them.” Another child– “stabbing and running over Jews brings dignity to the Palestinians.” Another child said, “we have to fight against them and make war.” These are quotes of children, who have been taught to say that from a young age by parents and teachers. So they’re raising a whole new generation. I found this yesterday from a Jordanian Palestinian businessman and politician. His name is Talal Abu-Ghazaleh. He was being interviewed by Lebanese TV just about a week ago, October 12th. He said– and we’ll put this on the screen– “Israel would not sacrifice a single person. There is not a goal for which it would sacrifice a single person. They are afraid of death. Death for them is strange and loathsome. We, on the other hand, welcome death. A Palestinian carries his son on his shoulders with a headband on the kid’s forehead, which his father inscribed, ‘martyrdom seeker.’ This is a man who says, ‘I want my son to die.’ A Palestinian mother says, ‘I have given birth to children so they would be martyred.’ This does not exist in the Zionist mentality,” end quote. He’s bragging on the fact that the Jews hate death, we love death. I just want you to see that because that’s what Israel is facing today. That is the dragon before the woman. And to add a morbid twist to it, because we are living in America, the FBI director warned just yesterday, Christopher Wray, that rising threats of Hamas-style terrorism are coming to America. That’s why last week, when we talk about an open border, I get scared. And we should be vigilant. But I want to close by saying this. The dragon couldn’t stop Jesus from being born. The dragon couldn’t stop Jesus from going to the cross and shedding his blood. The dragon couldn’t stop Jesus from rising from the dead. The dragon couldn’t stop Jesus from ascending into heaven. And the dragon cannot stop Jesus from coming again and ruling this world. And he will. [APPLAUSE AND CHEERING] [MUSIC PLAYING] But finally, this– don’t let the dragon, don’t let Satan, stop you from following Christ. I’ve talked to people over the last several days, some who have been marginal in their faith, some who have been looking in different places and not really serious with the Lord. But this has served, they say, as a wake up call to them. “This whole Israel thing, man, has got me thinking.” Good. I hope it has thinking about where you’re going for eternity. Now, listen, if you’re here with us, and you’ve never given your life to Christ, or you wandered away from Christ, get right with him now. Satan knows his time is short. We’re living in these days. His time is short. He’s going to turn up the Jews. Let’s us, the church of God, turn up the Jews. Let’s pray. Father, we just thank you that whatever plans the enemy has that would go against your plans, whatever wrath he would send to Jewish people, to Christian people, nothing is going to stop eventually the rule and reign of Christ upon this earth, just as nothing was able to stop Jesus from his birth, his death, his resurrection, his ascension. I pray no one would let Satan stop Jesus Christ from ruling and reigning over them. And in this room of people and the thousands that are watching right now on the internet and will be watching in the next few days, if they’re not right with you, if they haven’t turned from their sin and given their life to Christ, I pray they would do it now. [MUSIC PLAYING] Really quickly, your heads are bowed. Your eyes are closed. You have an opportunity yet again to say yes to the God who loves you, has revealed these things in advance and many more, has a plan for your life, wants to forgive you, wants to save you, wants to put your name in the Lamb’s book of life. But he won’t do it without your permission. He’s knocking at the door of your heart. Will you open it up and let him in? Will you say yes to him? If you are willing to give your life to Jesus, or if you’ve wandered away from him and you need to come back to him and rededicate your life, I want you just to slip your hand up in the air. Just slip it up. Slip it up right now, just so I can notice it and pray for you as we close. God bless you in the back. Anybody else? Raise your hand up. Now is the time to do it. God bless you to my right. And you, God bless you. Yes. Yes. Father, we thank you for those who you didn’t bring here by accident, but by appointment. We pray that the work you do in their life would be profound, eternal. Right where you’re sitting, because we’re going to go into a time of prayer in just a moment. Right where you’re sitting, you pray this prayer to him.

Worried about your son or daughter but not sure how to know how bad it really is? Answer the questions below and add up the score to see the results. 1. Your teen refuses to abide by anything you say or request, and his or her resulting behaviors put your him/her or your family in high danger or risk, leading to constant fear or stress in the home. 2. Your teen is displaying behavior that is a marked change from what has been normal (sleeping little or too long, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, aggression, depression, anxiety, grades slipping, hating what they once loved or loving what they once hated, always wanting to be with friends or away from home, or avoiding friends altogether and spending too much time alone). 3. Your teen has become increasingly disrespectful, dishonest, disobedient, and openly displays rebellion, no longer veiling his or her feelings or caring about the consequences. 4. There is a blatant ignorance or profound rebellion toward the boundaries, belief system or rules of the home. This can be shown in passive aggressiveness or open defiance that is unusually excessive for your teen. 5. There are outright or veiled threats of suicide, or self-mutilation/cutting, excessive risk-taking, dangerous drug use or blatant sexual promiscuity—a loss of a conscience or moral compass. 6. Treatment by your teen of people, pets or belongings is threatening or out of control. 7. Your teen thinks he or she is the center of your family and shows blatant disregard for the feelings of other family members, their time or their possessions. 8. Months of counseling providing little or no positive progress for your teen. 9. Your teen refuses to do anything family-related and displays a growing hatred for the family. 10. You cannot keep your teen away from peers who are obviously leading a lifestyle counter to your beliefs and your teen is buying into their destructive behavior and attitudes. SCORE: If your teen exhibits 5 or more of these signs, you may want to contact us. Contrast the above list with what would be considered more normal teenage behavior: Cooperates with and cares for others Thinks realistically about their need for family and other people Suffers personal discomfort to accomplish positive life goals Bases their actions and behavior on convictions and beliefs rather than feelings Takes care of their own personal needs without imposing on others Treats people, pets and things with respect Has feelings of purpose and an excitement for the future Maintains relationships even in difficult times Defines who they are without giving in to what everyone else thinks they should be. There is nothing worse than living with a teen spinning out of control, and no worse feeling than the hopelessness parents experience as a result. It’s difficult to know what to do and how to react when your teen daily reaches new lows in disobedience, dishonesty and disrespect. Is your family experiencing the crisis of a teenager out of control? Are you walking on pins and needles around the situation? Are you at your wit’s end? Every day, we hear from dozens of frustrated parents who share how their once normal and happy child is now dangerously out of control—abusing drugs or alcohol, lying, stealing, cutting or engaging in other destructive or disturbing behavior. They talk about how it has disrupted their home, how they fear for their child’s future—even their life. We hear it over and over again: “My child is no longer who she used to be.” Your teen needs you to intervene. The downward spiral can have tremendous destructive potential with lifelong consequences, or even bring a young life to a quick end. When teens spin out of control, they need a responsible adult to respond, not react—even if they do everything they can to shut you out. Don’t ignore the evidence. that your teen is spinning out of control. Act today based on what you know is true—your faith, your own beliefs, and what you know is best. for your teen. Heartlight’s therapeutic program can provide your teen with the help, healing, and mentoring he or she needs—as well as defined boundaries and a continued education. Heartlight also hosts seminars and weekend retreats to ensure success for the whole family. And the Heartlight staff help parents learn what to expect from their teen as they move through the program. Everyone can then look past heated emotions to focus on healing. When you need help, hope, and healing, you’ll find it at Heartlight. https://www.heartlightministries.org/boarding-school/teen-warning-signs/