John 1:12-17 (NIV) 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (Grace upon Grace NASB)17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.


The Old Covenant
1. A Specific People
2. A Specific Purpose
3. A Specific time-period: Until it was fulfilled

Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT) 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

Hebrews 8:6-13(NLT) Now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said: (Jer 31:31-34) “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

A Better Covenant…
Hebrews 7:22 (NIV) Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

1. Forgiveness

• “God requires righteousness…the law demanded righteousness Jesus fulfilled righteousness.”

• Hurt people Hurt people.

Romans 5:2-5 (NIV) …We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

2 Kings 5:1-8, 9-14 (NLT) 1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the LORD had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. 2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
…
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” 11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!

From Hurt to Healed.

1. Admit you got issues

Romans 12:3 (NIV) 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Self-preservation does the opposite of what it implies.

2. Talk to Somebody

“Sometimes the answer we seek are hidden inside the lives of those God has placed around us.”
“Naaman had to come clean if he was going to get clean.”

James 5:16 (NIV) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

3. Humble yourself
Flip the switch from Haughty to Humble

Sometime the difficult thing is the necessary thing to position us for the healing thing.

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NIV) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

4. Yield
Submission is proven by when we do what we don’t want to do.

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

5. Take off your Armor.

If you continually justify your armor on you will never get healed.

The greatest expression of courage is vulnerability.

• “You can’t put on his armor until you take off yours”.

“When we declare the name of Jesus we speak his Identity…we start to discover ours.”

Matthew 1:20-23 (NLT) 20 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Immanuel: GOD IS WITH US.
Because He is Here is with us we have…
1. Residing Hope.
Hopelessness cannot exist in his presence.
Colossians 1:27 Christ in you the Hope of Glory.
Colossians 1:27(TPT) Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!

“The same hope that Mary carried now carries us.”

2. Sustaining Peace
Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end....

3. Everlasting Connection(between God and Man.)
Hebrews 8:10-11 I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.


“The greatest gift Jesus could give you was his life. The greatest gift you can give him is yours.”
John 1:1-5 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5 (TPT) This Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom— the Light that darkness could not diminish!

Christ’s - Mass.
Christology
You cant be a True Christian without the True Christ.

John 1:1-14, 9-14 (NIV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Pre-Existence

9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


Incarnation: “the act of being made flesh.”
Hypostatic Union:
Jesus is both fully human and fully divine(God), that there is no mixture or dilution of either nature, forever
Virgin Birth:

Accounts for the circumvention (bypass) of the the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man.
“You are not defined, destroyed or distanced, by your temptations.”

Matthew 1:18-21 (NIV) 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."


Jesus came on a rescue mission.
Jesus Savior, Deliverer
Christ Messiah, Anointed One.
Jesus brought heavens agenda.
“TO SAVE PEOPLE…FROM THEIR SIN”
Romans 3:23 (NIV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Hamartia, “missing the mark.”

Romans 3:22-25 (NLT) 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.


Luke 19:10 (NIV) For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Jesus came seeking…
Seek-To seek after that which one desires.
“We don’t seek to find God, we seek him because God found us.”
...to Save the lost.

1. He’s the only one that could.

2. He’s the only one that would

Romans 5:6 (NIV) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3. He is the only one who did

Romans 5:17 (NIV) For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the only one who made a way.

Jesus Paid the Ransom

Matthew 20:28 (NLT) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Deuteronomy 6:12 (NIV) Be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Joshua 3:15-16 (NLT) 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam.

Joshua 4:1-10 (NLT) 1 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the LORD your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” 8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there. 9 Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day. 10 The priests who were carrying the Ark stood in the middle of the river until all of the LORD’s commands that Moses had given to Joshua were carried out. Meanwhile, the people hurried across the riverbed.

The Ark of the Covenant/Testimony Hebrews 9:4-5
Covenant Reminders….

1. God Presence- Mercy Seat.
2. God Precepts- The Ten Commandments
3. Gods Provision- Jar of Manna
4. Gods Power- Aarons budded shepherds rod-
5. God’s Promotion- Monument.

Isaiah 46:8-9 (NIV) 8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me

Developing Healthy Markers…
1. Burn the bridges of regret
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
“Regret will hold you in bondage to the past.”
“God is destroying the monuments of regret & shame replacing them with hope and victory.”

“If the past doesn’t inspire you to move forward its not a monument its an Idol.”
Monuments become idols when they hinder progress.

2. Don’t live in the “Good ol’ days”
Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NIV) Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
3. Develop your story.
1- Start today
2- Don’t bail in the process
3- Win some Battles
“Your investment in the struggle now will be your inspiration in the future.”
4- Celebrate little things.

5. Capture Moments

4. Share your story.
“The more you tell what God has done the less likely you are to forget it.”
Revelation 12:11 (NIV) They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…
1. Honors the past.
2. Gives courage in the present
3. Inspires hope for the future

Communion:
Luke 22:19 (NIV) He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

John 1:16-18 (NLT) 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

Jesus came to show us what the Father is like.

John 14:1-5 (NLT) 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

“Where we are going….”
Misconceptions about heaven….
“Heaven is more than a place in the cosmos, it’s a place in the family.”
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons
of God.” ― C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“Home is not a place we go to it is a people we belong to!”
Ephesians 2:19 (NIV) You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.

John 14:6-11 (NLT) 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

John 14: 6 “I am the way, the truth, and life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

“The way to the Father”
“Jesus provide the way to the Father so that we can learn the the truth of the Father, and experience the life of the Father.
What do we learn of the Father?
v 9.“You have seen me you have seen the Father”
If Jesus is the way to the father and Jesus reveals the Father. Then the way to the Father is also the way of the father….

1. We see his ways.
1 Corinthians 2:7-12 (NIV)"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”(Isa 64:4):— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)…God is love.
How is love revealed?
-He is Good
Psalm 119:68 (NLT) You are good and do only good.
Romans 2:4 (NLT) 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

-He is Gracious
Romans 5:8 (NLT) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

He is Giving
John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
He gave us this G-O-S-P-E-L


2. We know His Truth
“If your truth doesn’t line up with the truth then you have a lie.”
John 5:37-40 (NLT) 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. 39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
“We have the Holy Spirit who is revealing and confirming the Truth about God.”
John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

3. We experience His life.
John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
If the devils mission is to steal, kill, and destroy then life is found when Jesus Restores, Resurrects, and Rebuilds.

Luke 7:36-50 (NLT) 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42  But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45  You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46  You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47  “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The peace governed life.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Postures that stifle gratitude.
“Negativity comes out of those who have not nurtured an internal culture of gratefulness.”

1. Entitlement
“What you are entitled to is so much less than what God promises you!”

2. Victimhood
3. Poverty Mindset
4. Greed/Materialism
“Money promises what only God can provide!”
5. Offense/ unforgiveness
“Offense is the posture of those in bondage.”

Practicing the posture of gratitude.
“The economy of our heart is revealed in the posture of our gratitude”

Colossians 3:15-17(NIV) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1. Absorb: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!
What does he say about you?

2. Adore: Giving praise & thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18(NIV) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Find the melody in the moment.

3. Apply: The attitude of Gratitude.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

• GOD IS GOOD! This is our anthem.

Acts 16:16-26(NLT) 16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” 18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

You can’t cage the freedom we have!
“We rejoice in God’s worth and goodness not how good and worthy our situation is.”
“A Christian may find more true joy in a prison, than the monarch on his throne.” -Albert Barnes(Theologian & commentator)

Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT) 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

The Spirit of Praise…
1. Praise brings us in….Engages us
Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

2. Praise brings Him in…. Engages him
Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
“When we set our Attention, Affection and our Appreciation on Jesus it sets us at an Advantage.”

Psalm 24:3-8 (NIV) 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

3. We are clothed with Praise
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV) 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Garments of Praise:

You can't put heaviness off until you put praise on!

“We don’t just express praise we are possessed by it!”

1. We wear it it into our worship

• “We don’t do kind things for appreciation we do them because we are appreciative of the lives we have in Jesus.”

Communion & Ministry

John 16 20-22 (NLT) 20  I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21  It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22  So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Luke 17:11-19 (NLT) 11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Lepers-
Jesus-
-Connects with the outcast.
-Extends mercy.
-Troubled by ungratefulness.
Verse 17 “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?

Why are people Ungrateful?
1. They feel entitled
“The entitled demand an experience but the grateful are driven to expressions of gratitude.”
“God has far more for you than you can ever earn or deserve.”
If it deserved it its not called grace.
2. They are situationally minded
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

3. They forget
Leprosy is symbolic of sin.
Have you forgotten that…
1- All have sinned(Rom 3:23)
2- The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)
Colossians 1:21 (NLT) … You who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions…
3- Jesus paid the wage
Colossians 1:22 (NLT) Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault

4- Jesus has more for us.
Jesus had more for the other nine but they were satisfied with just getting their momentary fix.
“There will be some things you will never receive because you are ungrateful what what you have.”
Verse 19 “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
“Gratefulness increases our faith because we set because we keep the one we trust before us.”
SOZO- Complete wholeness in Jesus.

3 Things ways to start the gratitude journey..
1. Say it
2. Write it
3. Reflect on it

Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV) 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

…..

Ephesians 1:3-7 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

v 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Preparing a table
Prepares: to arrange & set in order(ordain) paying fine attention to detail

“ God doesn't feed us according to earthly need but by heavenly provisions.”
Psalm 34:10(NLT) Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
Song of Songs 2:4(NLT) He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.

“Just because you don’t prefer the flavor, doesn’t mean it’s not his provision.”

In the presence of my enemies
“Because we have such a capable shepherd we are able to FEAST WHEN OUR ENEMIES ARE PRESENT.

“We are dying to our flesh, Jesus defeated the enemy, and we are overcoming the world.”
Romans 8:17(NLT) Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
2 Timothy 3:12(NLT) Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Freedom is eating while the battle is raging.

You anoint my head with oil….

1. The Oil is for healing
Acts 10:38 (NLT) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) …By his wounds you have been healed.

2. The Oil is for De-bugging(Part 2)


3. The Oil establishes purpose

Luke 4:18(NLT) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
1 John 2:27 (NIV) As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you.

4. The Oil is fragrant

2 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV) For we are to God the fragrance of Christ.

My cup overflows….
“Oil don’t fall it flows.”

“When we start letting the oil flow the mundane becomes ministry.”
“The anointing is not simply to enhance our experience but to maximize our effectiveness!”

Verse 4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

YOUR ROD & STAFF COMFORT ME
Because he is with us we can find confident safety under the protection & leadership of the good shepherd.

The Rod: Authority
The Word of God.
1- Examination & Identification
Ezekiel 20:37(NIV) I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT) 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

2- Correction
Hebrews 12: 8 & 11 (NLT) 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all…11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Correction is affirmation not rejection!

3- Protection
1 Samuel 17:32-37 (NKJV) Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

“We are comforted by the fact not that just that God is all powerful but that we share enemies!”

The Staff:
The Leadership of the Holy Spirit
Leadership & authority don't always come together.
1 Samuel 17:40 (NLT) He(David) picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

His Staff Provides….

1- Visibility

John 14:26 (NIV) The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

2- Drawing
John 6:44 (NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…

3. Guiding
John 16:13 (NLT) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

4. Rescuing
Isaiah 43:1-3 (NLT) Listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

…He guides me in paths of righteousness
Positional Righteousness

“Righteousness is not a behavior. Righteousness is a position.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Paths of Righteousness: Its the fruitful, perfect pathway.
…For His names sake.

Staying “up”

Psalm 16:7-11 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in the grave, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

1- Live close to the good Shepherd.
Matthew 11:28-29 (TPT) 28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.

Allow him to groom you.

John 15:2 He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

We were meant to yield something.

2- Lead your soul
1 Samuel 30:6 David encouraged himself in the Lord.
-Dig into the word
-Speak to your soul.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
-Choose Joy
Isaiah 53:3-4 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.... Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
What reasoning will you live by?
“Don’t own your condition, Own your position!”

3- Stay close to the flock.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) 24 Let et us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Verse 2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

Exodus 14:10-16 (NIV) 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Moses was speaking to their posture not their progress.
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

Lie down in green pastures.

Ezekiel 34:14-15 (NLT) 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD.

Certain conditions must be met in order for sheep to rest:
1. Free from Fear.
Good shepherds are always aware of the sheep.

2. Free from Friction(of other sheep)
Only lost sheep travel alone.

3. Free from Pests

“You don't need a diagnosis, you need Resolve.”

Psalms 23:5 You anoint my head with oil.

4. Free from Hunger
We eat and rest from the same place.
“The table is set, the meal is ready….Jesus paid a high price so that we can have fellowship with God and nourish our soul.”

When a sheep realizes he is in the plush green pasture is is easy for him to have confidence and rest.

He leads me beside quiet waters….

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

John 4:14(NIV) Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 7:38 (NIV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him

“Jesus doesn't simply give drinks….he gives wells!”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

John 10:1-9(NIV) "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Is Jesus the Gate or the Shepherd or the Gate? Yes
-Pen & Gate////

Everything has to go through him.
We have a strong and very capable shepherd.
John 10:14-15 (NIV) 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.

When The Lord is My Shepherd…
1- Fellowship
John 15:15 I call you friends.
John 10:27 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

2- Leadership
Leadership requires follow-ship.
“The livelihood of a sheep is contingent upon his ability to follow his shepherd.”
He will not always lead us to where we want to Go but where we need to Go."

The result ….
I shall not be in want.
John 10:9,10 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Ministry
Matthew 9:35-38(NIV) Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.…

Our tendency is to follow goodness & loving kindness.
“Ambition that is not driven to benefit others is driven in the wrong direction.”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

…Will Follow Me
Goodness and mercy follow those who follow him.
As believers we don’t chase blessing blessing chases us.

Those of the golden hooves

They groom lawns on which they feed upon.
The bring health to the pastures that they frequent.
They fertilize the ground.
They Nurture the place that nurtures them.


…All the days of my life

We don’t live from season to season, we live from Glory to Glory!

Psalm 1:3 (NLT) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Mark 11:12-14 (NLT) Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

…I will Dwell
Meno(greek). Remain, Live in.

John 15:4-5 (NLT) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

…in the house of the LORD forever.

Ezekiel 47:12 (NLT) Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Revelation 4:6-11 (NLT) In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

The central characteristic of God- Holiness.

What is holy/ holiness?
Holy: “Opposite of that which is which is common or profane.”
HOLY: OTHER THAN, OR UNCOMMON, DIFFERENT.

HE IS WHOLY HOLY
Moses sang it this way….
Exodus 15:11 (NIV) "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
“When we try to make him like us him we distort our view of his holiness.”

Jesus is Holy
John 6:69 (NLT) “We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

What does Jesus say about virtues?

Mark 12:28-34 (NLT) 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Social goodness

According to Jesus, we are morally bankrupt before God if we ignore the first command.
“You can keep the second command without keeping the first but you cannot keep the first without keeping the second.”

Wholistic Holiness: Heart, soul, mind, & strength.
The biblical standard of Virtue is holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”

Jesus opposed self-righteousness in any form:
Self righteousness is any righteousness that can be claimed without Gods grace.

Luke 5:32 (NLT) I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.
Embracing Holiness
1. Yield to God’s righteousness
David understood holiness this way…
Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV) Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
“Jesus came and got his hands dirty to get our hearts clean.”

2. Commit to Sanctification
“Holiness is not a eviction, it’s an invitation.”
Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Who are being sanctified)
Sanctification- Progressively growing in a life that is set apart for God.
“Holiness is not something that people do, but something that God does in them.”

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NLT) God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

“God’s part is providing our part is planting.”

Seeds//Sacred Resources

1. Time
2. Energy- (Talents & Abilities )
1. Money-

2 Corinthians 8:1-3, 7-9 (NLT) 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will…
7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

We want to be generous….

1. Because we want to be like God.

2. Because we are royalty.
3. Because we are extremely grateful

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

1. Cheerfully

• “You must Decide”“
• “Not Reluctantly”
• “Nor Under Pressure”

• 2 Corinthians 9:11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

• 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT) On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned.

1. Give Thanks
2. Give Something
3. Give Sacrificially
4. Give Consistently
5. Give Now (From this day forward.)

John 1:45-51 (NIV) 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." 48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." 50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Lenses that form views:
1. Education- How and what we learn.
2. Experience- How life/ people have treated us.
3. Emotions - How we feel.

We see what we value
illl…..Count the red eyed Emojis.
Values form our Views.

The problem: Lenses are subjective
They are not always an accurate view of reality.

The lenses we look through as followers of Christ.
1. Reality/ The Truth
Truth is not a virtue.
The Truth is. Love does.
“Love may open the door but it’s truth sets us free.”
Truth carries authority.

How are you exposing yourself to truth?
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) 1 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2. Jesus
We value what he values.

Colossians 2:6-9 (NLT) 6 Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

3. The Word of God
We trust the word of God because it’s timeless, flawless and faultless. Not because we like it but because it is reliable.
“God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick.”- Somebody

If its God’s word then it carries authority.
-The way we govern our life.
-The way we shape our views

Filtering our filter:
1. Careful HOW you listen.
Luke 8:18 (NIV) Consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

2. Get in the word.
The word cleanses our lense.
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NLT) Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

3. Commit yourself to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
Our Values develop our Virtues.

The solution is revival.
Isaiah 35:1-10 (NLT) 1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. 2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God. 3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. 4 Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” 5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. 7 The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. 8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. 9 Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it. 10 Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS
Matthew 7:14 (NIV) Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Hebrews 12:14 (NLT) Without holiness no one will see the Lord.

1 Peter 2:4-12 (NIV) 4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, 8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The Highway of Holiness
1. A Determined Purpose
“Is your life set aside for Gods purposes, Or Have you set him aside for yours?”
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”-Westminster Shorter Catechism

2. A Drastic Difference
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV) 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”
“Aliens and strangers”
“OUT OF Darkness Into light.”

Matthew 15:7-8 (NIV) 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Titus 1:6(NIV) They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

3. A Dependance on Grace

How dependent upon grace determines what we say yes to what we say no to.
Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

4. A Declaration of Jesus

Matthew 16:13-19 (NIV) 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Luke 15:20-24 (NLT) 20 “So he returned home to his father And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

“Slaves and sons both belong to the house but they both didn’t dwell in the house."

John 8:31-42 (NIV) 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants.Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father." 39 "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire.….47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

3 Bondages
1. Sin
John 8:34 "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Romans 8:12-17 (NIV) 12 Brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

2. Fear
Fear is failure to trust.

3. Performance
“If the enemy can’t get us enslaved to sin he will enslaved to performance.”
Performance is driven by earning something versus loving someone.
“If we are obeying Jesus out of a burden we are operating as a slave not a son, a hireling not a heir, and a laborer not a lover.”

3 Breakers…
1. Encountering, Knowing & Following Jesus.
John 8:31-42 (NIV) 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
2. Trusting that Abba is good, perfect and loving.
Mark 10:14-15 (NLT) The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
1 John 4:18 (NIV)There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

3. Simple, joyful obedience.
Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

Be Ok to simply obey. in the light.

1. He speaks to their fears
2. God is specific on how the enemy will attack
3. God reminds them they won’t have to fight in the battle

1. He moves in to fight for them

2. God completely defeated the enemy

• When you worship you invite Victory Himself into your battle
• You are one surrender away from victory

• God doesn’t change when your circumstances do

Luke 15:17-24 (NLT) 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The ring speaks of the identity & rights as royal family.

I. The ring speaks of our Identity.
1. We believe:
John 1:12 (NIV) To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
2. We belong
2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) (He) Set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

3. We become

John 14:5-9 (NIV) 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

4. We behold

5. We behave
A. It’s in our Nature
My grandad and a napkin.
B. It’s in our Nurture

“We first Believe, then we Belong…now we can Behold…Then we start to Become like him now we start to Behave like sons.”

II. The Ring speaks of our authority.

• Because we belong to God what belongs to God belongs to us!

• We are under his authority so we carry his authority.

The estate belongs to us.

• Because we are his kids we have rights to everything in the house.

• Luke 15:31 (NLT) ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.

Galatians 3:23-29, 4:1-7 (NIV) Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4: 1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Our Inheritance is WHOLENESS.
SOZO: to save, deliver or protect, heal, preserve, save, do well, be/make whole.
We need to come into alignment with our inheritance

Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT) 3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

• Physical Health

• “If Jesus didn’t want to heal you than he wouldn't have.”- Rod Parsley

• I Pet 2:24, Mat 6:10

• Rom 14:17 Isa 61

• Philippians 4:19 My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

• 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
  

Luke 15:17-24 (NLT) 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

“If the feelings and thoughts you have ABOUT God don’t draw you TO Him then they are not FROM him.”

21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

From Death to Life
1.Come to our senses & head home
2. Confess our condition
Romans 3:10 (NIV) There is no one righteous, not even one.
Colossians 2:13 (NLT) You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

1 John 1:8-9 (NIV) 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

“Bring me the finest Rob…In the house.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Regeneration: “He was dead now he is alive”

3. Be Reborn
John 3:3-6(NIV) "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
“To enter a supernatural relationship in a supernatural kingdom we have to have a supernatural birth.”
We must simply Accept our Acceptance.
John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

The Spirit of Adoption
Ephesians 1:3-5 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

1. You are Worth it
Jesus didn’t come to measure your worth but to reveal it.

2. You are Approved
Jesus didn’t just change the score he changed the game.
Galatians 4:4-7(NLT) When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

3. You are Wanted
Chosen: Eklektos- Elected, selected/chose by implication of favorite.

4. You are Embraced
James 1:18 (NLT2) He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

5. You are never alone

What was his perception of his dad????

“We receive how we perceive.”
Our perception of God will always dictate our distance!

Luke 15:20-21 (NLT) And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

This son went seeking mercy, he found grace.

John 1:16-18 (NIV) 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

The Fathers Nature
1. The Father Sees
Proverbs 15:3 (NIV) The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Job 36:5 (NIV) "God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

2. The Father Cares
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Psalm 145:8-9 (NLT) 8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
3. The Father Runs

• The Son was reluctant in his return, the father was relentless as he ran out to meet him

Song of Solomon 8:6-7(NIV) For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.

Jesus is the fathers pursuit.

4. The Father Embraces
Romans 5:6-8 (TPT) 6 For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves. 7 Now, who of us would dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. 8 But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!

5. The Father Lavishes love

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

1 John 3:1 (NIV) How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!


Close:
Galatians 4:4-7(NLT) When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Superstitions///Skepticism
In America 89% believe in God but only 61% believe in the devil. (Gallup 2017)

Realities///Extremes
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.…..both hail w equal delight” -C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) 10 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The Devils Schemes….
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Devil: The one who throws slander and accusation.
1. As a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)
2. The subtle serpent (Genesis 3:1)
3. As an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Standing Firm
“The only authority he has is in our life is the authority we lend him.”

1- Belt of Truth
“The relativist thinks that truth is subjective. Therefore truth becomes a lower value to virtues based on emotions and experience. If truth is subjective it is not a truth at all. What makes truth is that IT IS absolute.”

2. Breastplate of righteousness
“We do can’t produce righteousness but we can guard it.”

3- Feet covered with the Gospel of Peace
Romans 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

4. Shield of Faith
“If we are functioning in fear then the enemy has influence in our life.”
Luke 10:19 (NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

5. Helmet of Salvation
We think FROM our Salvation.
“We can only renew and redeem what we take captive”

James 4:7-8 (NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Psalm 40:1-6 (NIV) I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

1. Stability
Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT) 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

2. Awesome
Proverbs 25:2(NIV) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

3. Faithfulness
Hebrews 6:16-18 (NLT) 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

4. Tenderness
Job 36:5 (NIV) "God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

5. The Power of Pursuit

Breakthrough predecessors.
Before they possessed they city they possessed….
#1. Promise
“Gods Promises & Plans don’t have an expiration date.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through

#2. Perspective- It’s HIS Battle
Joshua 5:13-15 (NIV) 13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

“When Jesus is king, your battles are his battles.”

#3. Presence in the Process


#4. Praise before victory.
Psalm 67:5-6(NLT) May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us.

Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Judges 6:7-16 (NLT) 7 When they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, 8 the LORD sent a prophetto the Israelites. He said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9 I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.” 11 Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!” 13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” 15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16 The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

Gideon’s fleece: “God is not bothered by our need for Clarity!”

Judges 7:2-7 (NLT) 2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. 4 But the LORD told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” 5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” 6 Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. 7 The LORD told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”

• God prunes his militia.

Romans 5:6-11 (NIV) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

“We set up the opposition and God set up a solution.” “He didn’t come to destroy his enemies he came to reconcile them.”
Romans 5:11 (NLT) 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Jesus surrendered first 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. THE WAR IS OVER 3 statements on this side of Victory. 1. It is Finished “Salvation it is not free for the purchaser but free for the the recipient.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 2. He is Alive “He overcame death so that we can overcome in Life!” Romans 6:8-11 (NIV) 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 3. I surrender “We don’t Surrender in defeat we surrender to the Victory” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Forerunner: One that precedes and indicates the approach of another.
An undomesticated wild forerunner
Matthew 3:1-11 (NIV) 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 ”I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

WAYMAKERS

John 5:35 (NLT) John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.

1. A Wild Message
“The system was preaching conform, John was preaching reform."

2. A Wild Mission
John 3:30 (NLT) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
“
3. A Wild Way: A Radical & Peculiar Lifestyle
“What the world calls radical the Kingdom calls normal.”
Wild is your new normal.

Matthew 11:7-11 (NIV) "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

1. How he was clothed. (Camels hair)-
Materialism He was not consumed with things…
Personal Ambition. His purpose dwarfed his desire to be admired.

2. What he consumed (Locust/Honey)
Worldliness He did not consume the same things
“We are here to transform the world not conform to it.”
"IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO LIVE DIFFERENT WE WILL NEVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!”

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) 1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Matthew 16:21-25 (NLT) 21 Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

“COMING to Jesus cost him his life, FOLLOWING him cost us our lives”.

The Battle of Self…

Romans 5:17-6:8 (NLT) 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.(where sin abound grace much more abounds) 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 6:1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

1-Out with the old
“We won’t experience the new unless we die to the old."

Galatians 2:20 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ...

2- IN with Christ
Colossians 3:1-5 (NIV) 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Hearts and Minds/ Affection and attention.

3. Over sin.

Romans 6:10-18 (NLT) 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. 15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

The way sin sneaks in….
1. Enticed by it.
2. Entertain by it.
3. Entitled to it.
4. Entangled in it.
5. Enslaved to it.
Romans 13:14 (NKJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Namaan:
2 Kings 5:1 (NLT) 1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the LORD had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

2 Kings 5:10 (NIV) Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

Genesis 1:24-26 (NLT) 24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. 25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Exodus 32:1-5 (NLT) 1 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” 2 So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” … 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” 5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!”

Two Idols:
1. Lenses
A. Experience
“Revelation is meant to serve as a floor not a ceiling”
B. Familiarity
"We have become all too familiar with a God we hardly even know." - Bobby Conner.
Ezekiel 14:4-5 (NIV) …When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.'

2. Fences
Jeremiah 23:23 (NLT) Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the LORD. “No, I am far away at the same time.

The things that God can’t do work in our favor:
1. He can’t lie.(Numbers 23:19)
2. He cant change. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8)
3. He cant stop loving you.
He can’t not be love.
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Believe He is.
Hebrews 12:28-29 (NLT) 28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.

DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
God is not safe….but we are…
“Grace does not change Gods nature it changes our approach.”
We should not fear approaching him we should fear the distance…
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
How do we seek a God that is wild?

All kinds of prayers: Adoration, Appreciation, Supplication, Intercession. Declaration.

Answered prayers…..
“We don’t need to develop a theology for unanswered prayers but to deepen our faith to see answered ones.”
Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
John 15:7 (NIV) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Power Paradigms
1. The Word of God
2 greek words….
Logos- Written word. The constant objective word, this is how we understand God’s nature and ways.
Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Rhema- Spoken Word: Relational and revelatory.
John 1:14 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 6:63 (NIV) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

2. The Name of Jesus
Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) 9 God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“Because we are under his authority we carry his authority.”
John 14:14 (NIV) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
The Name only works if you know the man.
Acts 19:13-18 (NIV) 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

3- The Blood
Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) You have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Pleading the blood?
Plead plēd/ verb: 1. make an emotional appeal. 2. Present and argue for (a position), especially in court or in another public context.


Luke 22:20 (NLT) After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

Genesis 1:26-31 (NLT) 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” 29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

“Being wild is being like Dad.”
Then we were tamed…
Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT) 15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

“The things that are forbidden are the things that tame us.”
Genesis 4:2-12 (NIV) Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

“Sin always leave us restless and wandering, God’s intent us for us to be exhilarated and wondering.”

RE-WILDED
1. Reform- Your view on what freedom really is.
Wild/Freedom does not mean that there are no boundaries.

2. Reposition- Your identity in Christ by being reborn.
Romans 6:8-14 (NIV) 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

3. Resist & Restrain
James 4:7 (NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

“What Adam lost in the garden of eden thought rebellion…Jesus found in the garden of gethsemane through submission.”


John 8:36 (NIV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The Spirit of the Wild
Genesis 1:2 (NLT) The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Matthew 3:1-11 (NIV) 11 ”I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

The Holy Spirit is Wild
He Empowers Wildness
1. Wild Love
Romans 5:5 (NKJV) The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
-The Holy Spirit reveals the wild Love of God
Romans 8:16 (NKJV) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
-The Holy Spirit strengthens us to Love God Wildly.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT) I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

2. Wild Life
Romans 8:6 (NIV) The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
The Residual Flow of Gods breath….

3. Wild Power
Acts 10:38(NIV) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Acts 1:8 (NIV) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Powerful in purpose….
“The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not to simply enhance our experience but to empower our effectiveness.”
“The Holy Spirit is not an it that we get ahold of for our purposes He s a who that gets ahold of us for His purposes.” R.A. Torrey

Unleashing the Wild Fire.

1. Turn him loose

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV) Do not put out the Spirit's fire.

2. Ask for more.

Luke 11:9-13 (NIV) 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

3. Receive

John 20:22 (NLT) …He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT) 7 “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

ROOTED IN LOVE
1. God is a Lover
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NLT) Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.

Zechariah 8:2 (NIV) This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

How much does God love us?
John 17:23 (NLT) ….you love them as much as you love me.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
1 John 3:1 (NIV) How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

2. God is longing for lovers
Mark 12:28-34 (NIV) 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

How do you get into Love with God?

The Great Command is the great response.
1 John 4:19 (NIV) We love because he first loved us.

1. HEART- Be intentional

2. SOUL- Affections
Fom religion to romance.
1 John 5:3 (NIV) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

Jacob and Leah
Genesis 29:20 (NIV) 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

3. Mind- Attention
Thinking: What we think, how we think, how often we think.
Remembering: His love for you, His love for others

4. Strength/Might -Demonstration
“Love reciprocated is Love demonstrated.”

John 15:9-11 (NIV) 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
“Love takes the sting out of obedience.”


Psalm 36:7-9 (NLT) 7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. 9 For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Genesis 1:26-31 (NLT) 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” 29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

“Being wild is being like Dad.”
Then we were tamed…
Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT) 15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

“The things that are forbidden are the things that tame us.”
Genesis 4:2-12 (NIV) Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

“Sin always leave us restless and wandering, God’s intent us for us to be exhilarated and wondering.”

RE-WILDED
1. Reform- Your view on what freedom really is.
Wild/Freedom does not mean that there are no boundaries.

2. Reposition- Your identity in Christ by being reborn.
Romans 6:8-14 (NIV) 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

3. Resist & Restrain
James 4:7 (NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

“What Adam lost in the garden of eden thought rebellion…Jesus found in the garden of gethsemane through submission.”


John 8:36 (NIV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.